EPIC Headquarters

Sorry for the delayed post, everyone! I’ve had a really large deadline for work this past week and put a stop to everything but completing said deadline.

The last day we were in Wisconsin (this past Sunday), we were able to see EPIC headquarters. EPIC Systems is a health software company based out of Madison, Wisconsin. It only caters nationally as of now, but its headquarters and customer base are absolutely massive. It’s like you’re in Google’s headquarters, really, with themed everything.

First, though, we went to brunch at a place called Bluphies. It’s a cute little spot in Madison on Monroe St., and they serve delicious brunch! I had the crab eggs benedict with extra coffee.

Again, all photos are taken with my phone 🙂

Afterwards, Gavin drove us to EPIC, where we spent the entire day on a tour.

First, we headed into a huge underground parking garage, which is relatively new. We were greeted by this sign:

Which is part of a larger complex that is still under construction. We enter into an ice-themed hallway with rooms that are named after Ice Age characters. After that we walked through the Bat Cave, a blacked-out hallway with toy bats attached to the ceiling that chirped at you! From this hallway you emerge into a Lord of the Rings themed hallway (and by hallway I mean 30 foot ceilings and 20-foot-wide floor) to which are attached multiple rooms full of computers for group-think. These rooms are named after LOTR races (Orcs, Elves, Hobbits, Wizards, etc.) There is also a Gollum-sized statue of Gollum (Or Smeagol, whichever you prefer).

From here we enter a brand-new auditorium that seats 11,000 people. Once weekly, there are staff meetings held here, from which the CEO herself addresses the employees. I only dream of addressing a crowd in a facility like this one.

From there we toured the rest of the (massive) facilities. There was one area that was simply for training employees from clients who had bought EPIC’s software. This area, which was absolutely ginormous and themed, was dotted with dozens of rooms like the one you see below. It is these rooms in which the trainees are trained.

EPIC  is also filled to the brim with eclectic artwork, all from local Wisconsin artists, if possible. Many are interactive.

In crossing from section to section, you pass through themed hallways. One looks like this and is covered with fake medical records of fictional characters- Frodo, Harry Potter, and Star Wars characters were prevalent. (PTSD was a common diagnosis).

Or there’s this Indiana-Jones themed hallway, complete with Crystal Skull to pull, snakes, and sound effects. Outside is lined with a vined walkway complete with wooden swings.

Then, of course, you have the dining areas. One of many common eating rooms, this was by far the largest. On a wall you can’t see in this photo is a 30 or 40 foot by 50 or 60 foot wall-size display of the Hubble Deep Space projection.

This is another eating room, the actual cafeteria where employees eat every day.

Then, of course, you have the themed client rooms. One is a cabin theme, complete with rock-shaped sugar cubes. One is another cabin theme, but complete with a glass wall that opens onto a waterfall and wading pool. One is ice-themed, with white walls, fireplace, and fur-covered benches. Another is circus-themed and another is deep-space themed, and all are incredibly awesome.

(I LOVE elephants).

There was also a huge world map, which I used to try to point out everywhere I have been!

First, home:

Second, Vancouver:

Third, Australia:

Fourth, Brussels and Paris:

Fifth, Colombia:

Sixth, South Korea, which I plan to visit in March!

Then, of course, they have a 20 foot dragon in a room that could have fit two of my houses…

This is just a segment of the massive campus. From here you can see construction on another segment of the campus, which is (I’ve been told) going to be castle-themed (I think Hogwarts, if I remember correctly).

As well as a SLIDE. A SLIDE, guys.

After this awesome, fun-filled place, we headed home. We drove through Chicago to get there, and it was beautiful because it was my very first time seeing Chicago, as well.

I’ll update the rest of my week tomorrow, but I just want to say: my sister’s boyfriend works in the coolest. place. ever.

-Kris