RMW is building a new San Francisco headquarters to support a hybrid workstyle with flexible and adaptable work locations, a free address system enabled by an app-based booking system, and technology that supports employee action and choice. designed.
RMW We used contrasting light and dark to create a stunning space for our office in San Francisco, California.
The pandemic’s massive experiment has prompted a reassessment of many aspects of our society and culture, some of which have been radically and forever changed. One of the most significant changes is that the office is no longer considered a non-negotiable part of getting work done. Gone are the days when business hours traditionally determined the value of an office. People now choose not only the day of the week, but also the time they come to work, and each uses the office for different purposes. The office, like anything else, has become a tool, a resource, that we use to get our work done. This idea helped design the new headquarters in San Francisco.
Designed for hybrid work environments
If the office is a resource, our studio acts as a resource for team collaboration, constructive ideas, material research, cultural cohesion, social connection, mentorship and educational opportunities. As the value of the office has changed, we will have to change our design mindset to create an environment that supports the hybrid work styles we have adopted. The design solution for the new studio is to ask yourself why you need an office, consider all the different ways of working in your previous space, what worked well, and how to shape your workflows and processes for the future. It was created after imagining how it could be improved. Once these were defined, we asked what soft elements such as policies and etiquette should be established and encouraged. We also asked what hard elements, such as furniture and technology, best support employee relationships and work habits.
work point
Rather than defining space types by focusing on where people work, we wanted to focus on work types by thinking about how people work. The goal was to create an environment where both individual and group work can be done actively, knowing that some people can work with their heads bowed better at home, while others can concentrate better at the office. . Choose from sit-stand desks, lounge areas, privacy booths, and rest areas for individual, focused work. For collaborative group work, we offer huddle areas, high-top tables and conference rooms to suit different team sizes and needs. These areas are flexible and adaptable, comfortably accommodating 2 to 14 people. For hybrid group work, we also offer an enclosed room for video conferencing. These options are defined as working points and carefully tailored to your specific workflow. All work points are supported by technology, distributed consumables, flexible furniture and movable whiteboards.
less is better
Businesses around the world have found they don’t need as much space as they used to, and are making smarter real estate decisions as a result. With a new office footprint reduced by nearly 30%, he was able to triple the capacity of his worksite. The key for us was how to reimagine the space in a way that supports our employees and how they work while maintaining the culture that RMW is proud of. By adopting open addresses and abolishing offices, we have freed up the space needed to increase work style options. There are seats for all employees, but no separate desks for everyone.
We leveraged technology to facilitate a free-address system, with an app-based reservation system that allows people to choose where to sit, including desks, booths, meeting rooms, and collaboration spaces. We also reviewed our office supplies in light of health and safety concerns and determined that each individual should have their own set of keyboard, mouse and headphones. For this reason, we came up with the idea of devising a storage solution where personal trays are racked near the entrance and act as an impromptu dashboard for anyone in the studio on a given day. With the systems in place to facilitate personal choice, flexibility, connectivity, and ease of use, the studio offers a meaningful experience that is vastly different from the home environment.
living lab
People and businesses around the world are questioning the value of offices and seeking balance between in-person and work-from-home schedules. This is the second phase of our pandemic experiment, and we see our new headquarters in San Francisco as a living laboratory or proving ground for finding the optimal hybrid work environment. We believe our studios are purpose-built to support a way of working that leads to productivity and well-being. We will be able to access insights about employee behavior and choices through data collected by our booking system, but a key part of this experiment is how people use the space rather than following the default usage. , is to be viewed as a testing ground and encouraged to be used accordingly. previous office. As long as we continue to improve, the new office ecosystem will surely evolve with the time we spend in the space.
design: RMW
Contractor: RMR Construction
furniture: one workplace
photograph: Garrett Rowland
