Read the original article here, on Pittsburgh Business Times.

After 24 months of planning, coordinating and QCing everything under the sun – we are set to move in to our new offices on September 1^st, and I could not be happier.

Our building committee and the executive team have put a lot of thought and hard work into developing our new space, and after touring the building to make sure that the final touches are in place, I am excited to report that it was all worth it! We have created a dynamic and innovative space that both reflects the core principles of our firm, and will provide our team with the workspace, meeting rooms and technological features we need to further simply the lives of our clients.

On September 1^st, Waldron will move into our new offices, on the fourth floor of the newly constructed Beacon 1 office complex in Bridgeville. Our goal all along was to build our space to enhance three concepts central to our service offering: Creativity, Collaboration and Concentration, and I am confident that we hit all three. Our new space features an open plan, with team members from different departments situated throughout, to increase both transparency and communication, companywide. We found that in our previous space, with departments in different locations and in different buildings, many service projects were being built out, but without the intangible efficiencies that can occur only when the entire team is not only aware of the project, but easily accessible to provide their knowledge and experience.

To encourage creativity, we have built our office with versatile technology, throughout the space. Team members will enjoy a contemporary café, along the lines of a Starbucks, where team members will be able to grab an espresso, meet with a co-worker at table, counter or couch, plug in their iPhone or laptop and get to work in an environment designed to add a fresh perspective to the collaborative process. And when team members need to buckle down, we have constructed a library, with reference materials lining the walls, and dedicated work stations designed to create a quiet, focused environment. In addition, all team member workstations are equipped with sit-stand desks, which will allow the user to enjoy the health and productivity benefits of periodically standing while they work throughout the day. To further support the physical and mental health of our team, we have constructed an on-site gym, which will allow team members a fantastic amenity to reinvigorate their body and mind.

Visiting clients will enjoy the benefits of our new space as well. Our new conference rooms feature floor to ceiling windows, facing the I-79 corridor and the surrounding mountainside, as well as new contemporary furniture. We have also outfitted our conference rooms with upgraded technology, allowing team members to lower shades, pull up a report and dim the lights with the touch of a button on an iPad. Or if a client prefers their meeting to be in a more casual setting, we can host them in our new client lounge, which features a pool table, a wet bar and a number of comfortable seating options.

The process of building our new office was driven by one clear goal – to provide Waldron team members with the tools and the environment to further improve the service we provide to our clients, and to enhance the client experience when we host meetings on-site.

Disclaimer

While providing a comprehensive forecast for the construction progress of Beacon 1 is somewhat of a challenge, given all of the moving parts, I can say with confidence that our new building remains a baseball’s throw away from our current offices at 1150 Old Pond Road.

But to keep everyone up to date about what is taking place right now, and what’s coming up next, here is a status update. For the most part, weather has cooperated this winter (we have had six “weather days”), and the exterior of the building is expected to be fully enclosed by the middle of April. Currently, the brick façade is being installed, after which the brick will be cleaned with an acid wash detergent, then aluminum “storefront frames” will be completed (storefront frames at west elevation pictured above), and external glass panels, “curtain walls”, will be installed after that. Following the enclosure of the building, the next projects will be the buildout of the sidewalks (targeted start date: April 14), the installation of the elevators (target completion date: May 1) and the installation of the solar panels on the roof and the solar canopy (target start date: May 15). The elevators and solar panels are both dependent on the completion of electrical wiring for the building, and the subsequent establishment of permanent power. The solar panels will be an innovative and green cost saving feature of Beacon 1; the power they generate will be used to light common areas throughout the building, including elevator lobbies on each floor, and when there is overflow produced, the energy can be sold back to Penn Power to reduce our monthly electric bill.

Waldron’s inter-department Beacon 1 design team is close to finalizing the interior layout and flow through for our new home. The team is working hard to create a space for team members that will emphasize the three C’s: Collaboration, Creativity and Concentration, which will be vital for continuing to provide our clients with the comprehensive and integrated service at the core of our offering, but also to foster additional innovation and ingenuity through collaboration. In addition, the team is working to deliver a welcoming and appealing space for clients and prospects conducting meetings in our new offices.

Interior construction of work stations, conference rooms and common areas is scheduled to begin in the middle of April and is expected to take about 16 weeks to complete.

Disclaimer