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V O L . X X I V N O. V I I I A P R I L 1 6 , 2 0 1 8 16 I f the organization you work for was an animal, what would it be and why? at's one question Lisa Whited puts to employees as she helps busi- nesses clarify their strategic vision and design an offi ce that enables people to do their best work. Whited, founder of Portland's Workplace Transformation Facilitation, involves employees throughout the process, through anonymous surveys and workshops. Animal answers vary from elephant to an exotic avian like the blue-footed booby. "It gives me an idea of the corpo- rate culture," says Whited, who uses everything she learns to design a space that engages existing employees and helps attract new hires. Before any move, she also works with employees to write guidelines of how to interact in the new space, including acceptable voice levels. "In Maine, space is not at a premium, but people are," Whited says. "Space is a vehicle for recruitment, retention and improving employee engagement." An investment in recruitment and retention With 2.% unemployment in February and the country's highest median age of .6 in 2016, Maine needs to lure more young people to live and work here. Selling them on Portland's foodie culture, arts scene and coastal location is easy, but often not enough to con- vince someone to relocate for work. at puts more pressure on companies with growth ambitions to spend mil- lions on attractive workspaces. Four of them — Clark Insurance, Tilson, Unum and Tyler Technologies — are profi led in the accompanying photo essay, a fi rst for Mainebiz. (Out of the four, only Clark and Tilson worked with Whited.) While each venue has its own char- acter, there are common strands — open plans rather than cubicles and private offi ces, "huddle rooms" and other spaces for private conversations, lots of glass and natural light and minimal clutter and noise. In part, the design trends refl ect a more mobile workforce and a stronger focus on motivating employees. " e people at Unum are our best asset and we are investing to create a work environment that is bright, modern and fl exible," says Mike Simonds, CEO of Unum US. "Our new space helps our people connect and share ideas, ultimately enabling us to continue our strong growth, innovate faster and pro- vide better experiences for our clients." Art and other visuals also play into that, like a photo-and-text "story wall" still in progress at Clark showcasing clients and benefi ciaries of its commu- nity involvement in portraits taken by photographer Tim Greenway, a regular contributor to Mainebiz. "Our goal of the story wall is to remind the staff at Clark of the good work they do each day," explains designer Robert Brochu. "We wanted visual impact that unfolded in a genuine way." At Tilson, employees have embraced their new set-up at 16 Middle St., just off of India Street near Portland's eastern waterfront. To other business owners thinking about a similar move, CEO Joshua Broder has three pieces of advice: Talk to the team about why you are making the change, don't overlook acoustics and commit. "An open plan and activity-based work environment works best when it's implemented fully," Broder adds. R C , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t @ . a n d @ P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY WORKSPACES RIEINVENTED Employers invest in office space to engage staff and attract new hires W O R D S B Y R E N E E C O R D E S / P H O T O S B Y T I M G R E E N W A Y WE'VE GOT MAINE* COVERED ALL DAY AND EVERY DAY *with nightly and weekend routes to New Hampshire and Massachusetts with nightly and weekend routes to New Hampshire and Massachusetts WE WANT TO BE YOUR COURIER! FIRST TIME CUSTOMER? Mention this ad for 50% off of your first pick-up and delivery order. of your first pick-up and delivery order. Service and dispatch: 848-7546 Sales and information: 800-427-7547 UnishipCourier.com Rates as low as $15 for same day pickup/delivery Stay informed, engaged and connected with a print + digital subscription to Mainebiz. You'll receive bi-weekly issues, special publications and full online access! F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 S O U T H E R N M A I N E S O U T H E R N M A I N E S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S F O C U S F O C U S Economy Economy Economy motion motion motion $2.00 $2.00 $2.00 July 10, 2017 July 10, 2017 July 10, 2017 VO L . X X I I I N O. X V VO L . X X I I I N O. X V VO L . X X I I I N O. X V www.mainebiz.biz www.mainebiz.biz www.mainebiz.biz Know Maine Business. Or call: 845.267.3008 Subscribe online: mainebiz.biz/knowmainebiz F O C U S F O C U S F O C U S S O U T H E R N M A I N E S O U T H E R N M A I N E S O U T H E R N M A I N E Southern Maine builds Southern Maine builds Southern Maine builds on diverse industries on diverse industries on diverse industries S O U T H E R N M A I N E S O U T H E R N M A I N E S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S F O C U S F O C U S Economy Economy Economy motion motion motion S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S S TA R T S O N PA G E 1 1 S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S S TA R T S O N PA G E 1 1 S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S S TA R T S O N PA G E 1 1 » in in in Economy in Economy Economy Economy in Economy in Economy in Economy Economy Economy in Economy motion in motion motion motion in motion in motion in motion motion motion in motion F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 F O C U S S O U T H E R N M A I N E M U S H RO O M A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N P H O T O S / T I M G R E E N W AY P O R T S M O U T H N AVA L S H I P YA R D P H O T O S / J I M N E U G E R 12 Anchoring Kittery The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, a major employer in southern Maine, gears up for the future. 16 A real estate surge A shortage of existing homes has contractors scrambling to meet the demand for housing. 19 Ag's next wave? Mushroom growers are cultivating a variety of fungi to keep up with demand from chefs and consumers. Southern Maine builds on diverse industries S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S Economy motion S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S S TA R T S O N PA G E 1 1 » in $2.00 July 10, 2017 VO L . X X I I I N O. X V www.mainebiz.biz F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 F O C U S S O U T H E R N M A I N E M U S H R O O M A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N P H O T O S / T I M G R E E N W AY P O R T S M O U T H N AVA L S H I P YA R D P H O T O S / J I M N E U G E R 12 Anchoring Kittery The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, a major employer in southern Maine, gears up for the future. 16 A real estate surge A shortage of existing homes has contractors scrambling to meet the demand for housing. 19 Ag's next wave? Mushroom growers are cultivating a variety of fungi to keep up with demand from chefs and consumers. Southern Maine builds on diverse industries S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S Economy motion S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S S TA R T S O N PA G E 1 1 » in $2.00 July 10, 2017 VO L . X X I I I N O. X V www.mainebiz.biz R E A L E S TAT E / C O N S T R U C T I O N / D E S I G N F O C U S In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not In Maine, space is not at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but at a premium, but people are. Space is a vehicle for recruitment, retention and improving employee engagement. — Lisa Whited Workplace Transformation Facilitation Lisa Whited, founder of Workplace Transformation Facilitation, which spear- headed the design with input from employees and management, is shown here in a huddle space at the new Clark Insurance offi ce.