A mid-century industrial building that embodies the determined and purposeful optimism of the 1950s has been reimagined for the 21st century. In a discreet and secure in-town industrial facility, referred to as The Warehouse, Haivision MCS (formerly CineMassive) builds some of the world’s most advanced video wall solutions for mission-critical environments.

The complex and creative processes at the core of Haivision MCS’ business require highly coordinated teams working with intensity and focus.

Cognitive Design leveraged evidence-based design, biophilic design, and organizational psychology to Improve Operational Efficiency, Foster Creative Thinking & Innovation, and Facilitate Social Community.

Clad in two-tone metal paneling, The Warehouse’s exterior appears to subtly shift colors depending on the angle from which it is viewed. Generous windows provide daylight and contribute to a workplace that facilitates creativity for the Research & Development team inside.

Haivision MCS’ Research & Development operations are within this part of the building that was inspired by the Consoles at Johnson Mission Control in Houston, TX.

Custom textured spandrel glass at the bottom of these openings elongates their proportions to echo the mid-century building’s historic façade, and creates a pixelated reflection illuding to the advanced digital technologies inside.

In-Town Industrial

A Gene Kansas Cultural Development, led by Ted Bradford, The Warehouse positively affects the aesthetic, cultural, and historic quality of Atlanta’s urban experience by contributing improved connectivity and diversity to its neighborhood, and promoting good health for those who work within.

The Warehouse is built on its history, not over it.

Within a walkable neighborhood with good public transit access, The Warehouse encourages physical activity by providing a gym, bike storage, showers, and electric sit-stand workstations throughout - all part of an inspired re-commitment to the health [1], common mission, goals, and dreams shared by its employees.

Productivity

Co-founded by David Minnix and Robert Kaufman, CineMassive established its home in a nearby building in 2011, where the company’s operations were located. In 2019, having outgrown that facility’s production capacity, David Minnix purchased 171 Armour, hired the Gene Kansas and Cognitive Design teams, and began a renovation that would transform The Warehouse into an advanced working environment for their industrial production operations, research & development, and client demonstrations.

The Warehouse has 18% more production and inventory space than Haivision MCS’ previous facility, yet production capacity increased by 50%.

Working with a Lean Process and Operations Consultant, the layout of the building is optimized for the flow of materials and people. Project builds are streamlined from incoming delivery of components to outgoing shipments of completed systems.

Beyond ergonomics and industrial processes, staff are provided with 24/7 gym access, complete with showers. Exercising has been shown to reduce illness-related absenteeism [4] and to enhance productivity by generating physical, affective, and cognitive resources that can influence various performance criteria [5].

Guests are taken on a choreographed tour through the facility where they see Haivision MCS in action, including active builds and a live demonstration of a deployed system. Views of nature throughout help in attention restoration and stress recovery, and mood [6], layering positive mental health effects onto the guest experience.

Creativity

Research & Development takes place in a dedicated space with a high level of cognitive ergonomics. For example, custom workstations with adjustable-height wooden desks minimize clutter, diffuse daylight, absorb noise, and create a range of openness, privacy, and collaborative workspaces to suit the neurodiverse needs of individual team members [7, 8]. These features create an environment that is supportive of creativity [7], contributing to Haivision MCS’ ability to remain on the cutting-edge. Additionally, these features minimize the likelihood of human error, lost productivity, and inefficiencies [9].

Supporting productivity & creativity, and improving cognitive performance, The Warehouse was designed to support employees’ circadian functioning with ample daylight and views of nature [10-14], even from the loading dock.

Optimized workspaces are complemented by non-work spaces, such as the gym, to allow for self-expression and play, both of which promote creativity by increasing perceptions and feelings of freedom in a way that contributes to the free flow of ideas, divergent thinking, and creativity [7], which stand to benefit the company’s continuous improvement and innovation.

Community

Frequent interactions and good communication are an important part of what makes Haivision MCS, Haivision MCS [15]. One goal of this cultural development was to balance preserving the company's culture with the growth that necessitated moving some people into The Warehouse, while others remained in their original building nearby.

To facilitate time together, amenities are strategically divided between the company's two buildings, and a new urban connection provides a safe and accessible path between them. Of these amenities, exercising in GymMassive (an homage to the company’s CineMassive roots), located in The Warehouse, is especially beneficial for social bonding [16]. 

Haivision MCS values its people, and The Warehouse is one expression of this; high-quality workspaces and amenities improve employees' quality of life. As is often true, investing in Architecture for Health is good for business. High-quality workplaces, such as The Warehouse, have been shown to improve retention, motivation, productivity, performance, and engagement, reduce errors, increase levels of innovation, encourage collaboration, and reduce absenteeism [17].