Patrons Oxford Insurance
Photos by James Salomon
Project Information
20,000 SF
85 Employees
Designing a Workplace For And With Employees.
Patrons Oxford, previously located in Auburn, Maine, determined they needed to move to Southern Maine to recruit and retain the talent required to support their growing company. Lisa Whited collaborated with Scott Simons Architects to design a new 20,000-square-foot building in the Portland Technology Park.
Lisa Whited and the design team worked with Patrons’ employees from the very beginning – issuing an exclusive Workplace (Pre-Design) Environment survey – and conducting numerous workshops, including a Culture Workshop and Vision Clarification.
“From workplace strategy to change management, employee engagement and design, Lisa Whited provided exactly what we were looking for.”
Mark A. Pettingill, President + CEO, Patrons Oxford Insurance
Workplace Culture Shift
The results of the workplace surveys and workshops informed the size and configuration of the new building. Many long-term employees had concerns not just about a new working environment but also about relocating from Auburn to Portland. Fear of workplace change takes many forms. Whited’s work with Patrons included not just the physical workplace layout and interior design but also working with management to consider new approaches to connect and engage employees. Patrons recognized the opportunity to shift their culture with their new building and embraced the process.
