Shaping Company Culture By Design
From office layouts to shared spaces, Company Culture can be greatly influenced by the design of the space that a company inhabits. Some great names in design talk to Stout about projects and places that have played a role in shaping company culture.
“Sometimes culture influences the space and sometimes the space influences the culture. RetailMeNot’s space in downtown Austin is known for the energetic reflection of their purpose to promote online shopping coupons. But, which came first?”
PollyAnna Little, IIDA, LEED AP
Principal at STG Design
PollyAnna Little, Principal STG Design
Matt Fajkus, AIA, LEED AP
Principal of MF Architecture; Faculty, The University of Texas at Austin
“Our office culture is based on the idea that we are an open and collaborative group of individuals, and we’ve designed our office to reflect that balance of part and whole. Our office layout includes individual working zones and gathering spaces of different scales and types. The material choices are simple and honest (mostly raw wood, steel, glass, concrete – very little is painted or applied), considering both functional utility and experiential aesthetics. Furthermore, there is intentional internal transparency across these zones as well as transparency to the exterior. This allows us to be bathed in varying amounts of natural light during the day and also speaks to the conceptual transparency of our process – with clear visibility to/from the public outside. Each of these design moves have reinforced and fostered our office culture, as we think of ourselves as a team, where each individual has their own important role, while also being a part of smaller groups and a larger whole that is better than the sum of its parts.”
Matt Fajkus, AIA, LEED AP
Principal of MF Architecture; Faculty, The University of Texas at Austin
“Our space can define who we are, how we live and work. The relationship of space, color, light and texture makes a space live and breathe. Whether it’s formal, industrial, or something in between, the architect’s design can define the mood of the workplace and have great impact on its culture. Equally important, a good design can affect productivity and workplace satisfaction, decreasing turnover and ultimately creating happier and more profitable companies. Investing in the creation of a creative and well-designed space by an architect really does have long-lasting impacts and rewards. ”
Juliee Beyt, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Founding principal of Beyt Lynch Design, a full-service architecture studio with an emphasis on sustainable design.
Juliee Beyt, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Founding principal of Beyt Lynch Design
Take a read on the health of your company culture, how to fit your best fit and more Stout reads on the effect of culture on success.