Inspiring Offices: iHire's Open Office Space Inspires Collaboration & Creativity

In The City of Frederick, business spaces go beyond basics. Here, unique offices allow businesses to cultivate creativity, express their company's culture, and create a work environment that inspires. From industrial to classic, artsy to funky, historic to high tech, spaces abound to meet a variety of needs. 

Inspiring Offices is a feature that highlights some of the creative and unique office spaces in Frederick.

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek inside an inspiring office in Frederick - iHire. iHire's office is located in the former Bottling Works building on East All Saints Street in Downtown Frederick. The rehabilitated building retains its original industrial feel while providing a collaborative and efficient work environment for iHire's talented workforce.

iHire provides services to both employers and job seekers. Employers are provided tools to quickly and effectively fill open positions. Additionally, job seekers have access to a single platform that provides postings from numerous online sources.

Learn more about inspiring office, iHire.

iHire Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Shuster answered a few questions about what she  enjoys most about the office.

Why did you choose your current office location and how long has iHire been located here?

iHire has been in Downtown Frederick for about 15 years and in our current location for almost 10. We chose Frederick, as being in the county enables us to attract employees who prefer not to commute to DC or Baltimore. Further, the picturesque community has so much to offer our employees in the way of entertainment, dining and family-friendly activities; yet, we are still close to major metropolitan areas.    

Was it “move in” ready or did you have to design/fit it out?

Our space has evolved over the years. In the past, some customer-facing functions were housed in our Frederick location, such as our Customer Service and Sales teams, which required more traditional settings such as offices or cubicles, affording employees greater privacy/quiet. Those functions have transitioned to our Indiana office, giving us the opportunity to create a space more conducive to transparency, collaboration and innovation.  While we met with some designers for ideas, we managed the project in-house and inexpensively.    

There's plenty of brain fuel in iHire's well-stocked kitchen.

What inspirations did you use to decorate/design the space?

Our goals in designing the space were as follows: 

• Create an environment conducive to the greatest degree of collaboration possible (especially cross-functional collaboration)
• Increase communication and transparency
• Stimulate more casual conversations and decision-making given the lack of physical barriers, with perhaps fewer formal meetings being held, as a result
• Inspire greater team cohesiveness

What are the most unique aspects about your office space?

Our space is a completely open office with a number of “collaboration areas,” and even our senior leaders are “on the floor” with our employees. Staff members have the option to work sitting or standing at their adjustment desks, which are on wheels and may be moved for maximum flexibility/collaboration. Private/quiet areas are available for those needing some quiet time or privacy.  

What do you or your employees like best about the office space?

Our employees have reported that our new space has fostered transparency and trust, creating a relaxed work environment that is both productive and fun. In addition, the open office space has improved the follow of communication within teams. Instead of generating a constant stream of emails and waiting for replies, we ask questions face-to-face and get instant answers, resulting in greater ease and efficiency.  

Behind iHire's reception desk resides a 3D Printer.  Employees have the opportunity to upload their designs and create custom artwork as displayed above.

 

Find Your Own Inspiring Office.  If you are looking to open or expand a business in Frederick, we can help.  Contact us, and let us help you find your own inspiring office space so you can build your dream.

If YOU know of any interesting office spaces, let us know and we will put them on our list to feature.

Inspiring Offices: Wood Street

In The City of Frederick, business spaces go beyond basics. Here, unique offices allow businesses to cultivate creativity, express their company's culture, and create a work environment that inspires.  From industrial to classic, artsy to funky, historic to high tech, spaces abound to meet a variety of needs. 

Inspiring Offices is a feature that highlights some of the creative and unique office spaces in Frederick.

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek inside this month's inspiring office in Frederick - Wood Street. Wood Street partner Jamie Stup answered a few questions about what they love about their office space. 

August 2015 Inspiring Office - Wood Street
Founded in 2002, Wood Street has built a reputation of consistently dedicating itself to outstanding web design and development, as well as quality customer service. They are located at 303 East Patrick Street in Frederick.
 
Through these core principles, we have been able to acquire top-notch design, development and marketing talent as well as ally ourselves with some of the area’s leading experts in the industry.

Wood Street is managed by the partnership of James Stup, Jon-Mikel Bailey, Jason Giuliano, and Derek Jubach. Their partner team has over 35 years of combined web design and development experience. Smart growth has been, and continues to be, a top priority for the company. Through this philosophy, they are able to provide cost-effective solutions to existing and potential clients.

Why did you choose your current office location and how long has Wood Street been located here? 

We choose our office based on several factors, including its proximity to Downtown Frederick, that we have plenty of parking, and the office layout is very open. We've been here since 2011.

Was it “move in” ready or did you have to design/fit it out? 
The office space was technically move in ready, but it really needed some updates to modernize it - wood flooring in the conference room, new floors in the kitchen and bathroom, and a new coat of paint as well as some wiring. The "southwest" themed wall paper needed to come down as well as the teal carpeting in the conference room.

What inspirations did you use to decorate/design the space?

We're still working on decorating. Obviously, we hung several pieces of our work as well as our awards and accolades, but for the most part we like having an empty canvas. We work daily in so many different mediums, its nice to have an office that grounds us.

What are the most unique aspects about your office space?

The openness, interior brick surface and the conference room overlooking the offices are by far the best qualities. The theme of our space is really one of collaboration and teamwork.

What do your employees like best about the office space?
The open-office design allows all employees to converse with each other as well as supervisors. Also, the high ceilings come in handy during our indoor corn-hole tournaments.

Find Your Own Inspiring Office

If you are looking to open or expand a business in Frederick, we can help.  Contact us, and let us help you find your own inspiring office space so you can build your dream. 

If YOU know of any interesting office spaces, let us know and we will put them on our list to feature!

Inspiring Offices: En-Net Services

In The City of Frederick, business spaces go beyond basics. Here, unique offices allow businesses to cultivate creativity, express their company's culture, and create a work environment that inspires.  From industrial to classic, artsy to funky, historic to high tech, spaces abound to meet a variety of needs. 

Inspiring Offices is a feature that highlights some of the creative and unique office spaces in Frederick.

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek inside this month's inspiring office in Frederick - En-Net Services.

June 2015 Inspiring Office - En-Net Services
 

Originally, En-Net offered networking and energy consulting services to government contractors and major utility companies. By 1997 their offerings expanded to include  information technology products to Federal Government agencies. In 1998 En-Net was awarded a GSA schedule that is still utilized today and have formed many partnerships which allows teamwork on additional contract vehicles. Today, they take pride in offering turnkey solutions to all public sector entities including federal, state and local governments, as well as education.

DED staff met with Brian Sheffer, the original founding member and President, and learned the history about their unique building and office space. 
  

Why did you choose your current office location and how long has En-Net been located here? 

En-Net has always been located Downtown, in a previous location from 1996 to 2009, and now in our current location on East Street.  We were looking to expand our facility and wanted ample parking for our employees.  Our current location provides both, plus easy access to all parts of Frederick County.  En-Net employees love the fact that they work close to wonderful shops and restaurants in Downtown Frederick.

Was it “move in” ready or did you have to design/fit it out?

The previous owner of our building did a remarkable job in renovating and updating the building to accommodate a growing business.  However, due to our specific office needs, we reconfigured some of the office space.  We also repainted the entire interior and exterior of the building and just recently put in all new energy efficient lighting and windows.

An original torpedo hangs above the front porch entrance, honoring the building's original use as a torpedo manufacturer.

What inspirations did you use to decorate/design the space?

When redesigning our office space, we wanted to preserve the history of the original structure, which was a torpedo manufacturer, and then a gymnasium. We kept the original hardwood floors in the main entrance with the gymnasium logo. The office space also has an open warehouse ceiling, so we designed our sales staff offices to reflect the modern "aluminum and glass' feeling. Overall, we wanted to strike a balance with historical and modern while making the office space updated and functional for our business needs.

Another previous use of the building was the East Street Gym. Current owners Brian Sheffer and Kyle Yost kept the original hardwood floors and the gym logo intact.

What are the most unique aspects about your office space?

When sales representatives come into our office for the first time, they are amazed at how unique it is compared to other modular-style office buildings. We have vibrant colors on the walls throughout both floors and an original torpedo hanging above the front porch entrance honoring the original structure. The business unit locations on two floors allow camaraderie among colleagues while providing easy access for all employees to work together as needed. 

Offices retain an modern feel with aluminum and glass design elements.

What do your employees like best about the office space? En-Net prides itself in having a family culture among our employees. It was important for us to provide an office space reflecting this unique working environment. Our current office provides the appropriate balance of an efficient business operation with an updated and fun decorating style in a convenient location in vibrant downtown Frederick.

Enjoy More Photos of En-Net's Inspiring Office Space

Corrugated metal and artwork balance nicely against the original hardwood floors and a pop of green color.

Metal mail slots are functional and allow staff to also express their personalities.

Paintings such as the silhouette of a woman and the faux window scene add an element of fun and whimsy to the office space.

This cheerful office swag is sure to bring a smile to faces.

 Find Your Own Inspiring Office

If you are looking to open or expand a business in Frederick, we can help.  Contact us, and let us help you find your own inspiring office space so you can build your dream. 

If YOU know of any interesting office spaces, let us know and we will put them on our list to feature!

Inspiring Offices: LTD Creative

The location of LTD Creative used to be grocery store warehouse with wonderful hardwood floors. Photo by Mary Kate McKenna Photography.

In The City of Frederick, business spaces go beyond basics. Here, unique offices allow businesses to cultivate creativity, express their company's culture, and create a work environment that inspires.  From industrial to classic, artsy to funky, historic to high tech, spaces abound to meet a variety of needs. 

Inspiring Offices is a feature that will highlight some of the creative and unique office spaces in Frederick.

Find Your Own Inspiring Office
If you are looking to open or expand a business in Frederick, we can help.  Contact us, and let us help you find your own inspiring office space so you can build your dream.  

In the meantime, we will be highlighting one funky, cool space a month and perhaps you can be inspired to do creative things to your own space. 

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek inside this month's inspiring office in Frederick - LTD Creative.

May 2015 Inspiring Office - LTD Creative

LTD Creative is a strategic web and graphic design firm.  Their knowledge base encompasses vast expertise in the association community, including work with education, medical, science, travel, and housing organizations. LTD Creative helps clients achieve their objectives with targeted materials which deliver powerful messages and inspire action.

We recently met with Louanne Welgoss, Principal & Business Relations, and Timothy Finnen, Principal & Creative Director in their cool studio space. They gave us a tour and answered a few questions about their great space and what inspires them. 

1. Why did you choose your current office location and how long has LTD Creative been located here? 
We have been here since 2006 and we chose this location because we want to work downtown where we can walk everywhere. We were previously in a smaller space on E. Church Street.
 

LTD Creative staff Timothy Finnen, Louanne Welgoss, Evan Wiegand, Lauren Noll, and the office dog, Maggie. Photo by DED.

2.  Was it “move in” ready or did you have to design/fit it out?
It was almost move in ready, we took down a wall and custom painted and added some touches to make it more personal, like custom doors and ceiling tiles.

3.  What inspirations did you use to decorate/design the space?
We love color and we let the staff pick the colors of their office cubes, as long as it matched the overall color palette!

Colorful cubes at LTD Creative. Staff is encouraged to pick their own colors from a master palette. Photo by Mary Kate McKenna Photography.

4.  What are the most unique aspects about your office space?
It’s in an old grocery store warehouse and has wonderful hardwood floors.

5. What do your employees like best about the office space?  
Free parking, bright colors and the openness.

Bright colors and open atmosphere are two of the many attributes the employees love.
Photo by Mary Kate McKenna Photography.

If YOU know of any interesting office spaces, let us know and we will put them on our list to feature!

Inspiring Offices: Mosiac Power

In The City of Frederick, business spaces go beyond basics. Here, unique offices allow businesses to cultivate creativity, express their company's culture, and create a work environment that inspires.  From industrial to classic, artsy to funky, historic to high tech, spaces abound to meet a variety of needs. 

Inspiring Offices is a new feature that will highlight some of the creative and unique office spaces in Frederick.

Find Your Own Inspiring Office
If you are looking to open or expand a business in Frederick, we can help.  Contact us, and let us help you find your own Inspiring Office space so you can build your dream.  

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek inside this Inspiring Office in Frederick.
 

Mosiac Power

Mosaic Power calls this former industrial building home.

This week's Inspiring Office feature is Mosaic Power. With rooftop decks overlooking Frederick’s hottest outdoor happy hour, Alive@5, Mosaic Power’s office space offers staff flexible space, outdoor retreats, and an industrial vibe. CEO Laurie Vaudreuil wanted the space to feel comfortable, like home.  And it does.  A shared kitchen, couches, and even a hammock allow staff to take a break without leaving the office.  

"There are lots of historic buildings that can be re-purposed into quirky office space if you think outside the cubicle," says Vaudreuil.

  
Vaudreuil did not want to give up the hours a day required for commuting, so she made it a priority to keep her business in Frederick.  "Frederick also offers a very intelligent hiring pool and is well connected to services in both DC and Baltimore," she added.  
  
"Frederick is a great lifestyle town," explains Vaudreuil.  "There are plenty of opportunities to be part of the community socially, the dining downtown is walkable and fabulously diverse, and the creek and parks offer plenty of opportunity for exercise and mental health breaks."

Below are some of Mosaic Power's Inspiring Office features:

Unique architecture and design offers colorful office spaces throughout the building.

View from their office's patio overlooks Carroll Creek and serves as a perfect vantage point for Alive@5.

"We have spaces that encourage people to move around to suit their work needs and who they need to work with."

-Laurie Vaudreuil, CEO

Exposed brick and light office spaces abound in this building.

This hammock is ready for staff to help staff relax.

A kitchen in the building provides convenience for employees and a place to informally gather and share ideas.

A colorful conference room offers inspiration and plays on the mosaic motif.

This open work space offers staff the opportunity to collaborate on projects.

M is for Mosaic! Painted brick and personal touches make the space feel welcoming.

Recharge with fresh air and a creek-side view.