Step inside the Ashton building on 13th and Nicholas streets, and history is embedded in every brick. A renovated warehouse in the Capitol District’s Millwork Commons neighborhood, the building boasts an open concept layout that blends existing architectural elements with modern functionality to create a cohesive community space where creativity thrives. Spanning more than 50 acres, Millwork Commons is home to retail, residential, nonprofit, startups, and entrepreneurial ventures—including WP Engine. Located on the top floor, the open-source technology company provides WordPress products for businesses, brands, and agencies.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, WP Engine has experienced considerable growth in recent years, including the 2019 acquisition of the local startup Flywheel, which added Omaha to office locations such as as London, Brisbane, Kraków, and Limerick. Like those workspaces, The Ashton’s intentional design offers the flexibility to be creative via a work culture that emphasizes employee wellbeing and innovative workplace practices. This is a core value at WP Engine, where “design matters.”
“Every time I walk into the WP Engine office, I instantly feel inspired,” said Lindsey Haas, director of Digital Customer Experience at WP Engine. “The space itself is an embodiment of everything that WP Engine stands for—including keeping our core values at the forefront of all we do.”
The Ashton was ideal for making “design matter.” Built in 1908, the historic factory warehouse sat vacant for many years. With its crumbling brick and deteriorating foundation, which had been damaged by flooding, the turn-of-the-century building was slated for demolition before a renovation reprieve. Architecture firm Alley Poyner Machietto helmed the project, and in 2020 McGill Restoration executed a massive large-scale renovation of the site. The original timber and much of the brick remained intact with seamless engineering designed around the structure, restoring the historic building to its former glory. Today, The Ashton is home to restaurants such as Kros Strain Brewery, Archetype Coffee, Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop, Clean Slate Food Co., Heirloom Fine Foods Market & Cafe, and multiple technology firms.
The warm, industrial aesthetic of the building reflects an open, innovative culture and emphasizes that design does indeed matter. From the artful décor to the flooring materials and the preservation of historic architecture, that value is evident in every aspect of WP Engine’s space. Upon entering the 66,000-square-foot building, which can accommodate 400 employees, an impressive, perforated steel staircase serves as the focal point. The cutout circles represent transparency within the company with an overhead skylight offering natural light. The staircase leads to “The Dock,” the fourth floor’s spacious community corridor, which provides a hub for people to gather. WP Engine’s focus lies in community, so this space is ideal for unifying teams throughout the day for meetings, socializing, and bites to eat. Features such as refrigerators, dishwashers, coffee and ice machines, and beer taps make for convenient amenities, all of which encourage the continuous flow of ideas.
“The overall space is open and inviting, encouraging everyone to engage one another—which of course inspires creativity and energy,” Haas explained. “Every time I work from the WP Engine office, I leave feeling accomplished and inspired, because of the productive conversations I had with teammates and from the overall atmosphere.”
The fourth floor offices, which boast 47 conference rooms with tele- and video-conferencing capabilities, foster a hybrid work environment and people-focused culture, providing a space where “knowledge workers,” or employees, can do their best work. Cubicles are a thing of the past; spaces on the edges are perfect for impromptu collaboration, and staff members visiting from out of town can reserve flexible desk spaces. There’s even a call booth station, which includes 19 private phone rooms for working in seclusion.
“WP Engine creates spaces where creativity can flourish,” said Bob Kubicek, senior director of product. “Each decision was designed and led to [mirror] company core values. We’re powering the freedom to create.”
For more information, visit wpengine.com.
This article originally appeared in the August/September 2024 issue of B2B Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.








