At The Centrum, Three Innovative Companies Find A Supportive, Entrepreneurial Community
After Quadrant Investment Properties acquired The Centrum in 2014, the iconic 1980s office building underwent a $25M renovation to become a modern, more collaborative workspace. The promise of luxury amenities and QIP's commitment to the tenant experience has since attracted several high-profile and up-and-coming companies.
Occupying the eighth and ninth floors, rewardStyle is one of The Centrum’s biggest tenants. It is also a homegrown operation. Amber Venz Box and Baxter Box founded the company, which allows bloggers around the world to make a commission on embedded product links in their content, out of their apartment.
Since 2011, the company has generated more than $1B in sales, and the expanding team required a new space to call its own. CBRE's Dallas Technology and Media Practice vice president Jeff Eiting represented rewardStyle in its search for a new office and mentioned The Centrum as a possible match.
“What ultimately led us to this building is what QIP founder Chad Cook is doing to it,” Eiting told the Dallas Morning News. “He’s redoing everything about it, including adding a WiFi system that keeps you connected from your office to the elevator and into the courtyard.”
The Centrum offered rewardStyle 32K SF, an upgrade from its previous 8,900 SF office. QIP also collaborated with the Boxes to build out the two floors according to their specific design ideas. Plans called for a custom snack pantry, a lounge area and a central staircase to unite the two floors.
For a company that could have any office in the world, already maintaining locations in Dallas, San Francisco, New York, Shanghai and London, rewardStyle chose The Centrum for its amenities and the option to create a customized headquarters that reflected its growing success.
Customer relationship management platform Salesforce.com was also attracted to The Centrum’s accommodating management team.
“Our focus is to leverage solutions to augment technology-driven workplace strategies, increase visibility and convert our vacancies more effectively,” QIP founder Chad Cook said.
The building's shared amenities also aligned with Salesforce.com's emphasis on employee wellness. Employees can utilize the 6K SF fitness facility in between work hours. Co-workers can also grab a meal at any of the downstairs restaurants or take a breather on the 3K SF outdoor deck.
On the ground floor, Glass Media has found in The Centrum not only a home base, but also a place to showcase its capabilities. The startup offers digital, cloud-enabled point-of-presence marketing solutions for brands with physical footprints, namely storefronts. Building management collaborated with the company to test out its digital signage by projecting a digital tour of The Centrum on the building's floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
It is an example of how willing QIP is to work with top creative talent.
“The Centrum is quickly becoming a tech hub for established companies looking for a more collaborative office experience,” Glass Media CEO Daniel Black said.
The Centrum’s tenants take advantage of the its location. Only minutes from both Uptown and Downtown Dallas, co-workers and office neighbors can grab a drink or a meal at nearby bars and restaurants. Perks like visitor parking and rooftop decks are all part of an investment in an experience that not only attracts new tenants, but also makes them want to stay.
Glass Media's Black believes his team is already in good company.
"The Dallas technology ecosystem continues to grow, and we're excited to join The Centrum ecosystem among notable and respected companies like Salesforce.com and rewardStyle,” he said.
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