Viral Aquarium Photo Showcases Former Call Center in Colorado

Many people have seen an interesting photo that's gone viral on various social media platforms over the past few years, featuring an office space with an aquarium divider across the desks.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by How Things Work (@thishowthingswork)

While the picture looks like something that's AI generated, the innovative office design was once reality for employees at a Colorado call center.

The call center belonged to Freshwater Software, a now defunct company based in Boulder, Colorado. Instead of traditional fabric cubicle walls, they used glass aquariums as dividers between desks. These aquariums not only enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the workspace but also provided soothing background noise, benefiting the employees.

The custom desks were crafted by a local carpenter, and the fish tanks were built on-site by professional aquarium maker Jesse Damman. According to the Daily Mail, the project was completed in 2000.

The aquariums dividers housed a variety of fish species, including cichlids, catfish, tiger fish, and minnows. Over time, many of these fish were born and raised within the office environment. Occasionally a fish died or jumped out of the tank, but employees reported that it was an enjoyable experience working alongside the colorful creatures.

The massive aquarium not only served as a visual centerpiece, but also contributed to a calming atmosphere, with the sounds from the tanks providing ambient noise conducive to the call center setting.

Unfortunately, Freshwater Software tanked as a company and went out of business in 2008, but the innovative design remains a topic of interest on social media.