When designing and crafting a plan for our now completed office renovation and expansion, three adjectives guided our vision: beautiful, healthy, and sustainable. By following the roadmap set by the International WELL Building Institute, we were able to incorporate these features into our office building. And we’re pleased to report that, based on comments we continue to receive every day, we’ve more than hit the mark. Here, we share (a fraction of) what employees say they like best about their newly renovated workplace.
That Biophilic Feeling in the Workplace
“I love working in the new space because of the natural feel of it. You know, the green wall, the beautiful lounge that has an image of a waterfall. It really feels like I’m not in a traditional office space, and that’s what I love the best.” – Justin Kohut, Marketing Specialist
Drawn to the sustainable principles of biophilia—defined as the innate, emotional, human connection to nature—we sought out ways to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor worlds. The most striking example in our office renovation is our floor-to-ceiling living wall, a pleasingly lush, two-sided backdrop adorning both the building’s reception area and the main conference room. Framed by wall coverings that feature an abstract tree pattern, this welcoming greenery plays an important role in supporting health and wellness by helping to create a calming environment for employees and visitors.
Other eco-inspired elements are less about the sight than the story. For example, our new carpeting in the expansion is certainly beautiful, but there’s more than meets the eye: its fibers are made from discarded fishing nets from the world’s poorest coastal communities, repurposed for responsible, sustainable building. For Josh Griffing, our Director of Marketing and International Sales, this unique origin strikes a nostalgic note.
“One of my favorite parts are the carpets that are light gray, dark gray and blue.,” he says. “If you stand back and look at it from a distance, it looks like a gentle, rolling wave going throughout the office.”
Wellness in the Air
“To me, a healthy building is a clean building. All the surfaces, the air, all materials must be safe to the occupants.”– Debbie Frangie, Global Marketing Manager
Returning to the workplace following the peak of a pandemic, employees should expect to feel safe and healthy—with every literal breath. That’s why we ensured the office renovation included medical-grade air purification technology proven to eradicate over 99% of airborne pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and fungi, in a single pass. The system uses highly specialized and custom configured UV-C lamps installed in the ventilation system. Additionally, MERV-13 filters with activated carbon were installed to continually remove chemical contaminants and pollutants from the air, creating the most healthy environment. The future of commercial design requires buildings to have systems in place such as this to make employees feel safe since the pandemic.
These are measures employees frequently cite for easing their transition back to on-site business.
“Ever since the pandemic, good air quality is really important and top of mind for most people,” says Chris DeGray, our e-commerce marketing specialist. “The owners put a lot of effort into ensuring we’re breathing healthy air, and making this space feel safe for employees.”
Seeing the Light (and Lots of It)
“Of the four walls of our conference room, two of them are clear. That really allows us to avoid that feeling of being inside all day.” – Josh Griffing
Most people spend about ninety percent of their time indoors—a fact that inspired our expansion’s naturalistic approach to lighting for the new space.
The interior office renovation layout was strategically organized to give all employee workspaces a view out to the exterior, while also allowing the entry of controlled daylight. In addition to plenty of windows (indeed, as Josh notes, some that even double as walls) throughout the spacious workplace area, we’ve implemented an exclusive light shelf and shade system that allows users to let in the sun while mitigating the glare.
We’ve also installed tunable, white LEDs programmed to shift color temperature and intensity to mimic the natural daylight cycle. Housed within minimalistic, well-spaced fixtures, this technology serves to support occupants’ circadian rhythms, a critical function in maintaining optimal health and well-being—and it seems to be doing its job. As Justin notes, “It really helps me stay fresh and awake in the morning, and works throughout the day to keep me productive.”
The Office Buzz
“If I were to give someone a tour, the first thing I would want to show them is the beehives. It’s really nice to be able to have that and to support the bees, which have been endangered over the years. And being able to get that honey, too.” – Chris DeGray
Of course, some natural elements are better kept outdoors. Such is the case for our popular installation that’s not only living, but quite lively: the honeybee haven we proudly maintain through a partnership with Best Bees.
Each busy hive contributes valuable data to ongoing research, helping to expand the bee population and enhance sustainability benefits. By cultivating local honey, we are actively participating in the conservation and preservation of honeybees. The custom-designed hive homes even match our hand dryer covers, showcasing a seamless integration of eco-conscious design elements. We also host “Meet the Beekeeper” events, where employees and the public can sample some delicious honey while learning about the critical environmental role our on-site pollinators play.
Read about one longtime journalist’s visit to our backyard sustainable apiary and renovated facility in this recent article.
Hygiene at Hand
“One feature that makes me feel safe here in the office is the availability of the touchless wash stations. Not just in the restrooms, but also in the common areas, so one can wash their hands as frequently as they need to.” – Debbie Frangie
No effective workplace redesign would be complete without our own clean and sustainable innovations. So, naturally, we’ve incorporated the D|13 Sink System featuring our XLERATORsync® Hand Dryer with Electrostatic HEPA Filtration (eHEPA)—not only in every restroom, but in our new conference room as well.Conveniently streamlining the hand washing and drying process, this ultra-hygienic system offers every employee and visitor the touchless, one-stop, intuitive hand hygiene experience they deserve.
And So Much More
To present every aspect an employee has raved about in our office renovation and expansion would require a series (now there’s a thought). We’d highlight sound suppression technology and ergonomic furniture. Open-concept spaces and movable glass partitions. Modern, sustainable style everywhere, creating a human-centric workplace where employees genuinely want to be.
“I feel like all of these elements are things that make our office a little bit better than anyone else’s,” humbly summarizes Chris.
