Hartford Business Journal

10 Hartford Business Journal • November 13, 2017 • www.HartfordBusiness.com FOCUS: Real Estate Greater Hartford's most innovative office spaces I f you haven't noticed, the office work- space is changing, in some cases in very dramatic ways. The high-walled cubicle is largely a thing of the past, particularly among re- designed office layouts. Many companies are using open, flexible and collaborative spaces to encourage teamwork and communication. Offices are also becoming brighter both in color schemes and with the amount of natu- ral light they allow in. Fun is increasingly being incorporated into many office cultures. Whether it's a foosball or pool table, or a popcorn machine and keg in the conference room, companies are creating spaces within their offices that allow, even encourage, em- ployees to socialize and decompress. Shared office or co-working spaces are also becoming more popular. In an effort to showcase some of the region's most innovative office spaces, Hart- ford Business Journal for a second straight year asked Greater Hartford companies to submit photos and explanations of a-typical workspaces. We received 20 submissions and are highlighting some of them in the pages that follow. Although known as the Land of Steady Habits, Connecticut has many companies re- defining the modern office space, incorporat- ing new designs and features that not only aim to give the office an innovative look, but also to enhance productivity and communi- cation to create a competitive advantage. We hope the office spaces we highlight provide ideas for how to reshape your own work environment. Greg Bordonaro , Hartford Business Journal Editor Adams & Knight Inc. Headquarters: 80 Avon Meadow Lane, Avon No. of employees: 58 A dvertising and PR firm Adams & Knight's workplace, which is being recognized for a second straight year, mirrors the company's main business function: creativity. Its office includes a retro 1959 diner, complete with a vintage Coke machine and Wurlitzer jukebox. With its roomy booths and counter seating, the diner doubles as the agency lunchroom, where employees (and visitors) are treated to free lunch every day, and an inviting place to hold informal meetings. Retro advertising is featured throughout the company's office space to add a bit of fun and inspiration. Collaboration rooms offer employees a place to brainstorm ideas. There's also a 60-seat theater, complete with 17 surround-sound speakers and a 10- foot screen, where the firm premieres its lat- est TV commercials, video productions and integrated campaigns. Adams & Knight also has a 5,000-square-foot, on-site film studio, where it hosts photo and video shoots. CME Associates Inc. Headquarters: 33 Wilbur Cross Way, Suite 105, Mansfield No. of Employees: 75 M ansfield engineering firm CME Associates recently relocated its corporate headquarters to Storrs Center near UConn's main campus. Its new office employs an open floor plan that aims to encourage teamwork among employees. It allows for plenty of natural sunlight, uses bright colors in both paint and fabrics, and has ergonomic sit-stand desks along with projector walls. Workstations were designed to support one-on-one collabora- tion with the ability to turn an individual's work space into a chair where a visiting colleague can sit comfortably. The large multipurpose kitchen was designed to also serve as an open collabora- tion space and the café features outdoor views with coffee and expresso machines, bar-height tables, and TV walls serving as a social hub. CME also recently moved and designed its East Hartford branch office. Infinity Group of Bloomfield contributed to the design and construction of CME's Storrs office; Fremont Group of West Hart- ford helped with the design and build-out of the East Hartford location. Freed Marcroft Headquarters: 419 Main St., Hartford No. of employees: 12 F amily law firm Freed Marcroft is located in a storefront office on Hartford's Main Street. The office layout aims to create a warm and welcom- ing environment for clients who are often experiencing stressful family issues. The firm's open floor plan and large conference room aim to promote collabora- tion among staff, while a smaller conference room and offices provide privacy. The 2,000-square-foot, two-story office space is centrally located in Hartford and has a contemporary design but also incor- porates the historic elements of the Linden Building, built in 1891, including exposed brick, arched doorways and carved newel posts around the solid wood staircase. In 2013, the firm was recognized by the Hart- ford Preservation Alliance for its renovation of their historic space. The firm's principals, Meghan Freed and Kristen Marcroft, developed the vision for the office space, which also has a corner earmarked for Daphne, the owners' King Charles Cavalier spaniel.

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