Designed in partnership with Gensler, the new facility shapes a connected, innovative culture to better serve its employees and the environment
Leading commercial flooring brands Patcraft and Shaw Contract are excited to announce the successful introduction of the Shaw Create Centre – a cutting-edge, three-story facility that is a living representation of the brands’ mission, people and values. Based on the idea that space shapes the personality of a business, the Shaw Create Centre opens opportunities to develop a culture that is authentic and aspirational – and, more than ever, to design and create things that matter.
Prior to the design of the Create Centre, the Shaw teams identified spatial opportunities by utilizing Gensler’s Workplace Performance Index (WPI), an online survey tool that explores how people work, what spaces they use for work and how well those spaces support that work.
The design goals for the new space:
- Enhance the way employees work and promote collaboration.
- Attract and retain the best Now and in the future.
- Create a space that supports and promotes a healthy lifestyle for employees.
With a focus on current and future employees, as well as clients and industry partners, the Create Centre boasts a break-through concept strategically designed with productivity and wellbeing in mind. A range of workspaces, from an open seating plan, to common areas used for impromptu team engagement and deliberately placed breakout rooms, promote connectivity, collaboration, productivity, movement and well-being – allowing associates to do their best work.
The new facility earned a post-occupancy Workplace Performance Index (WPI) Score of 73 – a 27-point increase from the previous facility and 6 points above the industry average. Shaw’s already substantial innovation score also saw improvement from a 3.9 to a 4.1 out of 5. The Create Centre is directly attached to one of the brands’ manufacturing facilities, allowing for an even more innovative iteration and development process.
The WPI results for the new space:
- Employees scored the space 4.4 out of 5 for supporting in-person collaboration – an increase from the previous score of 3.7.
- 96 percent of employees reported feeling highly committed to Shaw – equating to 4.7 out of 5, compared to the industry average of 3.9.
- 89 percent of employees report infrequently missing work due to illness (up from 74 percent previously).
“Our new workplace has had impact at multiple scales, with individuals who work here, our surrounding communities, and clients around the globe,” said John Stephens, Vice President of Marketing for Shaw Contract. “We’re seeing our associates collaborate more, from design to marketing and manufacturing, because their space enables them to explore and problem solve together. It’s had a tremendous impact on our culture.”
Jeff West, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development for Patcraft, adds, “We are keenly aware of the importance the built environment has on occupants’ performance and overall well-being. The Create Centre provides our product development and marketing teams an ideal space to collaborate, inspire creativity, and transform the experience of not only our employees but our customers and account managers. I have seen a notable increase in how often people are collaborating and hear consistent feedback about the pride and excitement this space brings to members of our team.”
“The Create Centre showcases Patcraft’s and Shaw Contract’s dedication to design and innovation as well as their commitment to the A&D industry,” says Meena Krenek, Associate, Design Director – Gensler Atlanta. “Gensler worked closely with Shaw to build a space that fosters new ways of thinking, supports a curious culture and provides teams with the tools to create innovative flooring solutions. An abundance of natural light, open, connective floor plans and access to outdoor space impacts both employees and visitors alike.”
To promote the highest level of well-being and sustainability, this LEED Silver certified facility was built with a solar façade for energy and glare reductions. The specific rotation of this façade of “fins” resulted in 25 percent less material used and allowed the use of glass with a high light transmittance, providing ample natural light to the space.
Effective workplace design links to higher business performance. The new Create Centre, located in Cartersville, Georgia, enables Patcraft and Shaw Contract to serve the global design community better than ever before. It’s a place for collaborative breakthroughs, for the best talent, and for promoting a healthy culture – a place where people truly want to be.
About Patcraft
Driven by imagination, intention and purpose, Patcraft creates high-performance flooring for every market sector. As a leading soft and hard surface commercial brand, we hold ourselves to the highest standards, delivering award-winning, high quality products that transform spaces and human experiences. Inspire, create, and transform every day with Patcraft.
About Shaw Contract
At Shaw Contract, we believe that the ground beneath your feet should have a positive impact on how you live, learn, work, heal and play. We strive for design excellence in everything we do – from conception to production to installation, it’s what sets us apart. We make flooring that delivers a purposeful blend of design elements, materiality, sustainability and performance. Every day we take on creative challenges to research, design and innovate flooring solutions that transform spaces across the globe.