The TIAA Frisco Corporate Center in North Texas features 167 works of art from 76 artists. Each piece was carefully curated to reflect TIAA’s people-centric organizational model. Why did a Fortune 500 financial services organization make such a substantial investment in a corporate art collection? It’s part of their vision to design a modern workplace that feels more like a neighborhood where hybrid employees choose to spend time. A place where employees can bond through shared values, feel appreciated as human beings and have a voice in decisions that affect them. How does art fit into that plan? The answers might surprise you. Read on to learn 6 surprising reasons TIAA prioritizes art at the office.
1. To help employees connect with nature.
TIAA is a non-profit financial services company that prides itself on putting people first. Their approach to building a 15-story, 500k-square foot office for their employees is no exception. Given that workplaces enriched with art and nature can improve feelings of wellbeing and engagement and even increase productivity, TIAA made it priority to have them.
In addition to providing access to natural light and quality views from most seats, the building is divided into three design concepts that reflect regional landscapes of Texas. The lower floors are inspired by the piney woods and swamps of Texas’ lowlands. The middle floors call to mind the springs, waterfalls, and caverns of the Texas Hill Country. And the upper floors take inspiration from the extreme shifts of Texas’ High Plains and Trans-Pecos regions. Artwork based on these themes was commissioned from 76 artists in Texas and beyond. Including multiple, large-scale sculptures installed throughout the external grounds to encourage employees to take a break during the day, wander around and enjoy some fresh air.
2. To remind employees of the organization’s roots.
TIAA was founded in 1918 to provide a fully funded pension system for teachers in the US. Today, educators still make up a large portion of TIAA’s client base along with non-profit workers. TIAA commissioned artwork inspired by themes of education and service to remind employees of the values upon which the organization was founded.
3. To create conversation and spark creativity.
Viewing art can foster creativity and spontaneous connection and collaboration. Studies show that observing art has the power to activate parts of the brain associated with imagination and associative thinking. It can even inspire someone to look at their work from a new perspective. Public art has been shown to gather people and foster community. With well-curated art, the conversation is built in. Works in public corridors and lobbies provide an organic point of connection for employees normally siloed from one another.
4. To ensure employees feel welcome.
The artwork at the Frisco Corporate Center is in keeping with the employee-informed design of the building. (A survey of 600 employees helped shape the layout, furniture and amenities of the new workspace.) TIAA Senior Designer Amber Snipes told us that the company made this huge investment in art because they wanted their associates to feel welcome and to have a sense of ownership of the space. “Similar to how you spend time selecting art and finishes and furniture for your home, to reflect yourself, I’m hoping that the artwork will do the same thing for associates,” Snipes said. This isn’t just wishful thinking. Science has shown that when workspaces are decorated with artifacts meaningful to employees, workers can project their identity onto their own environment and gain some sense of permanency, control, and privacy. These effects are even greater if employees are part of the art selection process.
5. To Go Deeper
To ensure employees get to know each piece of art in the building, TIAA created a self-guided art scavenger hunt for the building’s grand opening celebration. This allowed participants to experience art located on floors they don’t typically visit during the workday. On the first day in the new building, art tours were provided by art consultants from Art + Artisans. Going forward, employees can scan a QR code on the artwork’s plaque to learn more about each piece on TIAA’s new digital artwork folio.
6. To motivate employees to work together.
During the building’s grand opening, TIAA employees had the opportunity to work together to create a mosaic for the parking garage. “Every day when they cross over from the garage to the building, they will be reminded of working together to create something that’s meaningful and beautiful in their own space,” says TIAA Senior Designer Amber Snipes.
Conclusion: Far More Than 6 Reasons to Prioritize Art in the Office
There are far more than 6 reasons TIAA prioritizes art in the office, but this list makes some compelling arguments for the practice. Art can impact mood, productivity, and connection. It can be a daily reminder to employees of organizational values and mission. It can connect building inhabitants with nature and help promote wellbeing. It can provide a place for meaningful connection and spark collaborations and creativity. When executed thoughtfully, the right art shows employees they are valued and that their employer wants their time in the office to be an enjoyable experience. Art is a powerful tool for creating environments that attract the best people to organizations.
Learn More About Why TIAA Prioritizes Art in the Office
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- TIAA Art Project Portfolio – See more images of the art curated for TIAA’s Frisco Corporate Center.
- TIAA Wins the Commute with One of “DFW’s Coolest Offices” – Read about the design and amenities that earned TIAA Frisco Corporate Center a spot as one of Dallas Business Journal’s “Coolest Offices in DFW.”
- A New Chapter in Frisco – From TIAA’s YouTube account. See the artwork, design and amenities inside the Frisco Corporate Center. Hear from TIAA leadership about what a team effort the entire project was.
- TIAA Frisco Corporate Center – From TIAA’s website. Hear from TIAA associates in this video shot on their first day at the new office.
- Corgan’s write up of the TIAA Frisco Corporate Center project – From the website of the architects and interior designers of the TIAA Frisco Corporate Center. Go deeper into the design and amenities that are delivering on TIAA’s commitment to a sustainable and equitable future.
- The New Hybrid Neighborhood: A workplace worth the commute — From the website of Steelcase, global office furniture designer and manufacturer, read an in-depth explanation of the “neighborhood” strategy for office design. Architecture & design firm Corgan developed a Universal Neighborhood Strategy to design the TIAA building in Frisco.
