Core77

You know what? I hate office buildings. Like hate, hate. As in, part of my soul dies every time I step foot in an office building. My dream workspace is an open warehouse filled with workbenches to prototype on and shipping containers for meeting rooms, but I could probably settle for working in Centra at Metropark in South Iselin, NJ.

What the original building looked like before it was un-suck-ified.

Luckily, someone else must have figured out just how much office buildings really suck, because Centra is absolutely gorgeous. You might even mistake it for not being an office building! Completed in 2009 by Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, Centra is a revitalization of America's suburban corporate blight into a structure that not only captures the imagination of those who work there, but of any person who sets eyes on it. A building that not only functions well but enhances its environment is truly profound; for an office building to do this is nothing short of astonishing.

The architects added a majestic tree-like truss to support the L-shaped top floor that projects out over the entrance. The "roof" of the entry plaza is this beautiful ceiling of wood which almost feels out-of-place in the glass-clad structure, yet adds a layer of rustic comfort and satisfying visual contrast. I never thought I'd say it, but I'm a fan of this office building.