By Pamela Fisher
After signing a 10-year lease to occupy the space
at 395 Broadway, a large two-story location that was
once a Borders bookstore, Fingerpaint Marketing
invested nearly $700,000 for office renovations.
According to Danielle Saladino-Evans, corporate
communications officer, Fingerpaint wanted the new
space to provide comfort for its employees, as well as
a design encouraging open and collaborative work.
The renovation was handled by Bonacio
Construction.
“Our new location supports our commitment to
collaboration, fresh thinking and our passion to
develop original ideas that spark emotion, inspire
audiences and move markets,” said Saladino-
Evans. “It’s a very exciting time as we increase our
client base to also be welcoming new employees
to our growing family.”
The renovations also included updating the technology infrastructure to reflect the needs of the growing company. Some 33,000 feet of data cable was installed by Adirondack Technical Solutions, a computer, network, and data security services company based in Argyle. With fiber added to the building, Fingerpaint’s Internet and file sharing operate incredibly fast.
“The phone system helps us connect with our office outside of Philadelphia with a simple fourdigit extension. Voice mails are sent via e-mail so that people can check voice mails from their phone while traveling,” said Saladino-Evans.
Jared Humiston, president of Adirondack Technical Solutions, explained that Fingerpaint’s old system did not allow for much expansion, but with new and faster data communications, the new system allows for solid infrastructure for the staff’s laptops and phones to communicate.
“It is a very impressive business,” said Humiston of working with Fingerpaint. “They are growing at a rapid rate, and we were happy to be able to take care of their technology needs, from the phone system to cabling to the whole infrastructure,” said Humiston. “We were able to meet the deadlines of having a large business moved and ready to operate that first Monday morning.”
Another update was the staff work spaces, in which standard cubicles and offices are absent. “No one at Fingerpaint has an office,” Saladino- Evans explained. “We have designed the space to be extremely collaborative, with everyone in workstations organized by agency teams. We are also very proud of the fact that everyone at Fingerpaint owns stock in the company. The day each person starts, he or she is issued 100 shares of company stock, which vests over five years.”
Fingerpaint also offers modern spaces for company meetings, phone calls, and breaks.
“Each of the six conference rooms are enclosed with theater-like curtains, each a different color, which provides privacy from the main areas,” said Saladino-Evans. “We also have four small meeting rooms on the second floor called ‘fishbowls,”‘which have opaque glass barn doors and offer complete privacy for conference calls, and two phone booths behind reception that provide a retreat. There is also a full-scale studio for our design work.”
Regarding comfort, Fingerpaint provides amenities such as several mini meeting areas with comfortable chairs, a sectional couch for long brainstorming sessions, and a popcorn machine and refrigerator filled with bottled water and soft drinks.
There is also a bistro for employees, as well as two kitchens. Dogs are also a part of the office culture and regularly visit. According to Fingerpaint, the office supports the company mission “to bring back passion and a childlike verve to advertising.”
Fingerpaint is an award-winning marketing and advertising agency founded in 2008. Clients range across a broad spectrum of industries and include Adirondack Trust Co., Clifton Park Center, AngioDynamics, Saratoga Polo Magazine and Rose & Kiernan insurance, among others. In addition to headquarters in Saratoga Springs, the business has a satellite office in Wayne, Pa. For more information, call Fingerpaint at 693-6960, or visit www.fingerpaintmarketing.com.
Photo Courtesy of Fingerpaint Marketing