Ware Malcomb gives Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency’s new Orange County office open space with improved workflow
A custom wall covering behind the reception desk is based on the corporate logo. The hexagonal shape is repeated throughout the wall covering.
The new 25,000-square foot offices of Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency feature a custom wall covering behind the reception desk based on the corporate logo. The hexagonal shape is repeated throughout the wall covering.
Ware Malcomb announced in January that construction is complete on Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency’s (MMA) new Orange County office located at One Polaris Way in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Ware Malcomb provided interior architecture & design, and branding services for the corporate office project.
The new 25,000 square foot Class A corporate office space was designed to accommodate the growth of the Orange County office of Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency, one of the largest insurance brokers in the United States.
Colors are used to indicate neighborhoods and to help with wayfinding.
The overall office design is open and welcoming and includes a reception area, large break room, open offices, collaboration space, and phone rooms. Departments are grouped together to improve workflow, provide for a more collaborative work environment, and enable passive learning. Three “neighborhoods” are marked by different corporate colors (blue, green, and orange), which represent each department and allow for intuitive wayfinding. Employees often refer to these colors when deciding where to meet.
The design layout incorporates the company’s dual requirements of private offices and open space in a way that provides for future growth. Open work spaces have lowered panels at the workstations to provide ease of communication. These office workstations help teams who need to communicate quickly and openly, while the private offices accommodate staff who need to make confidential phone calls or hold meetings. A large break room serves as a café as well as a town-hall gathering space for employees. A custom wall covering behind the reception desk is based on the corporate logo. The hexagonal shape is repeated throughout the wall covering.
“MMA’s new office is designed to attract and retain top talent in the insurance industry, while providing a fun and collaborative atmosphere that is reflective of their corporate culture,” said Ted Heisler, Vice President, Interior Architecture & Design for Ware Malcomb. “The open design was a departure from their previous work environment, but the company has found the flexible space has exceeded their expectations in improving the everyday workflow and experience of employees.”
The General Contractor for the project was Turelk.
Ware Malcomb has been ranked #1 among architectural firms in Orange County according to the Orange County Business Journal, and was also featured on the publication’s 2017 lists of the Fastest Growing Private Companies and Best Places to Work. In addition, the firm ranked #21 on Zweig Group’s Hot Firm List, which ranks the top 100 fastest growing firms nationally in the architecture and engineering industry.