• Events
  • Marketplace
  • Resources
  • Press Releases
  • Business Directory
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
The FUTURE OF WORK® since 2003
Allwork.Space
Subscribe
  • All Topics
    • Business
    • Biophilic Design
    • Career Growth
    • Coliving
    • Collaboration
    • Coworking
    • CRE
    • DE&I
    • Digital Nomads
    • Future of Work
    • Home Office
    • Human Resources (HR)
    • Hybrid Work
    • Investment
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
    • Mental Health
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Office Furniture
    • Productivity
    • PropTech
    • Remote Work
    • Self-care
    • SMBs
    • Social Impact
    • Space-as-a-Service
    • Technology
    • Virtual Office
    • Work-life Balance
    • Workforce
    • Workplace Design
    • Workplace Wellness
  • News
  • Business
  • Leadership
  • Work-life
  • Career Growth
  • Tech
  • Design
  • Workforce
  • Coworking
  • Marketing
  • CRE
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Advertise With Us
    • Marketplace
    • Events
  • All Topics
    • Business
    • Biophilic Design
    • Career Growth
    • Coliving
    • Collaboration
    • Coworking
    • CRE
    • DE&I
    • Digital Nomads
    • Future of Work
    • Home Office
    • Human Resources (HR)
    • Hybrid Work
    • Investment
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
    • Mental Health
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Office Furniture
    • Productivity
    • PropTech
    • Remote Work
    • Self-care
    • SMBs
    • Social Impact
    • Space-as-a-Service
    • Technology
    • Virtual Office
    • Work-life Balance
    • Workforce
    • Workplace Design
    • Workplace Wellness
  • News
  • Business
  • Leadership
  • Work-life
  • Career Growth
  • Tech
  • Design
  • Workforce
  • Coworking
  • Marketing
  • CRE
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Advertise With Us
    • Marketplace
    • Events
No Result
View All Result
Allwork.Space
Home Design
In collaboration with

Designing For The Future: The Four Essential Elements Of Modern Workspaces

Kristen Larkin and Elma Milanovic of FitzGerald share the four pillars that all business owners must consider when relocating or reviving their workplaces to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.

Work Design MagazinebyWork Design Magazine
October 6, 2023
in Design
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
Designing For The Future The Four Essential Elements Of Modern Workspaces

All companies that either want to reinvigorate their existing workplace or are transitioning to a new location should take a moment to reassess their needs and create a framework that allows the design team and business owner to develop fitting solutions tailored to their unique goals, allowing them to stand apart from the rest.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare to Network
Switch Now to OfficeRnD Flex and Keep 2023 Pricing
  • Spaces should be designed to immerse people into the culture of an organization. 
  • Well-designed environments foster a sense of community, centering around formal and informal interaction, engagement, and mentorship.
  • Companies that are either transitioning to a new location or are simply in a need of reinvigorating their existing workplace should take a moment to reassess their needs and explore conversations related to these four principles of Connected, Healthy, Smart and Versatile office spaces. 

This article was written by Kristen Larkin and Elma Milanovic of FitzGerald for Work Design Magazine. 

In 2019, our firm began the process of relocating and designing our new office, which offered us an opportunity to craft an environment that is in line with who we are and the way we work. A few months into the process, like many who were caught off guard by the onset of COVID-19, we were left scrambling to answer the question: What would the future of the office look like? During a process that we liken to “swimming while still learning how to swim,” our design team began to answer this question through the lens of our own company. It is through this introspection that we realized we had a unique opportunity to guide others in reimagining their own workplaces to meet the needs of today.

Papaya Global - Payroll Platform

Four years into our mission, armed with a completed office, ample hindsight, and market data, we are confident in navigating clients through the process. We have synthesized our findings into four main tenets that all business owners must consider when relocating or reviving their office. It begins with gaining detailed insights into the mission and vision of an organization, and is completed by employing the following four pillars as a basis of the design, all in effort to create a successful workplace that will attract and retain talent.

The Four Pillars

1. Connected

Spaces should be designed to immerse people into the culture of an organization. Well-designed environments foster a sense of community, centering around formal and informal interaction, engagement, and mentorship.

At its core, the office needs to connect humans to each other. Numerous studies showed a decline in engagement and belonging of employees throughout the lockdown and some evidence shows lingering effects still exist today. It’s more important than ever that the spaces we create provide meaningful in-person interactions, because that is what defines a company culture. Moreover, many clients recognize the value of the innovation and creativity that comes from unplanned interactions. This is why providing hospitality-inspired gathering areas is so important.

Interestingly, we are seeing that those who are most hungry for in-person connection are the youngest members of our workforce—recent graduates who spent the last years of their education learning through a computer screen, and who are eager for mentorship and new professional relationships. Without these connections, not only is their professional development hindered, but they don’t create meaningful bonds with their colleagues or the organization.

Connection is also about relating to the mission and values of a company. We believe the office should serve as a showroom with its mission and culture on display. When clients or guests visit the office, they should be inspired and energized in a way that simply cannot be accomplished in Zoom interactions. Thoughtful design and implementation of creative environmental graphics are a great way to display the meaningful parts of a business in a way that sparks conversation and engagement.

2. Healthy

Healthy environments are becoming an expectation among the workforce. Healthy spaces compliment supportive policies to enrich workplace environments and help nurture employees’ health, happiness, and overall well being.

The employee wellness movement was in motion before the pandemic but since COVID has come under more scrutiny by employees. There was a real mental health decline that developed alongside the extended isolation of lockdown. In addition to the connection-related design elements that foster socialization, health features including dedicated wellness rooms are getting more attention. Even smaller companies are looking to build these spaces that go beyond what used to be considered as a bare necessity, even an after-thought. Now organizations are incorporating massage rooms, nap pods, yoga mats, and more. Many bigger companies are building out their own fitness spaces with wellness concierge services, while smaller or mid-sized companies are actively seeking this kind of amenity in the buildings they choose to occupy.

There are many other important components for achieving a healthy workplace such as integration of biophilic principles, physical activity, ergonomics, acoustics and adjacencies. This addresses many facets of how our bodies are impacted by our environment. How a space is programmed lays the foundation to successful implementation of these principles. However, our design needs to work in tandem with company policies around wellness and use of office spaces. You can have lounge spaces for socialization and relaxation, but if they aren’t culturally embraced, employees won’t get the message that it is important to connect in this way. We always remind our clients that they need to serve as stewards in these spaces and bring them to life once our work is complete.

3. Smart

Workplace infrastructure evolves to allow seamless participation for all employees, regardless of their location. Integrated technology streamlines interactions in an effort to support team dynamics and innovation.

The technology that had the biggest impact on the office space in recent history was the ability to do video meetings. This required incorporating many more screens throughout the office and establishing an intuitive connection with ease. These technologies are getting increasingly user-friendly, smaller, and simpler, but they are ever changing. Therefore, the infrastructure we build needs to fully support this technology and allow it to evolve over time. This is why it’s important to bring technology consultants into the conversation early on to ensure that the space will suit its goals for today and set a foundation for the future.

As there is more demand for conference rooms, the need to implement numerous AV elements and reservation systems arises. These are the most basic technology essentials we incorporate, but we expect that smart building technology will only advance. For instance, some companies are integrating systems that can not only admit a person it recognizes through security, but also heat a room or dim the lights in advance of its use. With this kind of technology, the building itself tracks data on all spaces and can react accordingly. We welcome these advances and are excited to see where smart building technologies continue to improve the user experience for our clients.

4. Versatile

The workplace becomes a collection of adaptable spaces for learning, collaboration, and innovation. Individuals will seek an inviting space that supports their work needs that day; from energetic shared spaces to quiet areas for focus.

In the new era of work, adaptability and flexibility are key. Versatile solutions don’t necessarily mean expensive solutions such as moveable walls. Our approach is to consider how the space can be programmed so that one space can play multiple roles. Companies are seeking efficiencies so that the office space can go further for the money. For that reason, the initial programming phase requires diligent data collection to understand not only spatial but functional needs of an organization and opportunities for improvement. Detailed information gathering encompasses everything from staff counts and adjacencies to conversations on hybrid work policies and assigned vs unassigned desks and spaces. Such conversations allow us to find efficiency and seek solutions tailored to meet multiple demands.

To this end, we believe architectural planning and the furniture selection process must go hand in hand. Furniture solutions can provide numerous creative modular elements rather than fixed built-ins, allowing for spaces to be rearranged as needed and serve a variety of functions. For example, a pre-function space can also serve as part of the employee break room, or perhaps the break room is also a cafe or reception space. Similarly, an office can be outfitted to serve as an office or as a small meeting/huddle room.

Act of Reimagining

In today’s competitive market, all companies that are either transitioning to a new location or are simply in a need of reinvigorating their existing workplace should take a moment to reassess their needs and explore conversations related to these four principles of Connected, Healthy, Smart and Versatile office spaces. As defined, these can serve as a framework that allows the design team and business owner to identify fitting solutions tailored to their unique goals, allowing them to stand apart from the rest.

  Your go-to resource on the Future of Work®  Get the emerging trends, top stories, and latest news on the world of work straight into your inbox each weekday morning.   
Tags: DesignLeadershipWorkplace Wellness
Work Design Magazine

Work Design Magazine

Work Design Magazine is a thoughtfully curated digital publication with a global reach. They focus on the innovative design of the places we work, the performance of individuals, and value for the organization.

No Result
View All Result
Yardi Kube IT Management
1Password - Start Today
FlexJobs logo
Later - Turn followers into customers

Latest News

Japan's Young Workforce Confronts Mental Health Crisis

Japan’s Young Workforce Confronts Mental Health Crisis

December 4, 2023
South Africa's 4-Day Work Week Pilot: A Trailblazing Success for Work-Life Balance

South Africa’s 4-Day Work Week Pilot: A Trailblazing Success for Work-Life Balance

December 4, 2023
Companies Ignoring Climate Promises, May Face Hiring Reckoning

Companies Ignoring Climate Promises, May Face Hiring Reckoning

December 4, 2023
The AI Dilemma: Productivity Gains, Perception Pains, and the Path Forward

 The AI Dilemma: Productivity Gains, Perception Pains, and the Path Forward

December 1, 2023
New Survey Confirms 2023 Was Chaos, Reveals Top Workforce Trends Of The Year

New Survey Confirms 2023 Was Chaos, Reveals Top Workforce Trends Of The Year

December 1, 2023
2023 Flexible Office Heatmap Reveals Top 10 Markets

2023 Flexible Office Heatmap Reveals Top 10 Markets

December 1, 2023

News and Features

Business

Tech

Marketing

Design

Work-life

CRE

Coworking

Workforce

Daily Digest

Podcast

Resources

Marketplace

Events

Press Releases

FlexSpace, Coworking
and Office Space

Los Angeles

New York

Chicago

Washington, D.C.

Houston

Dallas

Miami

San Francisco

Atlanta

Philadelphia

Seattle

Austin

Company

About Us

Submit to Allwork.Space

Contact

Advertise

FlexSpace

Terms Of Use

FlexSpace FAQs

Privacy Policy

Connect with Allwork.Space

Twitter

Linkedin

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

©2023 Allwork.Space  l  Exploring the FUTURE OF WORK® since 2003.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Topics
    • Business
    • Leadership
    • Work-life
    • Workforce
    • Career Growth
    • Design
    • Tech
    • Coworking
    • Marketing
    • CRE
  • Experts
    • Podcast
    • Opinions
  • Resources
    • Research + Reports
    • Marketplace
    • Find Office Space
    • Find Remote Jobs
    • Press
  • Events
  • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Submit to Allwork.Space
    • Contact
Subscribe

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
-
00:00
00:00

Queue

Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00