United Airlines

Corporate Support Center Tech Hub

Chicago, IL

The 28th floor of United Airlines' Corporate Support Center in Chicago represents the culmination of a multi-year workplace transformation, marking the final phase of IA's 13-floor restack in Willis Tower.

Designed as a tech-forward, hybrid collaboration hub, the 28th floor intentionally diverges from the aesthetic of the previous levels, employing a darker material palette and higher-contrast finishes — exposed concrete, raw metals, and refined industrial detailing — to express United's innovation-driven, creative team.

The design balances passive and active energy to reflect the rhythm and forward momentum of United's internal technology teams. On arrival, visitors enter a dark, high-contrast elevator lobby that delivers a sleek and sophisticated first impression defined by strong visual cues.

A linear light installation guides movement along the corridor toward the café and gathering spaces, building anticipation while reinforcing the 28th floor's distinct personality.

04_United Tech Hub Chicago_Engine Lights

At the heart of the plan, the South Café serves as a vibrant social hub with sweeping views of Chicago. Designed to foster community, the space is flexible to accommodate large events or casual gatherings, with movable furniture that effortlessly transforms a relaxed lounge into a presentation setting.

Custom jet-engine-inspired light fixtures at the ceiling echo the company's aviation heritage, further reinforcing the United brand.

Envisioned as a space of transformation and adaptability, the auditorium is adjacent to the café. While it features stadium-style seating for formal presentations, it incorporates movable collaborative furniture enabling quick reconfiguration for workshops, team meetings, or open work sessions.

Acoustics and lighting systems are carefully coordinated to support sound clarity and create a professional setting for live broadcast events. The result is a dynamic, everyday collaboration zone that seamlessly transitions into a stage for executive presentations or media sessions.

The recording studio serves as both a production space for marketing and communications teams and a broadcast venue for CEO media appearances. Designed with a white cyclorama wall for infinite filming, the studio features extensive acoustics and a dedicated control room.

IA's experiential design layers curate storytelling throughout the space. Corridor activation and sculptural placemaking elements support intuitive wayfinding. Commissioned murals by local artists translate United's data-rich business into visual expressions of movement, connectivity, and precision — all traveling at the "speed of life" to represent an ecosystem of partners and services. Together, these visual interventions transform the workplace, elevating it to an immersive new brand experience.