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6. Add art to the space. When I was in the office daily for Zweig Group, we always had a rotating display of motorcycles in our lobby and/or outside my own personal office. How about hanging employee paintings all in one size? Portman Architects always had their founder’s sculptures displayed throughout their space. Years ago, I remember seeing employees’ children’s art displayed in HOK’s offices. Liven it up and change the art or at least some of it throughout the year. 7. Clean up the building exterior. It may be as simple as complaining to your landlord about the state of the parking lots or overgrown landscaping, or taking matters into your own hands and getting your employees together for a little exterior maintenance project. Look at the exterior lighting and signage, too. Fix what needs fixing to look like you have some higher standards. If you need money and have been in business for a long time, your bank will probably give you an amortizing loan to pay for these and other improvements you want to make. Ask them. Or maybe it’s time to renew your lease and your landlord will roll some or all of these costs into a new lease for you. If there’s a will, there’s a way. Make it happen. Show everyone it’s not business as usual any longer and you are in a new era. You may find it a helpful tool to reinforce your change program. Mark Zweig is Zweig Group’s chairman and founder. Contact him at mzweig@zweiggroup.com.
MARK ZWEIG, from page 5
orange oak built-ins have seen better days. And duct tape on the carpet covering cords? Come on. Paint everything that doesn’t move. Change the ceiling tiles – not just the water-spotted ones caused by leaks, but all of them. Get some new multi-colored industrial carpet tiles that aren’t worn and stained. 4. Improve the common areas. Make the conference rooms, lunch room/kitchen, and outdoor patio areas nicer. New furniture, appliances, window treatments, lighting – improve it all. Fix up the bathrooms. Nice bathrooms make a statement to both employees and outside visitors. “Here are some things I have seen AEC firms actually do with their facilities over the years when they find themselves implementing major changes.” 5. Bring in more electronic “life.” TVs are cheap these days! Hang them everywhere. Play an ever-running slideshow of past projects. Show pictures of employees with mini-bios. Show project site tours. Share performance metrics from the business. Turn on the business news channel. Share a “Welcome to So-and-So” graphic throughout the office to make key visitors feel special. Give the place some light and movement visually to wake everyone up.
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THE ZWEIG LETTER JULY 14, 2025, ISSUE 1593
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