PwC Plaza's new office focuses on collaboration

One peek into PwC Plaza and you would swear you walked into a creative agency, not a professional services firm.

PricewaterhouseCoopers' new downtown Minneapolis office at 45 S. 7th Street (formerly Plaza Seven Tower) is four-and-a-half levels of glistening floors and panoramic views.

There are cornhole boards and a small golf green where employees can practice putts on one of the outdoor decks. There is custom artwork on every floor and an interactive light installation that looks like an oversized Lite Brite.

"People will want to work here," said Tom Montminy, PwC's Minneapolis managing partner, who has called the offices a new recruiting and retention tool that is especially appealing for young adults.

Staff moved into the offices on floors 33 to 36 and part of 28 in July after the company signed a 12 ½-year lease. The 66,000 square feet of space is about 6,000 square feet larger than the firm's former home at Capella Tower. There, its office had wood paneling and a more corporate feel.

The new space is bright and offers a lot of collaborative space. Most of the 700 employees don't have assigned desks. Instead, they move around to different floors and desks, a concept called "hoteling," which company leaders said promotes collaboration.

"As a firm, our purpose is to build trust and solve important problems," Montminy said. "You do that through teamwork. So we created an environment that focuses on teamwork."

There are two decks that offer stunning views of the surrounding area. Other perks include a video gaming station, food cafes and lockers on every floor and a large training space that can fit 150 people. PwC used to have to rent space in Capella's business center if it needed something that big. There are also places to maintain privacy such as lactation rooms for mothers, serenity rooms for those who may want some peace and quiet, and call rooms.

The office has local flair with walls wrapped in pictures of landmarks like the frozen Minnehaha Falls and rooms named after icons such as Bob Dylan and Prince.

As far as the location, staff is right near the restaurants and shops on Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Avenue. Workers can also take advantage of the gym at the Radisson Blu Hotel that's in the same building.

The renaming of the 36-story tower was a big branding bonus, Montminy said. "It's nice to have our brand and our name out there," he said.