OFFICE SPACE

To make its new workplace a happy one, Widerfunnel involved employees in the design

Marketing firm Widerfunnel let employees help design its digs

Growing from 13 to 35 workers in three years, Widerfunnel, which tests marketing strategies for other businesses, needed an office that wasn’t just bigger but better. So the Vancouver-based company leased a space with spectacular views of downtown and Burrard Inlet, then surveyed staff about what they needed to be productive and creative. The result is a workplace that accommodates various working styles, thanks to wireless technology, so team members can change locations throughout the day. Since employees moved in last August, their happiness scores have increased 51 percent.

Pick Your Spot The Town Hall (left) is designed for socializing, while the adjacent Solution Room has beanbag chairs and games that encourage thinking outside the box to help fix complex problemsCafé Culture The kitchen (below), right off the entrance, serves as a reception area, an alternative work location or a place to enjoy fresh fruit, coffee, tea or beer on tap

Back and Forth The main boardroom (above) is for client meetings, staff presentations of “a-ha” insights and, thanks to a convertible table, Ping-pong