Thirdway: Thoughtful and Bold Design for a Dog-Friendly Office at Butternut Box

Thirdway, a commercial interior design firm, has envisioned an office where creativity flourishes and dogs are celebrated. The ambition has been to create ‘the best place you’ve ever worked’ for their people, ensuring that the plethora of dog-friendly elements enhance rather than compromise the employee experience.

Inspired by the joyful experience of taking a dog for a walk in the park, the office features bright, bold engagement zones alongside serene collaboration areas. This thoughtful design promotes productivity and well-being, with curves and natural finishes throughout the space that mimic the organic flow of a park. The integration of dog-friendly features enhances the workspace for all employees, including those without pets.

Research indicates that pet-inclusive workplaces can boost employee morale, alleviate stress, and enhance teamwork.

Thirdway and Butternut Box are dedicated to creating a pet-friendly office that encourages connection and collaboration. Pets serve as a shared interest among colleagues, helping to build relationships and cultivate a cohesive work environment.

Caitlin Westgate, Head of Creative at Thirdway, said:

“Much like Butternut Box’s brand, the project intent has been to pair a deeply human playfulness with elevated, premium design. We are driven by our client’s inspiring vision to create ‘the greatest place you’ve ever worked’, and together we’ve crafted a joyful space which can bring out the best in all users, whether they be two or four legged.”

We’ve highlighted 8 key design features of Butternut Box HQ:

Human-Centric Design: The office is created with humans in mind while incorporating features for our four-legged companions, ensuring a comfortable experience for all.

Acoustic Glass: To maintain a peaceful working environment, acoustic glass minimises noise interference, allowing meetings to remain distraction-free.

Ergonomic and Organic Design Elements: The space features curves and natural finishes that mimic the organic flow of a park, integrating ergonomic design principles.

Obscured Glass Partitions: Meeting rooms feature lower glass sections that prevent dogs from seeing one another, reducing potential distractions.

Lead Hooks: Convenient hooks beneath desks enable dog owners to seamlessly bring their pets to work, enhancing the experience without disrupting the office dynamic.

Integrated Dog Spaces: The design includes dedicated dog-friendly areas, such as spots for dog bowls and resting places for dog beds, ensuring that furry friends feel at home.

The Park Events Hub: This area encourages social interaction and collaboration among employees and their pets, fostering a sense of community. At its heart is ‘The Stick’ a circular seating area adorned with a suspended stick surrounded by a lush canopy of foliage. The suspended stick, a playful homage to dogs, reinforces the brand’s playful personality.

Sustainability Focus: Sustainability was a key consideration throughout the design process, resulting in an environmentally conscious workspace that aligns with the company’s values.

Christy McCormick, Brand & Creative Director at Butternut Box, said:

“Dogs are at the heart of all the decisions we make, so it only felt right to incorporate elements that hero our furry friends. After all, we wouldn’t exist without them.

Alongside this we wanted to create a space that our team would truly love to come to. As our brand is so playful and vibrant, we wanted a palette that reflected this whilst translating them to a more sophisticated execution. Our yellow is softer and features throughout. The checkerboard tiling in the kitchen refers back to our stacked brand boxes. Our cardboard box becomes warm wood tones and panelling across the walls and other colours like our bold red has become rusty velvet seating.”