More To Chew On

For the second week in a row, I’m doing a Thursday Doors sequel.  This time I’m taking you back to the WM Wrigley Jr building I featured at the end of March.

As bloggers, we often comment on this amazing community we belong to.  It connects us with like-minded individuals, increases our awareness of the world around us, and opens up opportunities we might not otherwise encounter.

A variation of that happened with my March post.

Somehow that post captured the attention of a financial software company operating out of the WM Wrigley Jr building.  In fact, their office is on the top floor of the building featured in the above photo.

The company is called waveapps.com and Rob Maurin, their Vice-President of Communications wrote a comment on my blog, and then tossed out the most incredible offer.  “Would I like to have a tour?”

Are you kidding me?!!  It took all of a nanosecond to answer that question.

Last week Rob Maurin played host and tour guide for me in their Lesleyville office.

I was delighted to find that the original industrial features of the building had been preserved and incorporated into the office layout … the concrete floors, massive support columns, overhead vents and wiring.

Amid all of this architectural history was a bustling high-energy fintech company at work.

… and the doors!!!  All the original elevator doors to the loading bays below were still in place.

Even better, they still worked.

On the roof of the building is another door which leads to another elevator … its purpose unknown to even my host.  I’ve seen these on other buildings to provide access to the industrial heating and air conditioning units on the roof.  This building however had none of those.

The perpetual child in me is attracted to a door that requires a ladder to reach it!

At some point in the distant past, a partial sixth floor had been built, reportedly to serve as executive offices when the chewing gum giant still occupied the factory. Since the additional floor doesn’t cover the entire top of the building, it can’t be seen from the street.  In fact I didn’t even known it existed until Rob had mentioned it in our email exchange.

Wave’s growth in business required them to expand beyond their 5th floor footprint and they recently took over that 6th floor.

I really like the little ‘flower’ details along the top and bottom of this elevator door

The sixth floor not only gives them more space, but an outdoor patio for use in warm weather and a great view of downtown.

Evidence of our gray and rainy spring

The office was everything I would expect from a young software company – lounging couches, pinball machine, television, and an open, relaxed atmosphere to inspire collaboration … or simply to take a mental break.

Many thanks to Rob Maurin for his kind invitation, and the fascinating tour of this heritage building.

Thursday Doors is a weekly photo feature hosted by Norm Frampton at Norm 2.0.