Whitmor

On May 2, 2008, a tornado packing winds between 155 and 165 miles per hour hit Earle, Arkansas, destroying a major portion of Whitmor’s warehouse and distribution facility – the company’s home of 47 years.  Whitmor decided to move to a new facility in Southaven, Mississippi.  While the storm caused much devastation to the firm, it also provided the opportunity for Whitmor to start from scratch in terms of designing space that would bring greater innovation, productivity and functionality into their new home.  “The plan we came up with was to have as much of an open feel as possible and to have the focal point of the office space the entranceway leading to the showroom and the work areas,” explained Peter Felsenthal, Whitmor’s CEO.  “We wanted all the work areas to flow around the showroom with the hallways functioning as a pathway around the showroom.”  Felsenthal noted that a lot of employees previously in private offices were going to be placed in a modular environment.  “A lot of thought went into where people were going to be located within the office so as to be able to interact with those they worked with most,” he said.  Optimizing workflow and enhancing communication was critical to the success of their space’s design.  Felsenthal saw an article in the Memphis Business Journal about the proper utilization of office space, featuring quotes from MBI designers.  “I liked what they said in terms of office design in a modern working environment,” Felsenthal said.  “It prompted me to contact MBI.”