Maybe a window instead of an office isn't that bad...

Today was the first day of a renovation to "freshen up" and "modernize" the office building i work in. The first step is to build a giant 3 story glass tower foyer in place of the existing entrance, which hopefully, will make the lower lobby more open and spacious. I've seen the plan, and I have to admit it will look amazing when completed. (I'm not really a suck up, i swear.)

For the next few months while construction is going on in the front of the building, all of our customers who normal park in the front have to park in the rear and use our back employee entrance. Vice versa, all employees have to park in the front of the building and walk to the back to get in. Not a problem really, or so you'd imagine.

Anyway.. So today was the first day of construction. We arranged for adaquate signage (tons, really) to warn the customers of the new traffic pattern, and to pardon the inconveinence while we renovate to better serve them. I know that's just a line that "marketers" use, but really, its going to be great. But you wouldn't believe the amount of people who are just oblivious to them.

My window to the world overlooks the front parking lot where the employees are to be parking until the completion of the project. I can't tell you how many people (non-employees) parked in the front lot, got out of there cars walked over the the front of the building with the "what's going on" face. I witnessed one guy climb over the bright orange fence that the construction crew put up around the main entrance just to get inside. I guess the millions of signs, bright orange fencing AND that huge backhoe pulling up parts of concrete wasn't a deterrent for him. Then there was the family who circled the parking lot 4 times (yes, i counted) passing 8 signs directing them toward the back of the building, waited for a co-worker to leave their spot, park (next to sign) and then walk (past a 2 signs) to get to the back entrance. It's really quite entertaining.

I know it was the first day, and there are some kinks that need to be worked out in the construction/parking problems, but it was the best social - human experiment to witness. It's days like today when I'm really glad I kept a set of our promotional binoculars from one of our events to watch the mayhem from my 3rd floor window.

What a great day.