I used to work at a bank service center (with cubicals) and it was night and day compared to the startup I'm at now. I don't miss the work, but I definitely mis

I used to work at a bank service center (with cubicals) and it was night and day compared to the startup I'm at now. I don't miss the work, but I definitely miss he silence. There were the occasional loud conversations, but otherwise there was just the lowest din of office noise (phones ringing here and there, keyboards clicking, etc.) I think part of it is cultural: these were mostly women in their 30s to 50s processing IRAs and direct deposits, and not people right out of university doing trendy software development. Anyway, I agree with you. I think it's partially because Google did it, and partially because if you make an office "fun" and "cool", people spend more time there for the same amount of money. (Note: your startup CAN have exposed conduit in a downtown office building AND be quiet.)