With Dallas Office, PDR Expands Reach

DALLAS—Houston-based PDR, a global design, architecture and consulting firm, has worked on projects for Fortune 1000 companies including ExxonMobil, Texas Instruments and USAA since the firm’s founding in 1977. The firm has a diverse set of clients from oil and gas companies to technology innovators, fintech and law firms.

And now, PDR has expanded its presence in North Texas with the opening of a Dallas regional office located at 2001 Ross Ave. Having an official presence in Dallas will allow the company to be involved in local developments and grow its regional and international reach. To add more insight into the firm’s plans for its Dallas office, GlobeSt.com recently spoke to Marc Bellamy, principal and partner at PDR.

GlobeSt.com: How does the Dallas interior design/architecture landscape differ from the Houston market? 

Bellamy: Client diversity is the biggest difference. Houston is dominated by the energy/energy services industry and Dallas has a more balanced economy. While PDR has a reputation of being the workplace design expert for energy companies, the workplace solutions we are currently developing for all our clients have a much more broad application. Our designs are focused around an individual’s experience of coming to work every day and how the workplace supports the activities of employees, regardless of their industry.

GlobeSt.com: What are the main challenges you’re solving for clients/large corporations?

Bellamy: All our services–design, workplace strategy, change management and brand experience–focus on the very real experience of individuals coming to the office and being part of the community that they work in. Mobile technology enables us to work from anywhere and companies world-wide are searching for the common thing that can bring their people back together. We have found that certain strategies implemented in the design of the workplace and workplace policies can do that. We create community and increase productivity with our designs.

GlobeSt.com: Between new construction and corporate relocations, DFW is a hotbed for office activity. With all of this office growth, what types of spaces are these firms seeking?  

Bellamy: First, I want to know who a company’s employees are and what they do every day. How do they work today and how do they want to work in the future? Once we know that information, then we can talk about the space needed to support their daily work. The solution is likely going to be a wide gradient of spaces that are available to employees based on the tasks they are performing at any given time. PDR has deep benchmarking and success measurements when it comes to corporate workplace design. We find the most effective business environments consist of a balanced design that incorporates both open areas that nurture community and engagement, and private spaces where people can focus.

GlobeSt.com: How has design changed in terms of managing the different generations in the workplace?

Bellamy: The most effective business environment is one that sets all employees up for success, from seasoned executives with careers spanning several decades to brand new interns who are just starting out. With more than 40 years designing for clients, we know how companies work, how different generations of people want to work and how to create workplaces that are ready for the future.

Successful multi-generational workplaces have three key traits:

They exude an urban vibe. People do, in fact, choose to work at busy coffee shops, in airport lounges and in a wide variety of co-working spaces. And it’s probably not just for the beer on tap or the breakfast tacos, they want to work in a space that feels urban and unpretentious.

They are collegial. There’s an atmosphere that magnifies individual work as part of something greater and connects you to your coworkers. Working in a place that inspires makes for happier, more productive employees.

They connect people with nature. A need as old as humankind is easily forgotten in both a high-rise office tower and in a windowless suburban box. Whether a balcony, a garden or simply a view outside, that fundamental need to connect with nature is critical.

GlobeSt.com: Many industries are being impacted by the talent war. What type of advice or strategies would you offer for designing a high-performance workplace that attracts and retains talent?

Bellamy: Creating flexible work environments are a simple way to accommodate changing styles and design trends. Code words like timeless when related to a work environment often lead to dull, inflexible workspaces whose blandness can outlast the length of any lease. We understand the business drivers that require a change in the workplace, from company growth to a merger/acquisition, and our integrated approach ensures organizations optimize that change via an environment that inspires people to succeed, creating a positive enterprise-wide impact. Planning for this change provides the capacity for a workplace to be fresh, to create energy, and to motivate and excite the people who work within the space. This energy is evident to new employees and creates an environment where your team wants to come into the office.

GlobeSt.com: What differentiates PDR from other firms?

Bellamy: We see ourselves, as do our clients, as strategic business partners. We work from inside our client’s company to learn about the organization, its people, its purpose and goals. From there, PDR brings together its diverse group of architects, interior designers, business consultants and brand strategy team to create a workplace designed specifically to solve business and performance challenges. Our truly integrated, human-centered approach to accommodate each client’s dynamic business goes beyond making an aesthetically pleasing environment, and that’s what sets us apart.

GlobeSt.com: What are your future plans to continue growing the Dallas office?

Bellamy: We know that being part of the Dallas design community is critical, so right now we’re focusing on building our PDR community in Dallas, as well as finding opportunities to engage with new clients. We’ve had a very warm reception so far. Our integrated business approach to workplace design is unique and has been well received by the real estate professionals and client prospects we have met. We have a great team that is bringing the PDR culture to our Dallas office and we will strategically add local talent to that team over the coming months. This is a real commitment for PDR so we’re carefully building our foundation in Dallas.