ETC announces global office expansion plans

Since its inception 40 years ago, ETC has come a long way. Now a global leader in the manufacture of lighting and rigging technology, ETC employs over 1,000 people, across 10 countries, in facilities totaling more than 10 football pitches in size. In recent years, the company's growth has been particularly remarkable; to keep pace and to allow for future developments, a global office expansion program is underway. 

ETC Ltd's London base is the latest of the company's premises to undergo a significant revamp. The recent construction work at the two-story facility involved a complete overhaul of the upper level of the building, including the installation of a mezzanine that houses multiple open-plan work areas, several individual offices and a meeting room. The lower floor has also been reconfigured to incorporate a dedicated R&D lab and new open-plan pods for the Technical Service, Logistics and Repair teams. 

The theatrically-themed common space that the premises is famous for - The Playhouse at Gypsy Corner - has been preserved. Meanwhile, the remainder of the building has been refurbished to provide a general feeling of light and space. Adorning the walls is a selection of statement prints featuring local landmarks, including the London Underground and Tower Bridge. 

"Employee wellbeing is very important, and with the renovations, we have created a more comfortable and pleasant work environment. ETC is not a very hierarchical company and the way the space has been configured is in keeping with this company culture," says Matthew Brookfield, general manager of ETC Ltd.

The next phase of the program will see the installation of a state-of-the-art container neighborhood at the company's headquarters in Middleton, Wisconsin. Embraced worldwide for its industrial feel and funky aesthetic, shipping-container architecture offers an attractive mix of fun and functionality that's a perfect fit for ETC. The development will involve a new addition to the factory building, where R&D will be consolidated into a new "Container Hall" that comprises three-high container stacks, crisscrossing walkways, meeting rooms, break spaces and workshop courtyards. 

This expansion project underlines ETC's long-term commitment to its staff. Fred Foster, founder and CEO of ETC, is quick to tell anyone who asks: "We have the best people. And when you have the best people, you can never stop growing. It's also why it's really easy to make this kind of investment to keep them happy."