Prompted by a growing New York City workforce, A Large Asset Management Firm enlisted Ark to devise strategies that support workforce scaling without compromising the vibrancy of office culture.
Sector
Finance
Location
New York, NY
Central Challenge:
Ensure culture and productivity can scale in tandem with the workforce.
Our Approach:
Through a comprehensive engagement approach, Ark pinpointed the key factors driving productivity and culture. This led to a playbook of adaptable strategies for an ongoing location search.
Workplace Study Process
Tactics:
By interacting with diverse groups, we confirmed our insights and tailored strategies to various audiences. The resulting playbook provides overarching design principles yet remains flexible to accommodate unforeseen site conditions.
Key Finding #1
Teams are not well connected and there is a desire to be more social in the office.
Recommendation #1
Recommendation #2
Provide organic opportunities within the workplace to break down silos and build connections among teams.
Install a variety of collaboration options to accommodate different workstyles and spark movement.
Key Finding #2
“An opportunity for bumping into each other naturally is important where possible.”
-Marketing
Use “drop-in” space for each team to encourage working with other teams.
Which of the following is most critical to encourage mobile behaviors?
What will be the greatest challenge in creating a more mobile workplace?
Key Finding #3
Provide desktop computing power at alternate work settings for mobility.
Create branded moments throughout the space to build connection to mission.
The current spaces allocated for collaboration work well, but require improved technology.
During Visioning, we asked attendees: How mobile are you today? How mobile should you be tomorrow?
Merge the use of space and technology to enable a seamless work environment.
Improve meeting room displays and ease of connecting.
Recommendation #3
65% of meetings today use a 5-8-person room. Some of these meetings are of a smaller size.
Establish a laptop rollout process that allows employees to be more agile.
Close at-hand access to teammates and supporting services is key to ensure an efficient workplace, especially for the investment teams.
Rethink the private office and promote flexibility in the floorplate.
Eliminate perimeter offices
Move all offices off the perimeter to maximize daylight and views into the space for all employees. This signals a more democratic office environment and reduces a feeling of hierarchy. Consider reducing size or office assignments.
Introduce a “flex office” space type
Many team members benefit from the reduced noise and distraction a private office provides. Including a few unassigned offices that can function as meeting space or individual workspace.
Rethink office assignment
Ratchet up the flex office concept and eliminate assigned offices except for a few well defined exceptions. This reduces hierarchy, allows for more flexible floor plates, makes team restacks easier and can reduce overall square footage.