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Keeping true to the company’s values and culture, Edelman Hong Kong created an open and spacious office space in Wan Chai’s Central Plaza. A large-scale office makeover in 2012 and a few further touchups down the road, Edelman’s office space encourages openness and integration across all teams and levels, breaking down silos and boundaries previously created by walls and dividers.
As an integrated communications marketing firm, Edelman’s Hong Kong office has a diverse and specialist team of more than 90 professionals. "Our business is all about team culture, openness and creativity, that’s why we made our office very open with a great sense of shared space," says Adrian Warr, managing director, Edelman Hong Kong.
To bring the company’s vision to life, Edelman worked with an architectural firm to ensure a practical yet creative design. “A lot of companies come up with a design, and then hire a contractor to execute. However, we used professionals to ensure our office was an extension of our ideology and not just a well-designed space,” Warr adds.
The office has ten meeting rooms of various sizes to address different needs, some with privacy filters and some without. Warr explains that this was intentionally designed to ensure there are rooms that are open and free for brainstorming and internal meetings, and others for private client meetings.
There are plenty of bean bags, sofas, stools, and even a foosball table in the office to enhance a friendly and balanced work culture. Many staff members consider such non-office standard furniture as relaxing, homely and casual.
"Edelman is a flat and friendly organisation. Our founder’s principle was that everyone is an account executive. And our independence gives us the freedom to be constantly curious. We tried to bring all that to life through the different setups as it helps each member of the team bring out their true creativity. After all, we are a creative business," says Warr.
The office design aligns with the company’s business goals as Edelman Hong Kong’s business strategy is about integration and being “one agency”. Warr explains, “Our Hong Kong ethos is ONE: ONE vision, ONE big family, ONE love. We have broken down silos and integrated different practices. This means more opportunities for our teams and a more client-centric approach. Our office is one big open space with no boundaries, designed for one big team that is unstoppable.”
Edelman is focusing on new set of skills, which include strategy, planning, research, creative and design. These skill sets do not necessarily fall under traditional PR mode, but sits at the heart of Edelman’s business. It explains why the shared space with digital, planning and creative is situated at the center of the office, helping instil Edelman’s creative and strategic mission.
Photos / Provided
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