Simplisafe with IA Interior Architects
Hear from the designer in the episode below for more in-depth project stories!
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Hear from the designer in the episode below for more in-depth project stories! -
Photo credit: © Robert Benson Photography
As workplace design has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, SimpliSafe has taken the lead in adopting a new approach to work that prioritizes the well-being of its employees, brand, and customers. Their new headquarters in Downtown Boston serves as a collaborative space for a hybrid workforce and an innovation hub for all functions, especially its engineering and product teams. The people-first space was conceived to house many of the company's key functions under one roof, including workshop spaces for product development, an engineering lab, mock spaces for frontline agents to train and innovate, and places for the marketing, finance, legal, and other teams to collaborate in person.
Photo credit: © Robert Benson Photography
The headquarters represents a workplace rooted in post-pandemic principles. IA’s design was launched pre-pandemic as a relocation to support a growing headcount with an innovative workspace. When the pandemic hit, the design had to pivot to ensure high performance and agility, support community interactions, and create a destination where employees would be excited to come in and collaborate.
Photo credit: © Robert Benson Photography
The space is characterized by semi-open and enclosed collaboration areas equipped with state-of-the-art technology and situated in a flexible, overarching open workspace. A variety of conference rooms with excellent acoustics support hybrid meetings with ease. Seating is purposefully unassigned, offering an array of options – team and high-top tables, focus pods, and height-adjustable desks.
Photo credit: © Robert Benson Photography
“Designing a corporate headquarters that can truly support an organization as they grow and evolve is a compelling task, especially during a global pandemic. Nothing was certain beyond the current day, but luckily, SimpliSafe's leadership team had a strong vision that guided us. They believe in the power of the workplace. IA Interior Architects does too,” shares Reetika Vijay, Managing Principal of IA Interior Architects.
Not only does the space support work, but it is designed to support innovation. A dedicated research and development lab and maker space offer a place for product and engineering teams to collaborate on the product lifecycle – from concepting and developing prototypes all the way through commercialization.
Photo credit: © Robert Benson Photography
Inspired by SimpliSafe's products and services, the new office reflects a modern and intuitive design. Existing steel structures have transitioned to wood post and beam design elements with multi-pane glass walls. Features built into the infrastructure, such as bay lighting that can easily convert for universal benching, support flexibility, and future evolution. Innovative technology combined with residential elements and soft natural materials align with SimpliSafe’s sophisticated, yet intuitive products and services. Company values are emphasized through graphics created by IA’s experiential design team that reflect customer stories and SimpliSafe’s mission in action.
Photo credit: © Robert Benson Photography
A grand stair connects the floors and passes through floor-specific destinations: satellite cafes, libraries, a large café for employee convenience, and respite. A roof deck will soon open off the main café to allow for employee outdoor space, games, and socialization. IA also created a mock house showcasing SimpliSafe's products in action, which serves as a physical reminder to employees of the company’s mission to make every home secure. The mock house is an essential part of the headquarters and is intended for visitors, recruits, and staff.
Photo credit: © Robert Benson Photography
The overall design reflects a modern and intuitive design that focuses on hybrid work and the principles of collaboration, team building, and flexibility. "Every aspect of workplace design has shifted over the past few years. SimpliSafe is a pioneer in embracing a new way of work that best supports its employees, brand, and customers, above all." Reetika Vijay, Managing Principal at IA Interior Architects, said.
Photo credit: © Robert Benson Photography
The move comes as SimpliSafe experiences continued growth. The Boston-based company, which also has a strong presence in Richmond, Virginia, and Manchester, United Kingdom, has grown its overall headcount to nearly 1,200 – marking a nearly 30 percent increase year-over-year. SimpliSafe has roughly 500 Boston-based employees and projects nearly 100 hires over the coming year across core business functions, with a heightened emphasis on roles in product and engineering research and development, logistics, information security, and information technology.
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