Talented People, a range of work and projects - Associate NBBJ Employee Review

4.0
Sep 11, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Always working with smart people. Lots of good work done - extremely skilled technical architects, many have genuine passion for the work. Compensation + benefits are competitive. Studio structure helps to avoid "big firm" feel.

Cons

quality of work varies considerably... some boring, compromised projects, some excellent ones. Doesn't necessarily attract top tier design talent - and design talent that exists seems undervalued. Tendency to celebrate the "shiny penny" - stuff outside our core competency that's glitzy and exciting - at the expense of quality design which is seen as "table stakes." Lots of corporate jargon.

Explore other reviews about NBBJ

5.0
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Super flexible and great coworkers

Cons

No real cons. Maybe wished it was more hybrid

1.0
Jun 16, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

healthcare benefit, good office location

Cons

Bonus points if you're white and can fit into the small inner circle (iykyk). If not, you may find yourself constantly reminded that you don’t really belong. There is a very obvious double standard around flexibility and trust. Certain people seem to be allowed to do whatever they want, while others get questioned for the same behavior and suddenly need to have a “conversation with the manager.” Openly talking negatively about coworkers and consultants is also treated as normal. There is a lot of casual criticism, gossip, and dismissive commentary, which makes the environment feel unnecessarily tense and unprofessional. The micromanagement is also exhausting, especially from managers who are too busy to know what you are actually working on. Instead of feeling trusted to do your job, you end up spending a lot of energy managing perception. Also, 4 days in the office is intense; sometimes people just need quiet time to focus. Although if you're one of the favorites, that can be negotiable.

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