Canadian HR Reporter

CANADIAN HR REPORTER CANADIAN HR REPORTER February 24, 2014 February 24, 2014 16 FEATURES FEATURES CORPORATE CULTURE The art of corporate culture Artwork spruces up walls, sets tone for 'inspirational' offi ce By Philippe Burton C ompanies big and small are shifting to open- concept offi ces. Aimia, a Montreal-based global loyalty company, recently made the shift in its Toronto offi ce and it has experienced the positive ef- fects an open offi ce can have on promoting collaboration, build- ing a unifi ed culture and, ulti- mately, employee satisfaction. As the company grew and evolved, it became apparent the former Toronto location — at the Air Canada Centre — didn't accommodate its needs or appro- priately refl ect the vibrancy of the new brand, which was changed from Groupe Aeroplan to Aimia in late 2011. Its goal is to inspire brands to build lasting and meaningful re- lationships with customers, and it needed an environment that was equally as inspirational. Once the new space was found, things moved quickly, with em- ployees involved throughout the process to weigh in on some key elements of their future offi ce. When the space was found, Aimia formed a real estate com- mittee of employees from diff er- ent departments to provide on- going input and to help commu- nicate key elements of the move. e company held visioning ses- sions with a number of employees at all levels to develop the guiding principles that would infl uence the design of the space. For example, there was a strong desire from employees to create an environment with ample natu- ral light and a feeling of openness. In addition, multiple breakout spaces were required throughout the offi ce for spontaneous and informal meetings. Employees also wanted a space they could be proud of when hosting clients and other visitors. People are aff ected on a num- ber of levels by their workplace environment. A sense of own- ership and empowerment over workspaces has been shown to contribute to psychological com- fort, a sense of belonging and even commitment to an organization, according to Jacqueline Visher, a professor at the University of Montreal and author of Work- space Strategies: Environment as a Tool for Work. In January 2013, the offi ce was ready and Aimia moved into the new space. A survey con- ducted with employees a few months later found 97 per cent were proud of their new offi ces and gave a thumbs up to the natural light, open en- vironment and collaborative spaces. New visitors continue to comment on the beauty and originality of the space. Offi ce as art gallery While Aimia is in the business of loyalty, its community- based initiatives have always included a deep commitment to arts and culture. e organiza- tion has a longstanding partner- ship with the Art Gallery of On- tario (AGO) which includes the co-creation of the Aimia/AGO Photography Prize. So it was only fi tting the offi ce walls be adorned with artwork from those initiatives. As with the offi ce design, employees were involved in choosing the artwork from the prize fi nallists, as well as a selection of contemporary art from Canadian galleries and in- dependent Canadian artists. "We look toward artists to blaze new trails, provide new ways of looking at the world and connect communities through their uni- fying vision. Our new space gives shape and substance to what we stand for as a company. Not only is it a strong representation of Aimia's culture, but it underscores the way we work and collaborate. The design reflects the energy of our culture, our values as an organization, as well our brand," said Canadian president and CEO Vince Timpano in a booklet pro- duced in conjunction with the AGO to showcase Aimia's new art collection. The new office supports the notion that workspaces are not merely enhanced by the presence of art but employees are inspired by the creativity that surrounds them. is inspiration cultivates an atmosphere of inquisitiveness, promotes dialogue and encour- ages progress. For companies focused on in- novation, the need to inspire new concepts and so lutions is crucial to business success. e new Toronto offi ce space worked so well, it is being used as a template for Aimia's new Mon- treal offi ce. In April, the company will open Aimia Tower in Montreal and the design will refl ect the same principles of the Toronto offi ce, with signifi cant infl uence from employees along the way. Aimia's offi ces in London, U.K., and Min- neapolis have also introduced similar designs — with the end goal a highly engaged, winning environment. As many companies begin to employ offi ce design as not sim- ply a functional background but a signifi cant and active element in shaping their brand identity and attracting and retaining the best employees, they have also begun to re-evaluate its poten- tial for creating a productive environment. e rationale is happy employ- ees are more engaged, motivated and reliable and in times of in- tense competition, a strong team could become a company's great- est asset. Philippe Burton is vice-president of people, culture and corporate reputa- tion at Aimia Canada. For more infor- mation, visit aimia.ca. Credit: Aimia Aimia's new office in Toronto was designed with plenty of input from employees. It has a strong relationship with the Art Gallery of Ontario and some of the art that adorns its walls come from that partnership.

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