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Office Envy: Mortarr

Albert Lea-based online commercial design platform Mortarr brings design inspiration home to its headquarters.

  • Front_Deak_1stFloor

    Clean lines throughout the office emphasize the contrast between dark and light colors.

  • Main_Conference_Room

    The conference room’s plentiful lighting adds vibrancy. If your eyes need a break from the light, the vault’s lounge has a darker, more relaxed palette.

  • The_Vault

    Some of the exterior and interior elements of the 1922 bank have been preserved and blended with the contemporary furnishings of a technology company.

  • BreakRoom

    Inspiring quotes and sayings contributed by Mortarr employees add personality to the white walls.

  • Private_Office

    Mortarr’s office features images from their subscribers.

  • private_Offices

    The glass walls literally embody transparency and figuratively represent an open-door policy, co-founder Abby Murray says. “Adding glass walls allows us to be always available to our team whenever they need us.”

  • Soft_seating_1stFloor

    Lounge areas give employees flexibility to move around individually or in teams.

  • Soft_Seating_Mezzanine

    Midcentury modern fixtures and furnishings mix with contemporary features. In the back is a mural of co-founder Amy Petersen’s dog, Birdie.

  • Company: Mortarr
    Headquarters: Albert Lea
    Size: 4,827 square feet
    Designer: Abby Murray, Amy Petersen (Mortarr)

    The co-founders of online commercial design platform Mortarr didn’t need to venture far for help when they designed their new office. They used Mortarr’s gallery and networking features to find inspiration, products, and professionals. Located in a former bank, the vault has been transformed into a collaboration lounge. The office’s bright, airy space and simple black, white, and brown color scheme accentuate statement pieces such as classic midcentury Sputnik-style chandeliers. Mixing residential, hospitality, and commercial elements is a big trend, says Mortarr co-founder Abby Murray, intended to make the workplace more welcoming. “Everyone wants to feel as though they belong. So that hospitality vibe and that residential vibe make it feel like an atmosphere you want to stay in rather than just an atmosphere you want to work in,” Murray says. A lounge outfitted with comfortable seating and large windows is one of the most popular workspaces in the building, says co-founder Amy Petersen.