Inside Vanguard's offices at the ex-Centene campus
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Vanguard's main visitor entrance, on the third floor. Photo: Alexandria Sands/Axios
Vanguard is settling into its sprawling University City campus, where workers pass waterfalls in the parking garage and hold meetings in a "treehouse."
Why it matters: While most employers are struggling to coax staff back into cubicles, the Pennsylvania-based investment management company has found a central home that offers its roughly 2,500 employees some of the city's most distinctive architecture plus top-tier perks, from cycling and Pilates classes to onsite tech support.
Catch up quick: Centene, the Missouri-based insurance giant, originally built the campus as its East Coast headquarters, with space for up to 6,000 employees and the possibility of serving as its global headquarters.
- In August 2022, Centene called off its plans.
Behind the scenes: The future of the 91-acre site was uncertain as companies leaned into remote work, Charlotte offices stayed empty, and corporate relocations and expansions slowed.
- But for two years, Vanguard was in talks to take control of the nine-story, 806,000-square-foot building, Axios learned on a recent tour.
Between the lines: Vanguard had been searching for a central location in Charlotte pre-COVID, resuming its hunt in 2022 after settling on a hybrid schedule. Most employees work in person Tuesday through Thursday.
- The company finalized the $117 million purchase of the property in April 2024 and moved later that May, consolidating five leased offices near the airport into the single campus near UNC Charlotte.
What they're saying: The move has boosted the company's energy, says Jennifer Manry, co-site lead for the Charlotte campus. Coworkers are seeing each other more — either at the coffee shop, grabbing lunch in the campus' backyard, or team building in a fitness class.
- "We wanted to really make sure people were coming back into the office ... they felt like it was a real investment," Manry adds.
What's next: Vanguard has room to grow at the Charlotte campus.
- The acquisition includes about 45 more acres, where Centene intended to build a replica of the first building. Vanguard could construct a second office or use the land for extra parking, amenities, or even a driving range.
- There's also an unfinished one-story building that Centene envisioned as a daycare. Vanguard hasn't decided what to do with it.
Let's see what it's like to work a day at Vanguard ...
First, here's your walk to the gym.
This is the type of entrance that will get your mind right for a workout.
Walk or run on the treadmill in front of floor-to-ceiling windows with natural views.
Vanguard offers complimentary group fitness classes for employees, including cycle, yoga, Pilates, athletic conditioning, "Abs Blast," and "Stretch and Flow."
Need a COVID test? Flu shot? Just go see the doctor.
Grab a cushion for a town hall.
Fun fact: Vanguard has the second-most escalators of any Charlotte building, next to the airport.
Typically, you wouldn't see escalators in a corporate building. However, this building was under construction during COVID, when the number of people in an elevator was limited, so the builder added escalators to the design.
Test products at TechCentral.
This space, inspired by an Apple Genius Bar, showcases all the different types of workplace technology Vanguard offers, from iPads to VR goggles.
- Vanguard also has on-staff tech support and training sessions about artificial intelligence, leveraging tools or other topics.
Find plenty of conference and meeting space.
It's a wireless-only building, so people can work from anywhere.
Start the day with a subsidized Starbucks coffee.
Employees can preorder on an app.
Have a fireside chat.
Yes, that is an active fireplace.
Get some fresh air.
The property has direct access to the Mallard Creek Greenway.
Eat lunch with 400 of your favorite coworkers.
The cafeteria seats over 400 people, inside alone.
- Vanguard's old dining space sat just about 80 people.
Play a game of ping pong or pool.
Shop Vanguard swag.
There are also on-site dry cleaning services.
At some point, get some work done.
Climb the "treehouse."
The treehouse — levels of open collaboration spaces — ties in with the "indoor-outdoor" theme of the building.
- You'll also notice honeycomb patterns on the ceilings and lots of wood features.
If you get lost, ask which neighborhood you're supposed to be in.
The workspaces are named after Charlotte neighborhoods and surrounding towns, such as Uptown, Optimist Park, Concord and Huntersville.
- All the neighborhoods are in the same area on each floor.
Take a high-end client call in an "experiential home" office.
Grab a complimentary coffee.
Zen out with the top floor's sandbox.
The top floor is as tall as the Statue of Liberty — so if you're scared of heights, don't look down on the escalator.
Brainstorm how Vanguard could use its empty C-suite space.
Centene built a 25,000-square-foot, two-story executive suite behind bulletproof doors — with an outdoor terrace.
- But in Charlotte, only seven Vanguard employees are "office eligible." The company has not decided how to use the C-suite space designed by Centene.
- Only about 20% of Vanguard workers have assigned desks.
Borrow a book from the library.
Give back.
Vanguard has a dedicated space for building kits to give to nonprofits.
For the moms, there are 13 nursing rooms.
There are also four all-gender restrooms, and 89 total restrooms.
- There are 11 "wellness rooms," where employees can take insulin, stretch, pray or just decompress.