FRESH DIGS

FRESH DIGS

BADGER MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.

OWNER/DEVELOPER: The 42

ARCHITECT: Rinka

CONTRACTOR: Greenfire Management Services COSTS: Undisclosed

YEAR COMPLETED: 2020

WHEN MILWAUKEE-BASED Badger Mutual Insurance Co. moved from the city’s south side to its new headquarters in The Brewery District in downtown this summer, it transitioned to a smaller footprint but gained a host of new amenities.

The company downsized from its 30,000-square-foot office at 635 W. National Ave. to occupy 17,000 square feet at The Factory Office Suites in The 42, at 1134 N. 9th St. The new office space features an open-concept layout, a training dock lounge area that includes gaming devices and a golf simulator, “campfire areas” that include couches and TVs, and mobile work options for employees such as a social staircase and treadmill desk. The company also has access to The 42’s rooftop deck for socially-distant gatherings.

“It’s a very open concept so departments could work together more, employees could work together more and socialize more, and just have a much more vibrant feeling in the office without employees having to go up an elevator to see anybody else,” said Kathy Bubeck, vice president of claims.

Transitioning away from fivefoot cubicles to sit-stand workstations and a more open concept has allowed for more collaboration among departments, said president Dan Nigro.

“You can see the knowledge sharing is just so much better,” he said. “The space allows for the employees to collaborate and talk with each other. Before, we were kind of isolated in that cubicle and you didn’t really have to get out of (it).” n