Last April, we moved our Raleigh headquarters to a new space in the Raleigh Iron Works mixed-use development. The new office was designed to not only inspire and invigorate our employees and guests, but showcase our workplace management and smart building solutions. That made it a living lab where our team and visitors could experience first-hand the benefits of the innovative solutions that we develop and provide to thousands of clients around the world.
We decided to relocate not just because we wanted a brighter, more modern workplace, but also to realize business goals like reduced costs, better space utilization and improved sustainability. One year later, our data tells us that the new headquarters has delivered on those objectives. But, when it comes to evaluating the success of a workplace, data can only tell part of the story. How people feel about the space is just as important, but harder to quantify. So, we asked FM:Systems’ Creative Director Dakota Rose and Director of Digital Marketing Brian McDonald to tell us about how the new office has delivered for them.
Here are some of their responses:
What are some of the things you didn’t like about the old office?
“The layout of our previous office was the typical cubicle farm in the center with offices around the perimeter,” recalls McDonald. “The offices blocked most of the natural light coming in through the windows, so the interior was pretty dark.”
Rose agreed, adding that the layout also hindered collaboration.
“The cubicles made it difficult to interact with other team members, and that made coming into work feel less exciting,” added Rose. “It wasn’t an inspiring place. The environment felt very boring and unmotivating.”
McDonald and Rose also agreed that the location of the old office was not ideal.
“It was a standalone building, not walking distance to any food or shopping,” said McDonald. “If you wanted to go out for lunch, you had to drive a half-mile to a mall. That doesn’t sound like much, but the traffic around the mall was always heavy, so it was a hassle.”
How does the new workplace address those shortcomings?
“The office is close to tons of amenities,” said Rose. “There is so much to do. We can grab lunch or connect after work with coworkers at nearby restaurants and outdoor seating areas and never have to get in our car.”
With a patio, central courtyard and floor-to-ceiling windows, McDonald and Rose noted, the design of the new headquarters invites that vibrancy indoors.
“The new space is very open and modern and really enables collaboration,” said Rose. “We have a lot more space to interact with each other and have sidebars and ad-hoc collaboration time. We’re more inclined to schedule in-person team meetings and feel like we finally have a space that gives us everything we need to be super productive.”
McDonald added that he likes the juxtaposition of modern design in an historic edifice.
“The building is a restored steel mill, but the office has a unique layout. There’s a lot of natural light and views to the outdoors, which is a big change from the old office,” said McDonald. “The patio is a great place to spend time when the weather is good.”
What are some examples of that technology that you use on a daily basis?
In addition to a modern, open and adaptable design, the new headquarters is packed with workplace technology from FM:Systems and our partners. What are some examples of that technology that you use on a daily basis?
Our new office comprises 12 workstations, three booths, five offices, two conference rooms and three small, soundproofed rooms intended for private conversations. These are all reservable using FM:Systems’ hybrid workplace technology, both remotely via an online interface and through booking panels in the office.
“The liveview in the lobby is really great for seeing which spaces are available right when you walk in,” said Rose. “The room panels make it super easy to reserve a space on the fly, which is another aspect of this office that makes collaboration easier.”
Meanwhile, McDonald is a fan of the innovative furnishings.
“I like the standing desks with mounted displays,” said McDonald. “The displays have cameras embedded so you don’t have to use your laptop camera.”
Finally, Rose highlighted the technology that gives her a real-time view of indoor air quality (IAQ). The office is equipped with Airthings environmental sensors that monitor IAQ throughout the entire workplace. Screens deployed around the office make data on noise, temperature, humidity, light, particulate and carbon dioxide levels easily accessible to all occupants.
“The environmental sensors give a lot of great insights into the air quality of the space,” said Rose. “It’s really cool to see all that data live via the QR codes in each space that show a live environmental data dashboard.”
How have these improvements in technology, design and location changed how you feel about coming to work?
“I feel more excited and motivated about coming into the office, and I think my colleagues would agree,” said Rose. “It feels like our space finally matches our culture and brand. It’s really cool seeing all our technology in person and using it to help us work better together.”
Added McDonald: “It’s a more vibrant space. I like it!”
Want to get a first-hand look at our solutions and how they can help you get the most out of your workforce and workplaces? Contact us to schedule an in-person tour of our new headquarters or an online demo of our technology.
