Your Customers, Clients, and Employees Need to Take "Ownership" of Your Workplace

Imagine how you would feel if you were in my shoes when the doors opened for the first time at Niketown, NY. During the period of time that I was the project architect who worked directly with the directors of Nike Image, a lot of other things happened in my life.

For one, my wife saw so little of me because I was at the office or flying to Beaverton, OR to work out design and construction details so she got us a Black Labrador to keep her company. We named the dog Jackson (the painter, Jackson Pollock’s studio was near the dog rescue shelter in the Hampton town where we adopted our dog).

A year later, my first son, David was born. David helped me refocus my priorities, but I was still committed to getting the Niketown, NY project finished. I really feel that part of David is still left within the walls of that building because he became so much a part of my life-even at work where I was able to enjoy my passion of architecture.

There was a lot of fanfare and drama at the grand opening. Celebrities came out of the woodwork and from all parts of the world. When Phil Knight, one of the founders of NIKE came, it was as if a rock star arrived. NIKE employees came out from their hidding places and exploded into a chant, “NIKE,” that echoed throughout the massive atrium space that was filled with curved walls and oval shaped fixtures to emphasize their image of “movement.” It was almost cult-like.

So, when the doors opened during that first day, it was as if I was leaving a big part of me there and to be watched over by strangers.

Have you had that feeling? When you have passion for something or someone, time just stands still. Everything seems to just fall into place and you take “ownership” of all that you do.

Our buildings can cause your clients, customers, or colleagues to feel a sense of belonging – I know because I was able to help NIKE provide that to their customers and employees. The secret of our success is that we design with a focus on the “experience” that you want others to feel while in your space.

Check out the earlier blog dated September 18, 2008 to learn more about how we helped choreograph an “experience” through architecture for NIKE and how we can do that for you.

Also, don’t miss out on downloading the archived radio shows (you can even listen to it as a podcast). You will find out various strategies that you can use in order to get the edge over any of your competitors while having the best fit of a building for your company.

A time to Celebrate

When I went to Texas Tech University, there were more games that seemed to be more about how well the marching band performed than the football team. In fact, being in the marching band, I remember that we would always dominate the half time, even when we marched in the Longhorn's football stadium in Austin, TX or in Aggie Land. So, my pride of Texas Tech was stemmed from my experiences in architecture school, Kappa Alpha Order, and the marching band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4l2te50r1I&feature=related

The football team seemed to do well when they were not playing on national TV. When the limelight was on them, they would often lose. That is not the case this year. This year must be the year of "change." It is amazing that our team is now ranked 2nd in the nation at the time of this post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoYwqUqgjyM&feature=related

It is not too often that I have the opportunity to gloat about how my alma mater's football team is doing. Oh, sure, they have won some upsets but they always seemed to be the spoiler instead of the team on top that everyone else is anxious to topple.

Hope you are enjoying your fall season. I know that watching the Red Raiders soar towards an udefeated season makes it a lot easier to deal with the crummy year that the Dallas Cowboys are having. The Dallas Cowboys.... that is a different story.

One of the few TV shows that I try to watch is “The Big Idea” with Donny Deutsch. He always seems to interview entrepreneurs who often have “rags to riches” stories to tell. Donny always has had inspiring and encouraging things to say about the economy and about how the American dream is still alive. Since it is filmed in NJ, I even sat in as part of the studio audience during one of his shows.

Not so now. Since the crash in Wall Street and the demise of several banks and brokerage firms earlier this month,

Everyone is in a panic. Recently, Donny interviewed another CNBC show host, Jim Cramer, to get his take on the current changes in the economy. Jim Cramer has a television show where his call-in audience greets him with a hearty “Boo-Yah from …..”

Donny called this time, “The Great Freeze.” Jim called it a “Dawn of a new age,..fortune,…trust.” Jim admitted that the fear is all consuming. “We are fearful because there are reasons to fear.”

In this “New America,” we are to stop living and consuming in excess with the foods, trips, and frivolous shopping. Instead, our standard of living will be much more like our parents. Stay home and watch the play-offs instead of flying to the stadium to see it in person, eat home cooked foods, and play board games with the family members instead of going on expensive vacations. These are drastic times that will cut to the bone of our spending habits. And it is to last for several years.

In the business arena, corporations will be laying off people. They will be restructuring their office facilities. Perhaps out-source more to contract laborers instead of taking on the higher overhead and (semi)permanent staffing.

Nothing is as dangerous in architecture as dealing with separated problems. If we split life into separated problems we split the possibilities to make good building art.

Alvar Aalto - architect

It is very difficult for corporations to make intelligent staffing changes without keeping good accounts of where the staff people’s desks, conference tables, files, chairs, bookcases,… exist. Also, they need to know what condition the equipment and furniture is in. Can some departments be relocated and reuse some of the furniture from a different department? What can be done with the existing furniture and equipment that the corporation no longer needs?

As the famous architect, Alvar Aaalto, discussed in the quote above, it is dangerous to deal with separated problems.

Our office creates an “asset management tool” that helps our clients by creating a “snap shot” of your staff members’ locations and your furniture and equipment locations. This brings the separated problems into a well organized package that will help your company stay out of danger’s way. Our clients end up having a floor plan with the furniture locations shown and with a printout of all the employees’ names, office names, furniture, equipment, and the condition of the assets. With this tool, our clients have an easier time at restructuring and reshaping their office facilities to meet these “fearful” times.

Don’t try to restructure your office without this “asset management tool.” You cannot afford to overlook this step. KATZ Communication has used Larry Lane’s services so they can keep track with all of there various company’s that are located throughout the country. He has also helped many other corporations such as Giro Centrale Vienna Bank, and Provincebanken in New York City. Call us at 212-594-2007 to have us begin this for your company today.

Experience in Architecture

It does not matter whether you want to renovate a home, office building, retail store, or even revitalize a has-been downtown, the one design ingredient that is imperative to use in order to make a lasting impression and cause the user to sense the significance of the “place” is Experience. Everyone has had their own experiences in life. Emotional triggers differ from one person to another. While one may perceive a space as being cozy and safe, another might view it as cramped and lonely. But, there are some social norms and proven architectural design tools that can be used to make a positive impact.

I was the project architect for Niketown, NY. The store is located on East 57th Street in Manhattan. It is next door to Tiffany’s and Trump’s famous Tower.

The first step that Nike Image Design made was deciding what they wanted their customers to experience while visiting this major flagship store. Some of the descriptive words and phrases that they came up with were: movement, nostalgia, uplifting aspirations, teamwork, connection with the community, progressive, technologically advanced thinking, and being decisive (“Just Do It”).

Nike also choreographed the experience that they wanted their customers to have. The customer was to experience the anticipation that one would have while entering a old monumental school gymnasium that was built in the 1930’s. An old gym was found in middle-America that had a large arch with windows and large vertical pilasters on either side of the arch. This became the architectural model to follow. As the customer approached the bronze revolving front doors, they would pass large antique lanterns and display boxes that looked a lot like ticket sales booths. After entering into the “Nike Museum” at the front of the store, they would pass through turnstiles in order to be in the ever-expanding 5 story atrium. The old scuffed up gym floor could be seen below a more modern elevated floor. Walls and ceilings were made to move on cue in order to have a “show” every 15 minutes. During the “show”, projected images of balls would appear to bounce off of walls, floors, ceilings and was synchronized with sounds of impact coming from speakers hidden in columns and resonating low tones under the floor. Customers would watch a brilliantly produced video during the “show” that continued to give the customer the experiences that Nike Image deliberately planned long before building this memorable place.

This building was to be like no other building in the world. Yet, it borrowed a lot of classical architectural elements to help tell its story. Curves were used in the public areas, including the shape of the elevator cabs, because they give one the feeling of accelerated movement. The façade had vertical flutes that led one’s eyes upward to the soaring flags that were on top of the building. Next time you visit the store, notice that the name of the building is PS 6453. If one was to dial that, they would spell NIKE on their phone.

Having a building that is so deeply based on creating an experience affected even those who were building it. Although the steel arching beams at the top of the atrium were welded, the steel fabricator dusted off their obsolete rivets manual and located black painted plastic caps exactly where they would be if the same steel beam was connected only with rivets – in order to maintain the 1930’s era experience.

When I talked with Donald Trump, the Duchess of York, and Spike Lee during the grand opening, it was evident that they were positively affected by the designed experience.

Experience is contagious. It affects all of us. Focus on how you want your customers and clients to feel and react while doing business with you and your company. Otherwise, you are just another forgettable commodity.

How do architects serve their clients?

Ever wanted to have a bigger office space, smaller office space, a new conference room and didn't know when to hire an architect or a contractor? Also, you might be curious as to what can an architect actually do for you besides draw up plans. Our radio show this week covers some of the basic services that you should expect from an architect. Check it out at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LaneArchitecture

Systems to overcome uncertainty

Dan and Janice are school teachers at a public school in central New Jersey. Dan is a math teacher. Janice teaches reading. They fell hopelessly in love four years ago and decided that today would be their wedding date. When the Star Ledger asked them why they selected 8-8-08 as the date of their eternal bonding, they both said the same reasons but I bet that the hidden truths are much different between them. Here is how the paper reported how the question was answered. Janice said “We were always obsessed with triple numbers. One, it will be easy to remember. Two, its unique. And three, its fun.”

If Don was asked to answer this same question, in private quarters, here is probably what he would say if he was to be really truthful, “I was always obsessed with triple numbers. Janice started to go along with it just because she wanted more of our relationship. Besides, one, it will be easy to remember. Two, it will be easy to remember. And three, it will be easy to remember.”

While Don is crunching numbers that are much more complicated than remembering just the number eight, he probably doesn’t want to be jarred by the testing question from Janice ten years from now, “Honey, do you remember our anniversary date?” and not be able to easily switch mental gears from the Boolean theory to basic marriage survival data. He probably looks at it as a system. Simple and easy to manage changes.

Changes in anyone’s lives can be tough. With change, comes a lot of uncertainty and stress.

Larry has written a book to help relieve the stress from uncertainty for anyone who is planning to move/expand/shrink into a new office space. He brings out the main characters who are involved in making your office relocation a success, interviews each one, and points out important systems that cannot be overlook by the team and by you. This is a must read for everyone about to move into a new office. Contact www.LaneArchitecture@aol.com to reserve your copy now!

Tips at selecting the carpet for your office

Today, we discussed several important tips about commercial carpets. Listen to our radio show to find more about it while Larry interviews Lane Brettschneider in their Manhattan carpet showroom. Here is the link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lanearchitecture

You can contact Lane's Floor Coverings & Interiors, Inc. at 212-532-5200 or 888-532-4343. Tell them you heard Lane on the radio when you call them.

Larry Lane