After years of toiling away in office spaces that were “depressing and uninspiring,” entrepreneur Robert Rivani set out to create a space that made people actually excited to come to work. And for him, that office looks an awful lot like a Las Vegas resort.
Welcome to Class X—Rivani’s showstopping office building on Miami’s Michigan Avenue. The six-story, 163,000-square-foot office building brings together a mix of employers, including Playboy and Daymond John’s consultancy, The Shark Group, plus health companies and hedge funds. Tenants and the public can shop at various retailers, including Williams Sonoma and Apple, on the ground floor.
Rivani worked as a developer before starting his namesake company and building Class X—which he hopes will be the first in a line of resort-inspired workplaces across the nation. As someone who “had a really unhealthy work-life balance” early in his career, Rivani says he prioritized creating a space that can help workers achieve that. On the third floor of the building, there’s a speakeasy and employee cafe, in addition to an 8,000-square-foot spa and gym.
“The employees are more important than the owner because if they’re more creative, if they’re more functional, more productive,” Rivani says, “that ends up becoming more profitable for the business owner.”
This Morning
The daily digest for entrepreneurs and business leaders
The lobby: look closely at the lion
At Class X, the office experience begins with a grand entrance: a long, covered valet drive with a twinkling ceiling and a water feature, then a lobby built around a dramatic plaster relief. Look closely and you’ll spot a lion, a woman entwined with a tree, and scales balancing time against money. The lion nods to Black Lion, Rivani’s former company. The scales point to the building’s service philosophy: Rivani says he wants the amenities and staff to save tenants time, a resource he considers more valuable than money. The reception desks are two, 5,000-pound blocks of green Calcutta Verde stone.
The speakeasy: find the lion’s mouth
On the third floor, a Japanese-inspired cocktail bar called Shishi offers a change of scene from the usual conference room. It serves as a private space for members during the day and opens to the public after hours. Its concealed entrance adds a bit of theater: guests put a hand into a lion’s mouth to open the door. Inside, the design and drinks reflect Rivani’s interest in Japanese craftsmanship and attention to detail. The space is a bit of a chameleon—it can host a client meeting during the workday and offer a unique space to grab a drink with colleagues after hours. The commute isn’t bad either.
“What’s your excuse not to go when it’s right downstairs or when it’s right upstairs?” Rivani says.