WHOOP Headquarters

Boston, MA

CLIENTWHOOP

SERVICESWorkplace Strategy, Interiors

LOCATIONBoston, MA

SIZE120,000 sq ft

STATUSCompleted 2023

WHOOP’s new headquarters at One Kenmore Square, unveiled in July 2023, marks a transformative leap for the fitness technology company. Occupying four and a half floors with panoramic views of Fenway Park, the headquarters not only reaffirms WHOOP’s Boston roots but signals a bold era of growth in an iconic setting.

WHOOP is a wearable technology that is constantly evolving to provide the best information and guidance to improve the health of its members. Together with STUDIOS Architecture, we explored how design can not only provide the best workplace for this culture of innovation, but go steps further to truly embody the process and brand.

The first glimpse of the headquarters is WHOOP Labs, a research facility and after-hours employee gym, perched just above the street on level 2 that serves as a bridge between the company and its consumers whose participation shapes the future of their products—a vital connection with the community. In 2023, WHOOP conducted over 5,500 in-person studies to collect data on different activity types and data points. This space, adorned with WHOOP’s saying “Always On” spelled out across the ceiling in lights visible from the sidewalk, sets a high-energy tone, reverberating throughout the building.

WHOOP Labs with saying "Always On" broadcasting to the streets of Boston.

“Our architectural design seamlessly integrates the essence of our corporate culture, capturing the energy and spirit of our organization. The physical space is a living representation of our core values, fostering cutting-edge innovation and a sense of community.”

Will Ahmed, Founder and CEO of WHOOP

75% of WHOOP’s employees are coming to the office five days a week, affirming the headquarters is a testament to the productivity and inspiration achieved through in-person collaboration.

The WHOOP workplace is anchored across floors 5 to 8 with main reception landing on the 6th floor with immediate views ascending the buzzing central staircase thoughtfully representing an explosion of their process and consistently abuzz with employees. The Apparel Lab, which supports the ideation and testing of new accessories, gives a taste of WHOOP’s research and development processes right off of reception and tucked just below is the hardware lab where testing and prototyping take place—down a blackened staircase, a VIP experience maintaining confidentiality.

The HQ employs a high-contrast design scheme, mirroring WHOOP’s ethos of balancing activity and fitness with rest and recovery. Collective spaces, from the buzzing communicating stair to the hardware labs and conference rooms, pack a design punch with the use of black and red and logos diligently placed. It’s counterpoint is the workspace which wraps the windowed perimeter, featuring a racetrack-inspired lighting installation on each floor, creating a dynamic pathway that fosters and encourages movement and collaboration throughout and effectively mirrors WHOOP’s broader identity.

Elevator lobby connection through to reception

The journey through the building culminates in a reemergence of community, with the upper floors being home to a podcasting studio overlooking the stair as well as a café—a versatile hub for snacking, meeting, and events, fostering a sense of company camaraderie and unity. Here, the roof terrace is accessible, situated just below the iconic Citgo sign, with a new 12-foot-tall WHOOP logo visible from Fenway Park, proudly embracing WHOOP’s Boston roots and their commitment to the city’s growing landscape of health and science community.