Not content to just talk about it, Gilbert led by example, and hired Rossetti to redesign his executive suite. His goal was to create an environment that was “clear, effervescent and in-line with a risk taking, entrepreneurial spirit.” It inspired our design studio to produce this eye-popping, yet sophisticated environment for the Rock Companies executive suites. Rossetti translated the “live, work, play” lifestyle of the firm’s culture into offices that are executive, yet don’t take themselves too seriously. Creativity and spontaneity are encouraged by open seating arrangements and writable wall surfaces along the core wall, where problems can be solved in real time.

The 27,000 SF offices, located on the 10th floor of the Compuware building in downtown Detroit, are open, collaborative and fast-paced. Yet, employees can take a break and reenergize with a scooter ride through the office, or shoot hoops in the ½-sized basketball court.

Previous developers kept Detroit grey by buying buildings as investments and watching them, hoping that the price would go up. In the new Detroit, Gilbert is trying to “impact the outcome and affect the end.” With his sense for bold and bright, Rossetti will be trading in gray for the whole box of Crayolas.