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Jul 24, 2008 10:00 pm US/Central
N. TX Company Transforming Office Spaces Worldwide
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
If you could do anything to improve your office environment what would it be? Would you add a fitness facility, better lighting or maybe a nicer break room?
A North Texas design firm is helping transform offices around the world and according to them making millions of employees more productive in the process.
Headquarters for Staffelbach, an international firm specializing in helping companies redesign workplaces, is located in downtown Dallas.
"We influence people's lives as they relate to their work, their work environment," explained company CEO Jo Heinz. "We're all about efficiency. We're all about how we can help companies do their work better."
As a part of everyday business Heinz, along with her staff of designers and architects, meet with companies that want to redesign an existing office space or move into a new building. They consult on everything from workspace design, to colors and lighting.
Staffelbach recently moved into a new space and uses it as a showroom to help clients envision their own redesign. "When we bring people here, they go, I like that, or could you do that for us," Heinz said.
In the new space there are no high cubicles, so as not to isolate employees. A designer can turn around and meet with an architect without having to go to a conference room or closed space. Heinz says everything is designed with efficiency and comfort in mind.
If a company is going through layoffs Heinz often recommends turning the empty space into multi-purpose areas to minimize the 'negative energy' and feeling of loss.
"The morale, the energy, the enthusiasm of the remaining people takes a significant leap because they know their employer cares about them," Heinz explained.
According to the CEO, office amenities are more important than ever and a big recruiting tool. She says locating a business near restaurants, shopping and fitness facilities helps employees keep fuel costs down... and keeps them at the office longer.
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