Ware Malcomb Announces Construction is Complete on ZS Office in Chicago

CHICAGO– Ware Malcomb, an award-winning international design firm, today announced construction is complete on a new 24,230 SF office location for ZS, located at 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza in Chicago. Ware Malcomb’s Atlanta and Chicago offices provided interior architecture and design services for the project through schematic design, and provided peer review through the development of construction drawings and construction administration phase.

Founded in 1983, ZS is a global management consulting and technology firm that partners with companies to deliver better outcomes for people and the planet. ZS has more than 13,000 employees in over 35 offices worldwide and transforms ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity. 

Craig Anderchak, Director, Interior Architecture & Design, Ware Malcomb, said, “Our collaborative process allowed the design team to discover that each ZS office has a strong regional connection and that each office takes aesthetic cues from the city in which it is located. Chicago is one of the greatest architectural cities in the world, and the Ware Malcomb design team was able celebrate and stylize the ‘Windy City’ aesthetic to create a dynamic, flexible, and memorable work environment.”

The design, delivered in close collaboration with ZS’s internal team, includes a mix of open work zones, closed office areas, meeting rooms and gathering spaces. A combination of concrete materials, moody accent tones, and herringbone-patterned wood serves as a respectful nod to Chicago. In a subtle blend of navy and dark purple hues layered throughout the space, an inherently dramatic ambiance provides a formal and sophisticated workplace. These colors not only add depth but also weave a narrative that resonates with the city’s rich history.

Entering the office, the reception area welcomes with a subtly integrated ZS logo, paired with wood slats extending upwards and across the ceiling. A suspended wood-look ceiling feature set against a black open ceiling provides high drama. An adjacent built-in beverage station and soft seating solutions anchor this hospitality-forward area for visitors.

A central café stands as a focal point of the design, providing a core workplace amenity for dining, co-working and gathering. The space features details inspired by iconic downtown Chicago venues and uses patterned upholstery to introduce a sense of warmth and coziness. This area becomes the heart and soul of the office and is appointed with accent ceramic tile, minimalist millwork, central island, acoustical treatments, and slight hints of biophilia. These elements work in concert together becoming a third place to touchdown, work, and come together with colleagues.

A jagged linear light fixture in the corridors of the office mimics the angles found in the ZS logo and represents the organization’s exchange of innovative knowledge through network collaboration. This lighting feature adds to the appeal and uniqueness of the new office, while making an unexpected and memorable lighting statement.

General contracting services for the project were provided by BIG Construction. 

ZS and the ZS logo are trademarks of ZS Associates. Used with permission.

About Ware Malcomb (waremalcomb.com)

Established in 1972, Ware Malcomb is a dynamic, forward-thinking commercial real estate design firm providing professional architecture, interior design, civil engineering, branding, building measurement, structural engineering and MEP engineering services to clients throughout the world. With office locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, the firm specializes in the design of office, industrial, science & technology, healthcare, multifamily, retail, hospitality and public/institutional projects. For six consecutive years, Ware Malcomb has been ranked as the #1 Industrial Sector Architecture Firm by Building Design + Construction Magazine. The firm is also ranked among the top 10 Architecture/Engineering firms in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms and the Top 30 Interior Design Firms in Interior Design magazine’s Top 100 Giants. For more information, visit waremalcomb.com.