For the Dolinka Group, LLC, a public finance and facilities planning consulting firm, Newport Beach, Calif.-based H. Hendy Associates broke down a few barriers in redesigning their corporate office, home to 52 employees.

"We knew from the onset that the company would be better served by opening up areas previously behind closed doors and implementing opaque and airy design elements to foster open communication," says Felicia Hyde, senior design at HHA.

According to principal Heidi Hendy, the space previously lacked excitement, and although it was organized, did not reflect the leadership style of president and CEO Benjamin Dolinka.

"In addition to infusing a new and exciting 'vibe' into the office for our employees, Felicia's team delivered a design that enabled us to function at a higher capacity," says Dolinka. "Not only will this bring a positive impact to our bottom line, it will provide an environment that inspires collaboration and success."

When HHA performed a cultural analysis on the space, employees responded by describing the current office as "half-hazard, disjointed, devoid of any team synergy and very hierarchical and sterile." What they wanted instead was a cross-functional orientation that fostered not only creative energy, but also their brand.

Functionality and flexibility was also increased by reducing the amount of offices to create more workstations. Panel heights on each workstation were lowered to facilitate collaboration. All doors were removed from coffee rooms and all cabinetry was reassessed. "Our budget was eventually taken down about 30 percent mid-stream," says Hendy, "So we had to look at our design and decide what was necessary and what wasn't, and what had no impact on either aesthetics or function." The lunchroom was opened up and combined with the training room to allow for a more versatile, multi-use space.

HHA also blended the reception area with the workspace, which was transformed into a much more playful area with an open coffee bar that serves as a space for ad-hoc meetings, multi-striped carpeting, contemporary cabinetry, and red accent light fixtures. The more conservative reception area connects to the workspace through a "gallery" hallway, that will eventually feature artwork from the students of the school districts Dolinka serves.