Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | November 7, 2016 | Worcester Business Journal 13 A t t o r n e y s & B u s i n e s s A d v i s o r s W W W . D A R R O W E V E R E T T . C O M R H O D E I S L A N D | M A S S A C H U S E T T S | N E W Y O R K deal·mak·ers ˈdēlˌmākər/ noun 1. (See DarrowEverett L L P) TERMS • 5,7, and 10 year terms available • Up to 30-year amortization on all terms • Up to 80% financing available • Interest only available • Stepdown prepayment available • Debt Coverage as low as 1.20 • Cash Out equity CPC is offering a rebate on our Freddie Mac Multifamily Small Balance Loan (SBL) Offering – Save up to $5,000 by submitting application and deposits before December 31st, 2016 CONTACT US Matthew Nelson SmallBalanceLoans@communityp.com 518.649.9094 ACQUISITION OR REFINANCE LOAN SIZE: $1M - $5M BUILDING SIZE: 5+ UNITS - BIG DEAL ON SMALL LOANS - Up to $5,000 REBATE for Freddie Mac Small Balance Loans UNCOMMON EXPERTISE. UNMATCHED IMPACT. "We were eager to create an environ- ment where people were excited to come to work every day," Richardson said. They only completed the full move last month – so the honeymoon period is still very real – but even so, Richardson said they accomplished what they set out to do. The new facility has virtual desktops where people can log in anywhere, a 1,500-square-foot rooftop deck, couches and chairs and treadmill desks. And when employees really need a break, they can go for a bike ride on a company bike or go for a climb on the rock wall. "You might sit at a desk for awhile, log on and work at a treadmill ... move to [a] standup work station alongside someone you need to collaborate with, and then back to a different desk," Richardson said. Businesses, developers and designers said the current office space trend is decidedly an open floor plan with lots of natural sunlight, a privilege that was once only reserved for executives in cor- ner offices. But equally important to the open floor plans and amenities is a solid company culture, where employees feel like they're appreciated and valued. "You spend the majority of your time with your colleagues. We want folks to feel like their teams are part of their family. For the right folks, that's a draw," said Patrick Davis, director of systems and process at Marlborough staffing firm The DAVIS Companies. Natural light, relaxed atmosphere At Sheehan's Office Interiors, a Rhode Island-based office design firm with an office in Worcester, the staff uses scientific studies to create work spaces for clients fostering collabora- tion, learning, innovation and focus, said Michael Monahan, vice president of strategic accounts at Sheehan's. Ten years ago, offices with views or natural light were reserved for execu- tives, whose offices usually lined the walls of a business, leaving room for dark and clustered cubicles in the mid- dle, Monahan said. Now, the trend is a much more open floor plan, where everyone can get a glimpse of sunlight. "The trend is to build out the offices in the core of the building and use glass walls instead of sheetrock, allowing nat- ural light to flood into the open plan for all," he said. Modern spaces with historical integrity Worcester developer Robert Branca said office spaces now generally need to be open, and large conference rooms with glass walls are in high demand. Branca's team renovated the Harrington Corner building at Main and Front streets in downtown Worcester, and was the driving force behind the renaissance of 72 and 60 Shrewsbury St., home of the Volturno restaurant, Wormtown Brewery, Worcester Magazine and 7 Nana Japanese Steakhouse. Branca's team is working on finishing the second and third floors of office space at 60 Shrewsbury St., above 7 Nana. Part of the second floor will Office features for this 82-employee staffing services firm include scooters, a beer fridge, Nerf gun wars, a Ping Pong table, big screen TVs showing real-time performance of departments and individuals, couches and bean bag chairs for casual team meetings, and high-top tables looking out into the woods. Office features for this 35-employee marketing firm situated in the modernized R.H. Long Complex include its Factory Mark Gallery featuring works from emerging artists and a mix of collaborative work stations, quiet rooms and conference rooms. The Davis Cos., Marlborough CommCreative, Framingham Continued on Page 14 P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y

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