OST (Open Systems Technologies), an IT services company, moved to the second floor of Grand Rapids' Brassworks Building in 2003 because the growing company needed more space. In 2007, company leaders opted to knock a hole in the floor and add a spiral staircase to connect the first and second floors into a cohesive 5,300-square-foot unit.
Now OST is putting the finishing touches on a 1,400-square-foot first-floor expansion to accommodate more employees.
"We were 11 employees in 2007," says Meredith Bronk, vice president of internal operations. "Now we're 48, and we're planning to add more."
The casual atmosphere follows OST's philosophy that people work better and enjoy work more when they have creative opportunities to let off steam.
"There's a dartboard upstairs, we have a Wii, three big screen TVs and an Xbox," Bronk says. "We have remote control helicopters, and the dartboard gets used all the time for tournaments and twosomes. It's a good way to distract your mind with social interaction that doesn't take too long. We opened an office in Minneapolis last year and sent them a dartboard as a gift."
"Hoteling" spots – small, semi-private office spaces – enable out-of-town employees and customers to tap into the wireless and catch up on calls.
The first floor encompasses a former condo model. OST kept the kitchen, with its cherry cabinetry and black granite countertops, intact. Morning meetings often include freshly baked cinnamon rolls; oven-fresh cookies are a frequent afternoon pick-me-up.
"This atmosphere is consistent with our business culture in that we pride ourselves in providing an open, friendly environment, yet it's professional," Bronk says. "We have a formal entry area because the first impression is important, but when you walk into someone's home, that's when you really get to see how they live."
Source: Meredith Bronk, OST
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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