Employee preferences for WFH means workplaces need to utilise office spaces as a tool to connect with staff. In Better Workplaces, AdNews looks at how agencies use office design to entice staff to come in and create a company culture worth staying for.
Independent media agency The Media Store (TMS) cut the ribbon on its new office, one street down from Flinders St Melbourne, in May.
Close to public transport, clients, publishers, and eateries this central CBD location is ideal for any agency. Inside, the agency has an entire floor with flooding natural light, plenty of collaboration spaces, modern furnishings and a nurturing greenscape view.
Jacquie Alley at the agency office launch party.
Built in 1957 the building was originally the Norwich Union Insurance building, constructed by architect firm Yuncken Freeman which designed some of the most iconic Australian architecture including the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, AON Centre, Treasury Place and the Master Plan for Latrobe University. During this time, Australian designers were seeking to add their own Australian touch by experimenting with materials, form and space.
Inspired by the architecture, TMS felt instantly at home as both hold the same vision to create meaningful connections with a unique Australian touch.
The Norwich Union Insurance building in 1970, picture by Wolfgang Sievers.
In partnership with design agency Creo Design Group the office was designed in late 2022 with the aim to one reimagine what a media agency can be, and two create a holistic, human and head turning space that truly works for TMS' people.
Branding outside office.
Jacquie Alley, chief operating officer at The Media Store, told AdNews the end goals were to facilitate collaboration, creativity, and quiet reflection.
"We wanted to create spaces where our team can connect over lunch just as powerfully as across the desk divider," Alley said.
Overview.
Sustainability was also a goal for the agency renovation.
"With base building NABERS ratings of up to 5.5 and the addition of our own tenancy 100% renewable electricity procurement from our client, Simply Energy, we are well placed to ensure this new space supports our Carbon Neutral certification," Alley said.
Staff desks.
Over the past six months the agency has more than doubled the team from 15 to 32. Currently 27 people in the agency utilise the new Melbourne office, with others working remotely interstate.
"We are fierce believers in the human need of belonging, of having one’s own sense of place," Alley said.
"Hence, everyone has their own workstation with both hot desks for interstate visits and a bank of spare desks for future growth. Our desks are organised in client pods, reflecting our integrated way of working irrespective of one’s channel expertise."
Overview of some meeting rooms.
Staff kitchen and eating area.
Separation between workstations and quieter meeting rooms was important in the office layout.
"We were conscious they would be returning from somewhat quieter work environments back into a busier, more dynamic workplace," Alley said.
The agency supports the wellbeing of its team with a private shower room for those wishing to bike into work and a soon-to-be meditation/quiet room.
Overview of meeting room with the staff kitchen area at the back.
With five meeting rooms and carefully designed casual meeting areas there are plenty of spaces for staff to host creative brainstorms, team meetings or just do some uninterrupted work without the hassle of fighting for space.
"For a growing team to have a whole floor tenancy speaks to our people-first value and our growth confidence," Alley said.
"Despite retaining our hybrid working model, we didn’t want to reduce capacity to become a hot desking office and we wanted our space to allow people to breathe, to connect and to have fun together."
TMS team.
"We wanted a space they would be proud to bring clients and media partners into, to feel like their beautiful work home.
"A recent staff survey reinforced their love of this new home, rating the office a 4.6 out of 5 with 80% saying it has impacted their overall happiness levels at work."
The next stage is adding more TMS personality to the space, the team is currently collaborating on what the meeting room names will represent, what murals will inspire them, how the meditation room will take shape and most importantly what coffee bean will be served!
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