Building Memories (BM) uses personal experiences to explore topics of importance to building.
This BM reflects creating a remote workspace.
In 2015, I decided to set up an exterior office in the back garage of our home. Around the same time, I noticed two recurring themes in the media:
- Technology companies constantly talking about their Innovation Centers.
- Political discussions disparaging the security forces responsible for protecting U.S. borders, particularly ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
To inject some humor and positive meaning into the term, I nicknamed the new office space ICE—Innovation Center East, since the garage is locate on the east side of our lot. Nine years later, the name has stuck; family and friends alike refer to it as the ICE.
The process of converting the old, detached garage into a usable office involved several upgrades. I installed an epoxy floor, repaired walls and ceilings, upgraded the roof, and added lighting. Minor electrical work expanded power, while a Cat 6 cable connected the garage to the main router. I also set up an ethernet-over-power connection for a secondary Wi-Fi source. After painting the walls and ceiling, the ICE was ready for its inaugural season.
Year 1 of working in the ICE was fall 2015. Since then, small improvements have continued. For example:
- I purchased a golf display wall from a closing Sports Authority and installed it on the south wall.
- A 15-year-old flat-screen TV from the house was moved into the ICE when a new TV was purchased for the main home.
- A new roof stopped leaks and allowed the ceiling to be sprayed white, reducing dust and improving light.
I work in the ICE almost every day, when temperatures range from the mid-50s to the high 80s. Of course, extreme weather occasionally drives me indoors to air-conditioned spaces. Over the years, Syntec has had offices downtown, in neighborhoods, and in the suburbs. Yet, by far, the ICE remains my favorite workspace. It supports remote work with people and companies around the world and provides a conducive environment for creative and core business activities.
When Covid struck in March 2020 and forced widespread isolation, the ICE became my operational hub from spring through fall. There were no workflow changes required and work continued without missing a beat.
I must admit, this style of working would have been difficult in my 20s, 30s, and 40s, when I thrived on face-to-face interactions on job sites and in boardrooms. Transitioning to this model in my late 50s, on my own timetable, has been a wonderful stroke of good fortune. board rooms. But transitioning on my own timetable, as I did in my late 50’s, has been a wonderful stroke of good fortune!
Photo 1 – Looking East
Photo 2 – Looking West