Having progressed from tech startup to profitable and growing enterprise, Kayak Software Corp. knows it owes many of its successes to its employees.
When designing its future Stamford headquarters, that”™s why the company spared no expense.
The cost of Kayak”™s 7 Market St. offices will equate to about $75,000 per employee who is to be stationed at the headquarters, said Kayak CEO and co-founder Steve Hafner.
“If you have a great work environment, you”™re going to get more productive employees,” Hafner said.
Company officials say the investment will pay off by allowing Kayak to attract and retain the best and brightest. The design is modern and seeks to compete with innovative office spaces like those in Silicon Valley.
Anne Bavier, principal of Bavier Design L.L.C. in Stamford, said the commercial real estate in Fairfield County is becoming more international in style and losing its distinctive “Connecticut” feel.
“I hate to say it, but it”™s getting New York-y,” said Bavier, who has been an architect and interior designer in New York and Fairfield County for 30 years. “The level of design is getting more clean and contemporary.”
While Fairfield County used to be marked by classic crown molding, chandeliers and oriental rugs, businesses are now looking to become more international and less provincial with more open space, natural light and collaborative workstations, Bavier said.
Construction on Kayak”™s new $3.5 million headquarters, just blocks away from the Stamford Metro-North Railroad station in Building & Land Technology Corp.”™s Harbor Point development, began earlier this month.
“We want to have a fun atmosphere for our employees to work in,” Hafner said. “Our company has a proven track record of growing and we wanted a space that would accommodate growth and attract and retain talent from New York City.”
Hafner said technology companies in particular need to create “edgier” spaces to compete for top talent, who are usually in their 20s and 30s and want as many amenities as possible. Kayak”™s offices will include a recreation room, massage room, media room, a pool table, an open bar, free food and a locker room.
Additionally, the conference room will be framed by the body of an old airplane and the reception desk will be made out of an old airplane engine.
Kayak, which is in the process of being acquired by priceline.com Inc. of Norwalk, is slated to move into its new office in August.
Jeffrey Newman, executive vice president of Malkin Properties L.L.C., said the typical layout of an office is much different than it was 10 or 20 years ago. There are fewer closed offices and more interiors tailored to meet companies”™ specific needs, he said.
“People are willing to pay extra if it will lead to more efficiencies and revenue,” Newman said. “It”™s a recruitment and retention tool for them.”
Malkin Properties owns and manages roughly 2 million square feet of commercial office space in Westchester and Fairfield counties. If an existing space isn”™t just what a tenant wants, Newman said the developer tasks an architect on staff and an affiliated construction company to redesign the office at the tenant”™s request.
But not every company is jumping on the contemporary-design bandwagon. Tauck Inc., a travel tour guide company, prides itself on its unique Tiki-themed office in Norwalk. Perhaps an inspiration to Kayak, Tauck”™s offices offer a fun, travel vibe for its employees.
“I wanted it to be a fun place for our employees, more homey,” said Peter Tauck, a past co-president who designed the office space. “I wanted to bring some creativity and whimsy into it. We”™re known for our element of surprise.”
Designed about 10 years ago, the windows to the conference rooms are shaped like the windows of a large boat, the floor is marked by a compass rose and the office”™s main hallway features a bamboo, jungle-themed bridge. Additionally, the company”™s floor plan is intentionally centered around the customer call center as a reminder of what”™s most important ”” the customer, Tauck said.
The walls are lined with old awards, company slogans, family photos and photos of employees volunteering in the community. The space ”” described as “Warren Buffet meets Jimmy Buffet” ”” is a far cry from the modern, contemporary look of corporate America.
Tauck said he spent roughly $30,000 to outfit the office and while the company has made some changes to include more gathering spaces, he doesn”™t anticipate many more upgrades. The company was ranked as the second best place to work in Connecticut among small and midsize businesses by the Hartford Business Journal in 2012.
“It”™s creativity, not money that can create the ”˜wow,”™” Tauck said.
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