SECPA / SECOM

The Organization

SECPA, Southeast Colorado Power Association, is a not-for-profit cooperative electric utility serving all or parts of 11 rural Colorado counties–or 13,000 square miles.

Their customers are members of the cooperative and own the cooperative. In addition to electric service, SECPA also offers a Green Program, providing a wind-generated energy option to members.

SECOM, a division of SECPA, is Southern Colorado’s premier provider for fast and affordable internet, phone, and data services in rural communities. Among their services, they provide fiber internet, high-speed wireless internet, and Voice-Over-IP phone service for home and business use.

The approach

SECPA / SECOM hired an architect to design the building reconfiguration and Total Office to design the usage of the space.

The Total Office staff always starts a project by placing the people who will use the space at the heart of their design. They studied how staff interacted with each other and with customers. They interviewed department managers to understand their vision for team collaboration and growth. They observed how various meetings—both structured and spontaneous—were conducted. And they noticed how much sitting employees did throughout the day.

Total Office came back with a plan that addressed far more than a list of furniture for the two organizations. Among the solutions were:

• Total Office facilitated working sessions where the staff of both organizations could give input on the style of new furnishings that would be provided in the space
• Total Office recommended sit/stand desk options to improve the ergonomics of the office.
• The plan included a variety of meeting space configurations that facilitated ideation and collaboration.
• Total Office provided full renderings of all spaces in the new building, including those equipped with reused furniture or new furniture to help the team visualize how everything would fit.
• Total Office advised on the location of electrical outlets and data ports that would accommodate both current needs and future growth in the workspaces.
• Total Office developed custom solutions for problematic areas, such as call centers. When call volumes were high, employees needed quiet. But they didn’t want high cubicle walls that would block the natural light in the office.

The architect and Total Office identified a higher order need through the process: SECPA and SECOM needed a way to bring their employees together in the middle ground while they co-existed under the same roof. They proposed an innovative, “fun” breakroom that would draw the employees in, facilitate interactions and cultivate relationships.

Stanger’s response was, “Show us what fun looks like.” SECPA / SECOM immediately accepted the proposal when they saw the renderings.

Total Office designed the space for current and future usage, supplied all new furnishings and cubicle components, and moved and installed both new and reused furniture—on time and on budget.

The furnishings

Customers, visitors, and employees are greeted in the lobby by the modern, crisp lines of National’s Reno seating to set the stage for the cutting-edge companies housed within the facility. Total Office focused on creating spaces that were inviting and comfortable for all parties using the space.

Total Office selected a variety of seating and workspace furnishings that would pair well with existing furniture, would accommodate the needs of the individual work teams and would improve the ergonomics of the space. Coordinating cubes, tile systems and casegoods were provided by Workrite Ergonomics’ Sit Stand Desks, National’s WaveWorks casegoods, Group Lacasse’s Concept 300 and Concept 400E casegoods, Kimball’s Xsite and Footprint systems, and Workrite Ergonomics’ computer accessories. A variety of upholstered and mesh seating was supplied by Group Lacasse (Upswing and Savvy) to accommodate individual preferences. The IT Department opted for Kimball’s Kore line for open benching that would facilitate frequent collaboration. The variety in furnishings served multiple objectives—accommodating a variety of workstyle needs, opening spaces for natural light and airflow, and creating visual interest in the space.

Additional collaboration spaces, meeting rooms, and privacy rooms were furnished with Group Lacasse’s Hip Hop lounge seating and were equipped with Ghent glass boards for a modern, upscale setting for ideation.

The CEO’s office created a statement with high-end Kimball Priority casegoods and Group Lacasse Expression seating.

The results

With the new space, SECPA and SECOM employees came together and melded into a single entity. And word spread around the community.

SECPA / SECOM is now considered the best place to work in the county. The organization leaders are so proud of the space that they open the use of their boardroom to anyone in the county at no charge.

Total Office’s overall plan helped SECPA / SECOM see that their space could be so much more than cubicle farms and offices—it could be a place that the entire community could be proud of.

Ultimately, Total Office created an environment where employees want to be. The result is they collaborate, innovate and grow the business.