Comments on: Avoid “The tyranny of the new office” syndrome.

By: Peter Cowen

Peter Cowen — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 22:21:01 +0000

True wisdom–very insightful. Office environment is crucial–and new environments can have unforeseen consequences. I have also noticed that newer swank offices also (unconsciously) signal that a company does not have to be as scrappy or making sacrifices for the team. Thanks David–you articulated a truth that is rarely discussed

By: Ed Setzer

Ed Setzer — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 21:39:31 +0000

Your post on the tyranny of the new office, brought back thoughts from the mid point of my career. I then worked for TRW and was just breaking into the upper ranks. The company headquarters had for decades been located in relatively modest quarters in front of a large manufacturing facility. The new Chairman decided to build a new headquarters more befitting the Fortune 500 status the company had then reached. Some of us out in the far reaches of the company thought he was going overboard when the costs escalated for this 100 acre park-like, ultra modern facility complete with an estate guest house ate up our corporate allocations. On my first visit to the facility, one colleague thought out load that if it didn’t work as a headquarters, it could be turned into a mall. As we rode up the escalator, another quipped that he needed a new tie and started looking around for the appropriate shop. I marveled at the perfectly matched wood paneling and the story that an executive had gone to S America to oversee its selection. To cut the story short, that facility, the staff added to fill it up, and the inward shift of focus of that larger HQ staff, was one of the milestones leading to the the end of the century-long story of TRW about 15 years later.

I enjoy your posts.

By: Barry Yarkoni

Barry Yarkoni — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:11:10 +0000

Hi Dave,
Here is a link to a sketch by Chris Espinosa of the layout of Apple’s first real offices:

https://www.cultofmac.com/128374/blast-from-the-past-floormap-of-apples-original-bandley-1-headquarters/

I was one of the first to occupy the space marked as “production” in 1979 after production moved across the street. It was never all that quiet since Steve was about 20 feet away. But your point about creeping use of reserved space was humorously handled by Chris who labeled the unused space as “Tennis Courts?” Chris, by the way, is still at Apple!

Warmly,
Barry