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Office Culture: Who Are We, Really?

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Viktor Frankl

 

As we create a roadmap and prepare to return to work, I am reminded of Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning,” which chronicles his life inside a Nazi concentration camp. It is one of the most profound and insightful books I have ever read and continue to reread through different stages of my life. In the book, Frankl outlines three principles in his search for the meaning of life, one of which is how we deal with unavoidable suffering. COVID-19 is today’s unavoidable suffering.

The way an organization’s leadership responds to COVID-19 puts their “true self” on naked display for all to bear witness. In this era of a global pandemic, inspirational posters adorning office hallways no longer veil what may be at the core of your company. This crisis shines a bright light on your true, authentic corporate culture.

Anyone who knows me knows that I place a great emphasis on company culture. That always hasn’t worked in my favor, but despite that, I carry the belief that it is better to be surrounded by “family” than it is to be surrounded by “employees.” This current crisis has reinforced that belief to my core.

 

Hello darkness, meet clarity.

What has your company done for you?

Great cultures show up in moments of challenge and struggle. As we move through our grand “work from home” experiment, many organizations have been exemplary in their support for their teams.  From the obvious tactics of making certain they have the right technology in place, to the not so obvious – like checking in on a regular basis to assess mental health and stress.

The essence of a strong culture and impactful leadership depends on the principle of putting your team’s needs ahead of your own. This crisis has given all of us an opportunity to see where leadership stands across a broad spectrum of businesses.

What has your company done for others?

Empathy is the hallmark of great leaders. Of all of the experiences and emotions that I have woken up to each day during this crisis, nothing has been more surprising and reaffirming than the great humanity on display around the globe, from the alley operas performed in Italy to our own neighborhood dance parties.

But above these highlight reels, many companies have done some amazing things, from re-engineering entire manufacturing processes to support mission critical supplies for frontline healthcare workers to shutting down profitable operations completely, rather than putting their people at risk.

Some admirable businesses decided to pay rent even when it is hard, while others chose not to even when it is easy. Some companies chose to stop paying employees because it is an option; others continue to pay their team because they should.

In the months and years ahead, I predict a ‘great reckoning’ as organizations are forced to answer tough questions from both their employees and the courts of public opinion.

This is as good of time as any to observe the decisions being made and contrast them against your organization’s stated culture and principles. The alignment, or misalignment, of these principles will tell you what the future looks like.

 

Going Forward – Hallmarks of Leading Companies

Coworking Space

Company culture, it is more than a poster on the wall.

Perhaps finally, companies will acknowledge the importance of culture as context for performance and employee engagement. Going forward, company operating principles will be well-established and show up in daily activities. We are already seeing this transformational drift in how shareholders view organizations with their response to the COVID pandemic. Never before has public shaming been so quick, nor has it ever generated such immediate response. Thanks, Shake Shack; let’s keep it real!

Your employer will be a bigger part of your life.

The crisis has given companies not only the opportunity, but also the responsibility to care for their teams in ways they never contemplated before. Companies are approaching employee wellbeing more holistically—not only in terms of the physical, but also mental and emotional wellbeing. Employees are recognizing the importance of wellness, meditation, getting outdoors, solitude and community in a profound manner. Companies have recognized this, as well, and will assuredly make it a new priority.

Also, as we have learned to appreciate our time at home, we have come to realize its drawbacks. I would expect companies to work hard at reinforcing employee engagement and seek ways to provide a ‘high fidelity’ experience for their teams at the workplace.

It’s lonely out there.

We were more or less forced down this social distance track, but once the coronavirus has left for good, some ‘big questions’ about our purpose will be left in its wake –  both professionally and in life. We have come to realize that socializing is the primary fuel of happiness, and now it needs to be in the right measurements. Sure, we will have survived the virus and learned the efficiency of a 100% digital lifestyle, but as appealing as it first seemed, something was missing. We need that something – our craving for a physical sense of belonging and a desire for human connection beyond pixels.

This imposed isolation has led to increased depression and loneliness. This was a trending topic pre-COVID and it is now front and center. Keeping people mentally healthy now shares the stage with physical well-being as among the greatest health issues facing Western societies.

Isolation is a primary factor in depression, anxiety and other significant mental health issues—and the need for physical and social distancing has only exacerbated this struggle. Previously, mental health may not have received the necessary attention it deserved. Now, meditation apps like Headspace and Calm are actively promoted by companies to tend to the anxiety that has cascaded into our everyday life.

Your employer and co-workers now get it; life and work can be a struggle. 

 After spending never ending days at home—especially without the support systems of school, childcare and cleaning services—we have all newfound respect for life’s demands and appreciation for all-things family. Expect leaders to more deeply understand the flexibility required to orchestrate your personal life, from cooking together to supporting kids in their schoolwork. I believe leaders will have a refreshed level of appreciation for the ways family and friends are critical to life and happiness.

Your workplace will get better.

As employees head back to the office, employers are being forced to re-think their approach to the workplace. Companies will deploy forensic cleaning techniques, more distancing and increased choices for employees across their work environment. In addition, we learned a lot of great things while working at home—comfortable places to relax between meetings, flexible hours, clean air, personalized space, working out, easy walks and good food…mostly. These new expectations will create new demands on the office. Organizations will have a new appreciation for the importance of the office and the need for supporting engagement. More than anything, leading companies will provide a reason to show up now that we know we can get work done at home.

Bringing it all home.

These have been trying times and yet the real hard work still lies ahead. Organizations now must lead. We must have the courage to do amazing things all the while aligning our stated values with our actual values.

Each day is precious, each life even more so. As the eternal optimist, I enter this next chapter of my business life hopeful that we will take ‘lessoned learned’ and apply them to a life ‘better lived’. As Viktor Frankl wrote, we have the “power to choose our response,” and I would wager that the wakeup calls for company culture will be ringing loud and clear in the years ahead.

 

Jim Stuart is a partner at Matter Real Estate Group, the developer behind www.uncommons.com.

UnCommons Unveils Plans for Platform One, Las Vegas’ First Neighborhood Food Hall

LAS VEGAS – May 18, 2020 – UnCommons, a first-of-its-kind development coming to Durango Drive and the 215 Beltway in late 2021, has unveiled plans for Platform One, Las Vegas’ first neighborhood food hall. Concepted by Batch Hospitality (Batch), Platform One will call on some of the city’s best culinary talent to contribute their individuality to a harmonious space of shared passion for unsurpassed gastronomy.

The announcement comes on the heels of Batch’s participation in “UnCommons Heroes,” the delivery of nearly 4,000 upscale meals to healthcare professionals at hospitals throughout the Las Vegas Valley with Matter Real Estate Group (Matter), the developer behind UnCommons. Evan Glusman, a partner in Batch along with Wayne F. Jefferies and Chef Chris Conlon, provided more than 1,000 dinners from his family restaurant, Piero’s Italian Cuisine.

“The delivery of meals through UnCommon Heroes in response to COVID-19 has become a strong foundation for us to kick off our partnership with Batch Hospitality,” said Jim Stuart, Matter Real Estate Group partner. “It has also brought us to reevaluate this project and what the future of our food hall will look like. We want to bring people together, but we want to do it safely. We are building Platform One as a solution, so if there comes a future need for social distancing and enhanced sanitation measures, we’ll be ready.”

Paying homage to the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad in Las Vegas in 1904, Platform One will introduce yet another first to the Las Vegas Valley. From Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia to Istanbul’s Grand Market, food halls have attracted some of the most imaginative chefs and adventurous diners for centuries. Platform One will carry on that tradition and create some of its own as home to over a dozen local chefs who will stretch their creativity while showcasing artisanal and local products.

The two-story, 18,000-square-foot Platform One will house a collection of 20 novel culinary experiences that will showcase the talents of more than a dozen local chefs, including Roy Ellamar, Claudia Andracki, Jessica Perlstein and Geno Bernardo, in addition to an upper level private events space.

Bernardo, a 20-year veteran of the Las Vegas culinary scene, will serve fresh seafood and shellfish inspired by Italian raw bars. His creations will include kanpachi crudo with pork crackling and banyuls vinegar, and wild mackerel with mustard greens, Aleppo pepper and tangerine. Desert Bloom Eco Farm will bring organic, fresh produce to Platform One stemming from Andracki’s 17 years learning the nuances of Southern Nevada farming in gardens, greenhouses and aquaponics systems combined with Perlstein’s seasonal creations. Desert Bloom will offer guests the best of the garden in bowls, soups and salads like hearty white bean and Swiss chard soup, and roasted heirloom carrots with spinach, feta and herb vinaigrette. Ellamar, an accomplished chef from Hawaii who was selected by readers of Eater as “2017 Chef of the Year,” will bring his cuisine to Platform One.

“Piero’s opened in 1982 and while the restaurant has evolved with the times, the core of our success has remained impeccable service, outstanding cuisine and personal relationships. We’ve always treated our customers like family and will bring that same family feeling to Platform One,” said Glusman. “I am proud of where I’ve been and extremely excited about the future of Las Vegas’ restaurant industry.  Together, with my partners Chris and Wayne, I’m excited to be part of another ‘new’ in the business. Platform One at UnCommons, is an amazing opportunity to collaborate with and unveil concepts from top local chefs in our close-knit community, all under one roof.”

Designed to foster an inspiring workplace, UnCommons has nearly 100,000 square feet of restaurants, entertainment and residences, a multi-purpose conference center and inspirational art, all showcasing the design of the globally-renowned architecture firm, Gensler. Situated within a walkable micro community, the 40-acre site will include a beer garden and fitness studios in addition to a variety of entertainment programming. A $400 million project, UnCommons will also offer more than 830 apartment units and over 500,000 square feet of office space ranging from small creative spaces to full floor opportunities for corporate tenants with integrated amenities to promote collaboration, flexibility, wellness, quality work and social interaction for today’s employees who prioritize community, inspiration and lifestyle.

Partners within the Matter team, whose goal is to elevate the everyday human experience and enable people, businesses and communities to thrive, have led the development for other Las Vegas projects including Town Square, an open-air gathering place with shopping, dining and entertainment located south of the Las Vegas Strip; and Centra Point, one of the largest master-planned business parks in Southern Nevada boasting 30 acres and 10 buildings with more than 450,000 square feet of office and retail space.

More information about UnCommons is available on the website at www.UnCommons.com, on Facebook at @UnCommonsLasVegas and on Instagram at @UnCommons.LV. For more about Batch Hospitality visit www.batchhospitality.com or connect on social at @batchhospitality

 

About UnCommons

UnCommons is a first-of-its kind mixed-use development in southwest Las Vegas, scheduled to break ground in the spring of 2020. The $400-million project is designed for the modern workforce’s desire for a workplace that enhances their lives through rich amenities, open space and connectivity. The curated office, restaurant, lifestyle and residential offerings will be complemented by a pedestrian trail and public art, situated on a walkable 40-acre site. The development will include outdoor common spaces, a venue that blends music and movies, a beer garden, a food hall showcasing the best of the local food scene, additional food and beverage spaces, health and fitness studios, a multi-purpose conference center, 500,000+ square feet of modern office space, 830+ apartment units and more. For more information, please visit www.uncommons.com.

 

About Matter Real Estate Group

Matter Real Estate Group is a real estate development company whose goal is to elevate the everyday human experience, enabling people, businesses and communities to thrive. The company is led by three partners, Jim Stuart, Matt Root and Kevin Burke, each with more than 20+ years of experience in the development of place making projects combining design, construction and operating strategy all under one roof. The firm strongly believes that development can be a curated experience designed around business needs while at the same time focusing on flexibility, purpose and inclusiveness. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Matter focuses on developing within the Western U.S. with projects in planning or under construction in major cities including Austin, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix. For more information, please visit www.matterrealestate.com.

 

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Media Contacts:

Stephanie Wilson/Lauren Cahlan/Taylor Shields

UnCommons@WickedCreative.com

702.868.4545

UnCommons and Burke Construction Group Deliver Nearly 4,000 Free Meals to Local Hospitals for UnCommon Heroes Project

LAS VEGAS – May 4, 2020 – In support of the community during the coronavirus pandemic, UnCommons, a first-of-its-kind community coming to southwest Las Vegas being developed by Matter Real Estate Group, and Las Vegas-based Burke Construction Group have delivered nearly 4,000 free upscale dinners to local night shift healthcare workers. Deliveries were sent to every night shift employee at all 14 hospitals in the Las Vegas Valley over 12 days to show their appreciation for the community’s first responders, as well as to support local restaurants.

From Tuesday, April 14 through Saturday, April 25, 3,742 meals were delivered to local hospitals including Sunrise Hospital, Desert Springs Hospital, St. Rose Dominican Hospital’s San Martin and Siena Campuses, Southern Hills Hospital, Henderson Hospital, Summerlin Hospital, Mountain View Hospital, Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center, North Vista Hospital, Spring Valley Hospital, Valley Hospital Medical Center and University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. The meals were prepared by some of Las Vegas’ favorite restaurants including Piero’s Italian Cuisine, Lotus of Siam, Sushi Kame and dessert from Urth Caffé. Representatives were onsite during the deliveries to show their appreciation.

“This project truly integrated the alignment of an ‘uncommon hero’ and the ethos of the UnCommons community, which is designed to bring people together,” said Matter Real Estate Group Partner Jim Stuart. “When we reached out to local hospital administrators, we discovered that the night shift workers hadn’t received as much attention, so we wanted to make sure that their courageous work was not going unnoticed. It’s been an incredibly inspiring experience to watch everyday citizens suit up and go into harm’s way for the care of others, and it has forever changed our perspective on these healthcare professionals who are on the front line every day.”

“There have been so many people in this community who continue to step up and help, and for an organization like UnCommons, that focuses on the importance of community, we felt that it was only right to give back,” said Kevin Burke, president and CEO of Burke Construction Group and partner of Matter Real Estate Group. “This is not a sprint, this is an endurance race, and each and every day we have to reach out and help those who need it the most during this time.”

“We were so honored to be one of the restaurants chosen to be a part of these donations,” said Evan Glusman of Piero’s Italian Cuisine, an iconic Las Vegas restaurant. “Once we got in the kitchen again, we wanted to work as hard as our Las Vegas healthcare professionals are working in order to give them a great meal.” Piero’s Italian Cuisine, which is closed during the shutdown, reopened its kitchen to prepare meals for healthcare professionals. Piero’s, which opened in 1982 at 355 Convention Center Dr., is a revered Las Vegas institution, known for its authentic Italian cuisine and old school Las Vegas environment.

“Putting smiles on the faces of these brave healthcare professionals was such an amazing feeling and we are so happy that we could show our love and appreciation for them through our food,” said Chef Eric Kim from Sushi Kame, a top Japanese restaurant in Las Vegas. The restaurant, which remains open for takeout, took the time to allocate resources to help feed healthcare professionals during this time. Sushi Kame’s celebrated cuisine highlights a diversity of ingredients, preparations, and a range of textures. Located at 3616 West Spring Mountain Rd., orders are available by calling (702) 665-5731.

“We have so much appreciation for our healthcare community. The sacrifices they are making to be able to keep Las Vegas safe is incredible, and we just wanted to be able to thank them for all they do,” said Kenny Okada of Lotus of Siam, a James Beard award-winning restaurant.” Lotus of Siam, also closed during the shutdown, reopened its kitchen to prepare meals for healthcare workers. Serving the award-winning Northern Thai cuisine of Chef Saipin Chutima, Lotus of Siam has two locations: the original at 953 E. Sahara Ave. and 620 E. Flamingo Rd.

Each meal was accompanied by a piece of Urth Caffé’s signature marbled coffee cake. “We couldn’t be more thankful of every healthcare professional during this time and we hope that our donations made their long day just a little sweeter,” said Shallom Berkman, co-founder of Urth Caffé, a pioneer of exclusively heirloom, organic coffees, fine teas and health conscious cuisine.

The meal donations follow UnCommons’ recent $25,000 donation to the Culinary Workers Union Local 226’s Helping Hand program, which is helping provide food assistance to those in need in Las Vegas, through efforts led by Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft. The $25,000 donation is part of a $100,000 commitment that Matter has made toward local efforts in the fight against coronavirus. Of that donation, $25,000 went toward the purchase of much needed N95 face masks for healthcare professionals in support of efforts by Governor Steve Sisolak and $25,000 was donated to the Jewish Family Services Agency to provide meals for senior citizens in support of efforts by Naft. The remaining $25,000 donation is earmarked to support additional needs as identified by Sisolak.

UnCommons, a fully financed, first-of-its kind mixed-use development in southwest Las Vegas, will break ground this spring. The $400-million project is designed for the modern workforce’s desire for a workplace that enhances their lives through rich amenities, open space and connectivity. The curated office, retail, restaurant, lifestyle and residential offerings will be complemented by a pedestrian trail and public art, situated on a walkable 40-acre site. The development will include outdoor common spaces, a venue that blends music and movies, a beer garden, a food hall showcasing the best of the local food scene, additional food and beverage spaces, health and fitness studios, a multi-purpose conference center, 500,000+ square feet of modern office space, 830+ urban stylized apartment units and more.

More information about UnCommons is available on the project website at www.UnCommons.com, on Facebook at @UnCommonsLasVegas and on Instagram at @UnCommons.LV.

 

About UnCommons

UnCommons is a first-of-its kind mixed-use development in southwest Las Vegas, scheduled to break ground in the spring of 2020. The $400-million project is designed for the modern workforce’s desire for a workplace that enhances their lives through rich amenities, open space and connectivity. The curated office, retail, restaurant, lifestyle and residential offerings will be complemented by a pedestrian trail and public art, situated on a walkable 40-acre site. The development will include outdoor common spaces, a venue that blends music and movies, a beer garden, a food hall showcasing the best of the local food scene, additional food and beverage spaces, health and fitness studios, a multi-purpose conference center, 500,000+ square feet of modern office space, 830+ apartment units and more. For more information, please visit www.uncommons.com.