Creating the Work Spaces that Draw Talent to Indianapolis

The future economy will be driven by data, powered by robotics and heavily invested in the building blocks of nature – biotech and genetic engineering. That’s true of the economy nationwide, and it’s especially true here in Indianapolis, where dominant pharmaceutical and biotech companies are putting us at the cutting edge of the science-based economy.

It all sounds larger than life. But the facilities that will house these industries will always be designed and scaled for ordinary people. That’s important to keep front of mind because, while we can’t know exactly what the future holds, we do know the best work will always be done in the places that recruit the most skilled people.

A skilled workforce is so important to some of our clients that they’re already thinking about what today’s elementary school students need to be learning – and what kind of workplaces they’ll want to work in.

When I was first looking for a job – 20+ years ago – I was happy to apply anywhere that was hiring. And I thought a lot about how I could make a good first impression on my potential boss. But the economy has changed. Now, especially when it comes to highly sought-after skills, companies have to think about how to make a good first impression on the people they want to hire.

Employers know that their facilities will tell potential employees a lot about whether they are applying at a place that values collaborative input, creativity and innovation.

The research facilities we are building today don’t resemble the simple laboratories you might picture from old movies. These are colorful, bright, energetic places – with lots of meeting space and open layouts designed to facilitate collaboration.

Whether we are building brand new research facilities, or retrofitting existing spaces, we not only have to be thinking about the way the materials we use will interact with the products that will be developed in them, but also about how the space will look and feel to the top talent the industry needs to recruit.

More and more, we are being asked to convert “dead spaces” in older buildings into collaborative workspaces – removing walls, changing colors and installing different lighting.  We’ve even helped create on-campus bars and cafeterias. Our clients are designing facilities with an eye for the desires of a workforce that values personal development and the three Cs: collaboration, communications and connections. 

When I started with Messer, I was working on simpler projects – concrete parking garages, for example. But as I became more experienced and as Messer became more proven, we started working with more complex clients, firms that work on cutting-edge science – and lead the world in it.

Their high expectations, top-shelf standards and well-thought-out processes made us a better company. Meanwhile, our own commitment to quality, high-standard construction has ensured they have the right infrastructure to grow their business and their workforce.

By transforming work spaces through construction and design we’re helping to position Indianapolis as key recruiter of top talent. We’re working to ensure that Indianapolis is ready for whatever the future holds.