A second phase of construction could include exterior treatments that could mask the fact that the office space is located under a parking garage. With nearly 200 team members, ARAG was founded on the principle that everyone should have affordable access to legal representation. ARAG Legal Protection Insurance gives people and their families confidence and protection when dealing with life rights issues. ARAG works with lawyers to provide essential legal services, from preparing a will to representing people in a legal dispute. At ARAG, the global legal protection company based here in Iowa, culture is paramount. That`s what set the company apart when it was founded more than 85 years ago, and it`s still what sets it apart from the rest, according to team members. Learn more about ARAG`s career opportunities at www.araglegal.com/careers It`s hard to describe ARAG North America as an out-of-town company. The legal protection company has its roots in Germany, but in the United States. The operation has been located in Capital Square in downtown Des Moines since 1985 and before that in West Des Moines. ARAG enlisted Greg Wattier and his team at Slingshot Architecture to design the spaces, solve the puzzle, make three levels appear as one, and even buy furniture. Slingshot was responsible for redesigning the construction of the partnership and worked with Lawmark on the financial center.
“This recognition means a lot to me, especially in this challenging year,” said David Murray, CEO of ARAG. “I believe that creating a quality workplace is not just about providing great benefits and vacation. It`s about team members aligning with our vision, being challenged by a powerful culture, and feeling valued and their voices heard. Here`s a look at some of the ways the company promotes a culture that supports team members. At ARAG, employees receive as much in return as they give – and more. Team members say ARAG`s commitment to working “at its best” makes it more than just a workplace. The deep-rooted culture encourages all team members: be original. Be brave. Be yourself. Be cooperative. Be friendly.
“We have a great company, but we wanted to know how we could do better, how we could change over time?” said Murray. Employees expressed their opinion on the color of the walls, decorations; At least one of them expressed the desire for a water feature. Murray said they took an 80/20 approach to proposals, responding 80 percent and ruling out 20 percent. The water function did not make the cut. Wattier said the first challenge is to create open office spaces and feel like three floors have merged into one. “We like those kinds of opportunities,” he said. The changes would help retain workers – ARAG`s North American workforce is steadily growing by 15-20% per year – and attract new talent. This commitment to an incredible corporate culture – and a first-class service package – has contributed to ARAG being placed on the list of the best workplaces in 2020. When designing the contemporary office, another challenge is to create open spaces while maintaining private workspaces. Lawmark Capital purchased Keck City Center out of receivership in 2012. When it was completed in 1987, the building housed eight-story Super Saver cinemas.
The theater eventually failed and was replaced by the downtown school of The Monks Public Schools, which terminated its lease in 2011. “We had conversations about whether we needed offices,” Murray said. For conversations with clients involving discussions about personal finance, the need for private office space was obvious. These offices will be moved inside the building to allow for more natural light through large windows, Murray said. The company wanted to stay downtown, but was looking for offices and, just as importantly, ideas on how to redesign the Grand Des Moines offices. He also stumbled upon Lawmark Capital, an owner eager to make changes, including installing 12-foot windows at street level and the fact that what was essentially a three-story space — ground floor, mezzanine, and walkway — seemed to be one. A large floor plan had been carved into the offices over the years. ARAG legal protection insurance is open Mon, Tue, Sea, Game, Fri. This commitment has not gone unnoticed by your colleagues and the industry.
ARAG receives an A.M. Best Company rating from A (Excellent). This rating is an opinion independent of an insurer`s financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing contractual obligations. “We need to understand when you need privacy, when you need a semi-private space, when you need free space,” Wattier said. In addition, there is a need for areas in which employees “meet” their employees. Some people call these spaces collision zones. Under each name, they promote interaction. For the same reason, Lawmark Capital has its roots in British Columbia, but it has established itself as the owner of once-troubled properties downtown. The investment partners that make up Lawmark Capital have renovated the partnership building and gradually renovated the financial centre.
The new design of the ARAG building includes 41,000 square feet of office space with 18-foot ceilings, a conference room at the walkway level and a large mezzanine, all overlooking the first floor. Employees can park where they work and cross the Skywalk to the Wellmark YMCA. Construction is expected to begin in April, and by November, “I think we`ll have one of the best offices in the city,” Murray said. At ARAG, values are more than words on paper. The company`s guiding principles help team members meet standards of excellence and build relationships every day. Discipline, dynamism, fairness, foresight, openness and pioneering spirit are woven into the culture and foundations of the company. Yelper has not yet asked about ARAG legal insurance. Lawmark Capital went “too far” by agreeing to demolish the existing space and then add space, and welcomed the idea of installing large windows at street level. David Murray, CEO of ARAG, is a strong advocate for corporate culture and believes it is the foundation of everything they do. He often says that ARAG team members are the best and most important differentiator of the company in the competition. Move on to late 2013 and early 2014, when ARAG CEO David Murray involved his management team and all employees in planning for the company`s future. The process was called Transformation 2020, and one of the things Murray learned was that his employees wanted a work environment with natural light and open, collaborative workspaces.
And the company has received significant national recognition for its excellent customer service. ARAG has been included in the best contact center category of the reference portal – Small centers. ARAG has received the Top 100 Call Center Award for six of the last seven years and has been named a Center of Excellence in nine of the last 10 years.
