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Answers from Phil Schraeder, CFO and COO
What were your considerations when picking an office space and designing its layout?
"We took the time to listen to our team and what made them excited about coming to a specific work space. For them it was location. Our culture is one that bleeds diversity and Santa Monica brings people together from all over. As such, many on our team are from various parts of the country and being able to stroll the beach for a break or lunch was very important.
Our company is full of passionate individuals that work hard so being able to provide close proximity to stores, restaurants, bars, etc. so they can take care of personal matters easily was a priority. We all know how frustrating traffic is in LA, so to know you can walk around the corner and pick up a birthday card, get a massage, or meet a friend for a cocktail was crucial in picking out location.
Regarding design, the open layout works for us. Teams from various departments work in an open area and can easily communicate. We put in vintage phone booths on each floor to allow people to pop in and handle something privately as well. Additionally, we designed our conference rooms to evoke specific meeting styles. We have two that are more traditional, however, we have several that are more casual to hangout, brainstorm."
What are some of the perks of working in your office?
"We provide parking in Santa Monica which is a huge perk as well as tremendous amounts of food and snacks. We host a monthly happy hours where we play games in the office like bags, darts and foosball, bring in a keg, and just have fun. We encourage everyone to go on a "coffee walk" together at about 3:00pm. Each day, members of all teams participate, get outside and walk, which further encourages cross team communication. It allows our people to truly hear what their peers are working on. We're also a dog friendly environment, so when you come into the office you may see a golden-doodle or a shitzu pass by."
Why are these important to you?
"That is easy...because it's important to our team. Each person dedicates so much of their time to help us get to the next level, and yes, they get a paycheck, but money doesn't buy happiness. We have found that listening to our team's needs and providing an environment they feel proud directly contributes to their happiness. We don't believe in doing things just like anyone else; we do it our way and the way that works for our team. We recently just took the entire company to a dude ranch in Wyoming. We get asked all the time why Wyoming? Why not. It was gorgeous and an experience of a lifetime for everyone."
How do you think office design affects work culture?
"In my opinion, office design only impacts culture to a certain degree. There are studies that say a certain temperature translates to the highest efficiency of an employee. And while all of those forces do influence the culture, it's ultimately the attitudes, efforts, and beliefs of the team that make the greatest impact. That said, given that we work in technology and our clients are agencies and marketers, it's important that our office design showcases an environment that encourages innovation and creativity."
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Answers from Matt Allard, CEO and co-founder
What were your considerations when choosing an office space and designing its layout?
"We wanted an open format where our team could collaborate and have fun while working. Our previous office was segmented into separate offices, and it felt isolating and non-collaborative. Being able to look over at someone and discuss an issue immediately is much more efficient and direct. Also being a small company we have a cross functional team, and it is great to have everyone naturally in the loop on what other team members are working on, feel their pain and come up with solutions immediately instead of waiting on a formal meeting."
What are some of the perks of working in your office?
"Ping pong and darts are obviously at the top of the list. We are also sponsored by VitaCoco and have a VitaCoco fridge in our conference room, providing all the coconut water flavors you can imagine! Some of our employees have standing desks, and we have a "brainstorm room" complete with whiteboard walls, bean bag chairs and shag carpeting. The lava lamp is the only thing we left out :)"
Why are these important to you?
"It is important that our team has a place to blow off a little steam and have some fun between developing / working / meeting. We also don't want our team having to spend time and money getting groceries or snacks they want, so we provide them everything they need right in the office so they can grab it quick and keep cranking!"
How do you think office design affects work culture?
"We believe it has a large influence. We wanted to create an environment that people look forward to coming into every day, and share camaraderie as work gets done and features get shipped. I played a lot of team sports growing up, and believe that the fear of letting your team down is a much bigger motivator then letting the coach / your boss down, so we try and nurture that team environment!"
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Answers from Adam Schneider, CFO
What were your considerations when choosing an office space and designing its layout?
"In choosing our office space, we evaluate factors including accessibility, functionality, cost, and flexibility. It may seem like a mundane task, but the right office space will have a material impact on attracting and retaining employees, and promoting productivity. Our current space ticked all the marks. After being in a somewhat awkward layout on the Promenade where certain functions were isolated from others, we were able to create an open-concept environment, while providing private rooms and offices for calls and meetings. And even though we moved from the Promenade, we are still walking distance to coffee shops and restaurants."
What are some of the perks of working in your office?
"At MomentFeed we like our employees to be fed, happy, healthy and productive. As such, we support BYOD (bring your own dog), deliver catered lunches on Thursday and keep a kitchen stocked with snacks. We like to bond with regularly planned team events such as group Spin, yoga, book club, picnics and Friday afternoons with a cold beverage."
Why are these important to you?
"We know that happy employees deliver great products. As such, we feel it's necessary to cultivate an environment that allows our employees to always be at their best. Our programs and activities encourage employees from all departments to learn from one another, grow and excel through their interactions."
How do you think office design affects work culture?
"Every individual works differently. We feel an office should appeal to every personality, style and project. Our open floor plan encourages employees to engage with different departments and seniority levels. There are small offices for private calls, conversations and meetings, but the environment lends itself to collaborative problem solving. Whether walking into the office of the CEO or shaking hands with a new employee, we feel our office design helps foster innovation across the organization."
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Answers Courtney Chapman, Product Manager, Culture and J.D. Norris, Sr. Manager, Facilities
What were your considerations when choosing an office space and designing its layout?
We wanted a space we could customize. Our open concept fosters the free-flowing exchange of ideas, and we’ve created several breakout areas - including an expansive rooftop patio equipped with WiFi as well as many private rooms - for team members to gather, chat, collaborate as well as enjoy quiet, focused time as well. The central open space in our office is the location for our monthly team meetings, social gatherings, and club meetings, as well as for external events and speakers that join us on occasion. The large park next door allows our team to step outside for a breather and a change of environment. In keeping with our commitment to sustainable development and giving back to our community, we were careful to not only choose a location that was easily accessible from all parts of Los Angeles but also to choose a LEED-certified building. When we first moved here, Playa Vista wasn’t the bustling hub and exciting tech scene it is now, and we feel proud to have been one of the first here.
What are some of the perks of working in your office?
From catered lunch every day to free vending machines to a fully-stocked kitchen (with options to accommodate all diets), we make sure our team members are always well-fed and well-fueled. We also offer monthly gym subsidies, treadmill and standing desks around the office, and on-site showers for those who bike to work. Additionally, we offer cell phone subsidies, pet insurance, an employee stock purchase plan and more.
If team members ever need to take a time-out, we’ve got a designated Recharge Room for that very purpose. We also recognize that people have ambitions, family commitments and personal projects outside of the workplace, so we offer flexible work hours and unlimited vacation days. Finally, to show appreciation for those who have been with us for five years or longer, we’ve recently unveiled a 5-Year Reboot program that offers each qualifying team member a paid month off with an additional Reboot stipend to pursue whatever activities align with what inspires them.
Why are these important to you?
It’s important that we provide our team members with comfortable work environments conducive to collaboration and excellence. Each perk has its own importance - a flexible work schedule to accommodate people’s busy lives, catered lunch at the office to allow team members to easily gather, exchange ideas and hang out with people from other departments. A Recharge Room to recognize that sometimes quiet time or a power nap is what someone needs to further seize the day. We do all we can do keep our team motivated and engaged and we’re always open to suggestions on how to do even better.
How do you think office design affects work culture?
The design of our office is crucial to how our team communicates, evolves, innovates, and creates. In addition to choosing an open floor plan that fosters the free-flowing exchange of ideas, we’ve chosen and designed our offices to match the cities they are in and the teams they house. For example, our New York office is located in a historic Midtown building and has meeting rooms named after famous New York landmarks. Our Los Angeles headquarters has a modern, high-tech feel that captures the energy of Silicon Beach. We focus on creating environments that foster creativity, innovation and communication throughout all of our offices while at the same time maintaining the city feel as well as culture of Rubicon Project.
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