RSP’s Dawn Brown AIA, LEED AP, Christine Shaw NCIDQ, LEED AP, and WELL AP say people are the most important “amenity,” regardless of whether they work in a traditional office, from home, or in a “third place.”
In the field of architecture and design, I am sick and tired of how much the built environment has changed since COVID began. Integrated offices with touchless entrances, hybrid work options, and an increasing number of telecommuters are high on many clients’ wish lists.But I would argue that we haven’t talked much about how people How the environments that have changed and built in the last 3.5 years adapt to them. This includes all alternate workspaces that people use on a daily basis.
Yes it is clear. My workplace has changed. And now, as The Wall Street Journal declared, The end of the telecommuting eramaybe it’s time to look at the problem through a new lens.
People are the most important “amenity”
As the workplace changes, so do the workers.spare study show Many of us, especially those entering the workforce, have become more introverted over the last few years. Anecdotes from our workplaces, our experiences at our clients’ workplaces, and our professional and personal circles bear this out. It is important to consider change.
Whether you work in a private office, collaboration space, or home office, only two things really matter. Having the right tools and technology to get the job done and the ability to interact and collaborate with colleagues in a positive and constructive way. the way.When we design spaces that engage people and give them what they want and need from their workspace, we people Amenities that connect the workplace and corporate culture.
Variety is the spice of work life
Prior to 2020, workplace design focused on open-plan collaboration spaces. We are currently seeing a huge increase in the variety of spaces we are designing, including an increase in private offices. With the shift towards introversion, people want more places to put their heads down and do their private work. We can’t give everyone a private office, so we give everyone access to a quiet room so they can get the most out of their work. I’m not downplaying the importance of amenities such as collaboration spaces and work cafes, but the trend toward more privacy feels very “old-fashioned,” albeit in a fun and new way.
Large organizations are understandably wary of making sweeping changes to the workplace without knowing whether the changes will have lasting power. One way to address this is through furniture solutions, flexible partitions and removable wall scenarios that allow private offices to be installed and dismantled without construction. Truth be told, we are in the experimental phase, piloting these creative solutions with multiple clients, and it’s an exciting time for designers.
Aesthetically, from private offices to workplace cafés to office coffee shops, it incorporates comfortable furnishings and warm finishes to make the office feel like home, drawing people together and socializing with each other. Allowing you to reap the benefits.
Engaging in the ‘third place’ through art
In general, employees are increasingly looking for a “third place” that is neither home nor the office. Coffee shops fit the bill and businesses are installing them in their buildings and offices. But beyond the office, the office incorporates even more of his amenities into lobbies and outdoor semi-private spaces.
For example, in our project at 2600 North Central in Midtown Phoenix, we designed the lobby more like a hospitality space than an office. It’s a great place for collaboration that draws people as a destination and a comfortable place to gather. And it’s even called “The Friday Club”. We worked closely with a colleague, Environmental Graphics, her designer and local artist, and sourced hundreds of books to create sculptural walls of her art that reflected the shape of Grand Her Canyon. . Flooded with natural light, the flexible room features a mix of comfortable lounge seating, high-top her tables, and private her corners, complete with black-and-white photographs of musicians with ties to Arizona. Art captivates people in new ways, and the flexibility of furniture makes it the perfect ‘third place’ to work and socialize with colleagues.
Some clients use the collaboration space to invite children from their community to make art. From our perspective, this seems like a great way to involve employees in the office and the wider community, using creativity to connect everyone.
Create a community using an alternate workspace
One of the biggest challenges clients face is fostering cohesion in their work communities at a time when so many employees have varying work-from-home schedules. Rather than forcing solutions or encouraging clients to force a physical presence, our philosophy is to embrace some degree of excursion and use separate workspaces to foster collaboration and engagement. is to
In these alternative workspaces, organizations need to be more intentional about creating connections and fostering social interaction. Not only do we have someone to refill our drinks and drinks, but we also have someone to introduce us to potential collaborators. A kind of office manager. Again, this is a more hospitality and service-based approach that fosters a deep sense of community, connection and ultimately loyalty.
If building owners and businesses are serious about providing public spaces as a ‘third place’, a new way of thinking about the workplace, not just the traditional office, but as a set of spaces where great work can be done. is required. By approaching the workplace with an understanding that people have changed, they need more quiet and privacy to do their best work, and they need different opportunities for collaboration. You can continue to meet employee expectations and help clients get the most out of their jobs. Budget by design.
