l34 CHAPTER 6

 

Client conference room.

Vides an impressive View of the manufacturing space from the second story, a
particular advantage for Hypertherm’s sales and marketing staff touring clients
through the building.

In addition to the open—plan team space in the office building, the new
two-story structure has a spacious cafeteria with double—height windows on
two sides, a fitness room, and large men’s and women’s coatrooms and shower
areas. The new associates’ entrance, located adjacent to these amenities, offers
direct access to the parking lot. Including a cafeteria of this caliber was a prior-
ity for management and staff, who previously had to eat in shifts in a small
crowded room. Both plant workers and office staff value having access to
showers.

Central to the design is an “agora”-type space at the juncture of the man—
ufacturing plant, office building, and labs. Dubbed the “Town Square” by the
CEO, this area is equipped with juice and snack machines, tables for people to
place their coffee on while they talk, a large copy machine, employees’ mailbox-
es, plants, and paper and electronic notice-boards. Successful collaboration
between the contractor and the design consultants resulted in a large skylight
being located directly over this space.

The main advantage of the employee participation process, and the one
that paid off most for the company, was the understanding and acceptance of
team workspace and how it should work. Everyone in the company has 48-sq.