“Treehouse” areas on each floor break up the work environment, and encourage alternate spaces to meet and work. The house-like structure and window-like elements tie back to LendingTree’s roots in the home mortgage industry.
“Treehouse” areas on each floor break up the work environment, and encourage alternate spaces to meet and work. The house-like structure and window-like elements tie back to LendingTree’s roots in the home mortgage industry.

October 7, 2021

Words: Carlene Olsen

Photography: Brie Williams

Inside a Playful Office for LendingTree in Charlotte, North Carolina

When it comes to amenities, the new LendingTree office in Charlotte, North Carolina, goes above and beyond—quite literally considering its “treehouse” areas with expansive views. From a music room complete with instruments (and a karaoke machine) to four libraries featuring cozy fireplaces, the 176,000-square-foot office can easily be mistaken for a boutique hotel. Conceived of by Redline Design Group with interiors by the firm in collaboration with Kelley Vieregg Design, the space reflects the creative, laid-back vibe LendingTree fosters. “We quickly understood and absorbed their culture, translating these characteristics throughout the design across all six floors of the headquarters,” share Amy Taylor and Rebecca Holthoff of Redline Design Group. The duo worked on the project along with colleagues Brooks Runkle, Graham Rabon, and Ryne Hawkins. “Every part of the space embodies the LendingTree brand and its southern roots visually,” they add.

But “stitching together” a wide array of amenity spaces within a work environment also posed some design challenges, leading the team to reference the room-to-room aesthetic of a home to create a cohesive whole. “There was a conscious thought process to make this office feel like a ‘whole environment,’” Taylor and Holthoff say. “The confluence of work and home was at the forefront of our design drive. Creation of many ‘third spaces’ that welcome each and every person—areas that feel like coffee shops, parks, and local pubs, all encourage people to ‘hang out’ at work.” To further this concept, the workplace features personal touches throughout. “It is a visually curated space with over 300 pieces of art, 900 books for the four libraries, and one of a kind accessories—all to create an environment that takes its cues from the comforts of home,” offers Kelley Vieregg. Such an inviting environment will no doubt ease the work from home-to-office transition for employees and clients alike.

Lending Tree’s Town Hall space for all-staff meetings includes a custom wood pergola feature overhead and a connection to the work café below. The custom leather wrapped handrails, cascading plants along the window wall, and rocking chairs on the terrace help to establish the company’s culture.
Lending Tree’s Town Hall space for all-staff meetings includes a custom wood pergola feature overhead and a connection to the work café below. The custom leather wrapped handrails, cascading plants along the window wall, and rocking chairs on the terrace help to establish the company’s culture.
Integrated lamps, custom planters, textural area rugs with soft upholstered furniture, and leaf logo shaped swings hanging above a wood platform create an inviting, comfortable vibe.
Integrated lamps, custom planters, textural area rugs with soft upholstered furniture, and leaf logo shaped swings hanging above a wood platform create an inviting, comfortable vibe.
Angles in the felt and wood baffle ceiling feature relate to the leaf structure, and subtly connect back to the company’s brand. Other features include a custom metal logo on the lobby desk, interactive media wall, coffee bar, and living room-like furniture.
Angles in the felt and wood baffle ceiling feature relate to the leaf structure, and subtly connect back to the company’s brand. Other features include a custom metal logo on the lobby desk, interactive media wall, coffee bar, and living room-like furniture.
Natural woven light fixtures create a canopy above the café seating. Hardwood flooring, custom designed lighting, furniture, and branded mural on brick wall are all locally sourced. A connection to the game room is seen through an industrial style glass wall.
Natural woven light fixtures create a canopy above the café seating. Hardwood flooring, custom designed lighting, furniture, and branded mural on brick wall are all locally sourced. A connection to the game room is seen through an industrial style glass wall.
The outdoor terrace features an expansive custom pergola structure overhead with integrated sconce lighting, a mixture of bar and lounge seating, and space defining area rugs.
The outdoor terrace features an expansive custom pergola structure overhead with integrated sconce lighting, a mixture of bar and lounge seating, and space defining area rugs.
Lending Tree’s work cafes are uniquely designed per floor. This featured café includes geometric wood flooring, industrial-style glass elements, and open shelving layered over handmade tile.
Lending Tree’s work cafes are uniquely designed per floor. This featured café includes geometric wood flooring, industrial-style glass elements, and open shelving layered over handmade tile.
“Treehouse” areas on each floor break up the work environment, and encourage alternate spaces to meet and work. The house-like structure and window-like elements tie back to LendingTree’s roots in the home mortgage industry.
“Treehouse” areas on each floor break up the work environment, and encourage alternate spaces to meet and work. The house-like structure and window-like elements tie back to LendingTree’s roots in the home mortgage industry.

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