Cramer-Krasselt’s 3rd Ward Milwaukee office is a combination play zone and work space. There are pingpong and foosball tables, along with room for yoga classes. Yet at the same time, there is open work space that encourages collaboration among employees.
The firm’s offices are located in an old warehouse at 246 E. Chicago St., and are a great combination of functional work space and play space for employees and clients, said Betsy Brown, executive vice president and general manager of Cramer-Krasselt in Milwaukee.
That look helped the firm win a designation as one of Milwaukee’s Coolest Offices by the Milwaukee Business Journal. Cramer-Krasselt is one of 10 firms that have earned that designation in the newspaper’s awards program. The winners will be featured on the Milwaukee Business Journal’s website over the next two weeks, and in our April 24 weekly issue. Our first two winners were announced earlier this week – Dental Associates, which is located in the Iron Block Building in downtown Milwaukee, and Digital Measures, which is located in Milwaukee’s 3rd Ward.
“We want to inspire a sense of freedom while we work, and we have built in many teaming areas where employees can collaborate, or have some quiet time for thinking,” Brown said.
I caught up with Brown recently to talk about the firm’s space:
Q: Talk about the process that was used to determine the look of your office space?
A: We wanted a space that inspired creativity, but that also reflected our rich history. C-K started in Milwaukee in 1898 and it’s something we’re extremely proud of. We wanted our space to reflect our roots, and pave the way for forward thinking. The open nature of the office, the use of reclaimed materials, the large skylights and the whimsical touches in our design help our employees to feel comfortable and inspire creative thinking.”
Q: Has the office space been helpful in recruiting and retaining employees?
A: “Yes. Our employees and our clients consistently talk about how the space makes them feel not only comfortable, but also inspired. Our employees like the open concept, the skylights, the art work, the teaming areas and the “play areas” like foosball and pingpong.”
Q: Can you explain some of the unique aspects of the space and how it is helpful to employees?
A: “We think we have a nice mix of large and small meeting spaces that help to spur collaboration and teamwork. The high ceilings are a great feature that helps employees “breathe” and not feel enclosed or weighed down. We want to inspire a sense of freedom while we work, and we have built in many teaming areas where employees can collaborate, or have some quiet time for thinking.
“Our café promotes a team atmosphere where the entire company can gather in one place together. And our “play areas,” where we offer pingpong, television and video games, foosball, etc. give our employees a break during stressful days so they can come back to their desks refreshed.”
Q: How long have you offered yoga classes? Why were they started?
A: “Our onsite yoga classes, held over the lunch hour, began last July. We started offering yoga as a stress reliever. Yoga has been proven to reduce stress and improve health. We want our employees to be as healthy and comfortable as possible during the hours they are here.”
Q: Any good pingpong tournament stories? How often are the table and the foosball game used?
A: “The pingping table is used all day, every day. Our pingpong tournaments aren’t quite as closely followed as March Madness, but they do inspire some trash-talk and competition. The foosball table is busiest over the lunch hour.”