Why a modern office matters for Asymmetrik’s growing culture

Software development and data analytics firm Asymmetrik is looking forward to a big 2019.
With 95 current employees, the company expects to add 20 to 25 new team members in the coming year to its modern office that fosters a work-hard-play-hard ethos.
Back in January, when the company expanded to its new Annapolis Junction-based headquarters, they built out the space with that growth—and their unique culture—in mind.
The company’s new office is three times bigger than its previous space and was redesigned from the ground up. While many design elements have remained consistent—on-brand color scheme, contemporary flourishes and a ton of natural light—the space was specially created with its employees in mind.
Each team has their own pod complete with a conference room and a breakout area with lounge chairs, and the entire office is built to allow each team to break out of their day-to-day space. The company’s office lounge is a popular area for collaborative work.
“Sometimes a change of scenery or a more informal setting really induces creativity and new ideas,” said Toni Fung, who is the company’s brand manager and technical recruiter. “And while an open office is great for communication and teamwork, sometimes you need privacy and a quiet space to think.”
The space also features a large kitchen and eating area at the heart of the office which serves as a hub for meetings and technical lunch and learn sessions. Recently the firm hosted speakers from Amazon Web Services for a series of talks on topics like machine learning and cloud security.
In the play-hard column, the company prioritizes the social aspect of its culture, and in addition to an updated game room (with ping pong and air hockey tables), it offers a “speakeasy” adjacent to the kitchen stocked with a keg, liquor, a hightop table and bar stools. And the company hosts regular social events for its employees—like happy hours, Bowie Baysox games, chili cookoffs, game nights, and more—that encourage their families to attend, too.
It’s these kinds of details that landed Asymmetrik on the Baltimore Sun’s list of Top Workplaces for its third year in a row.
“What Asymmetrik offers is an opportunity to work with a diverse group of people, with differing backgrounds, experiences, and approaches to problems that allows us to achieve new outlooks and innovative solutions for our customers, no matter their industry,” said Karen Marsh, Asymmetrik’s Director of HR and Communications.
So, where’s all this growth coming from?
The company’s Director of Healthcare Strategy Bryan Young says its continued expansion into healthcare leverages the company’s strengths in cybersecurity, analytical insights and cutting edge software development.
But it’s the company’s passionate employees who are contributing the most. Asymmetrik looks for potential teammates who are inspired by and focused on the mission: making fundamental improvements in how doctors care for their patients.
Below, find a few photos of the new office.