Overlap moved to a larger, more versatile workspace to accommodate its growing Canadian team.
Overlap is a social innovation design consultancy in Kitchener, Ontario that believes better is possible. Overlap helps organizations use human-centred design to create revolutionary products and services that make a better reality for people, organizations and, ultimately, the world around them.
As of March 2017, Overlap moved into a brand new workspace on King Street West in Kitchener, Ontario. The location is on the same floor as the former office, but it’s over two times the space with an open concept work environment, multiple project rooms and a large boardroom for public and private workshops.
The expansion was ignited by a growing number of Overlap team members and an increasing number of local, national and international projects. Now there is office space for a team of up to 45 employees.
Overlap was founded in 2011 by three local innovators who wanted to bring the power of design to the world.
Brock Hart, Lisa Grogan, and Alison De Muy* founded the company in 2011. The team began working out of a single office above Shoppers Drug Mart on King Street in Kitchener with a single desk and three chairs.
The team moved many times within that building—the new space is actually office number five—and eventually relocated to a small space at 305 King Street. As the team grew, Overlap expanded to take up more and more of the 10th floor. The current office boasts 14 private workrooms, a large boardroom, kitchen, lobby, and an open concept workspace totalling over 6000 square feet.
*Alison De Muy has since moved on from Overlap to pursue other opportunities.
More and More Overlappers
The Overlap team continues to grow, adding five new Overlappers in the first quarter of 2017. The new team members have filled out marketing, sales, and the expanding Innovation Programs.
The newest team member at Overlap is Alison Portt, previously the Development Director at the Tim Horton’s Foundation and the Vice President of Market Research at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. She will take on the position of Head, Relationships + Problem Framing at Overlap.
“We are thrilled to announce that Alison Portt will join Overlap Associates April 2017. With an understanding of design and the drive to create a vision for what better might look like, Alison is a perfect match and welcome addition to the Overlap team.” – President and Chief Relationships Officer, Lisa Grogan
Moving to Accommodate a Growing Team
Outgrowing a workspace can be an opportunity. The new Overlap office was designed with a focus on choice with rooms for standing, sitting, privacy, collaboration, views of outside, views of whiteboards, and everything in between.
Overlappers lost individual desks, but gained a variety of environments that give employees the control. Read more about how Overlap used human-centred office design to ensure the new space met the needs of the team.
📍Visit Overlap at 305 King Street West, Suite 1002, Kitchener, Ontario.
What’s Next For Overlap Associates?
“Our growth is hugely exciting for us because it is evidence of an appetite for social innovation and working differently in the service of people across sectors, both nationally and internationally. That’s why we started Overlap and we’re thrilled to be a driver of that social innovation.” – Overlap CEO, Brock Hart
Overlap hopes to expand national presence, with a focus on establishing deeper Canadian roots in Ottawa. The new space and additional team members will also support international initiatives as Overlap expands globally.
