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Connecting Culture and Policy in the Workplace: How to Strengthen Your Company by Bridging the Gap

By Adam James, AIA

February 7, 2023
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The workplace has never been more dynamic in change than what we see today – work from home, hybrid, fully in office, not to mention the question, “is the large open floor plan dead?”

Companies today are being pulled every which way and asking themselves, “how do we make our workplace a positive space for our employees and engage them in our culture?” If you are asking yourself that question, great – because you should be! The war on talent and the need for highly-engaged employees are critical to your team’s success. Your building and workspace are a key piece of this – and we are seeing real estate data that suggests that the office is once again regaining prominence in many sectors. The impact of isolation, lack of employee connection and mentoring, as well as the quality of the product being produced are all causing higher occupancy in our workplaces once again. So how does your new space become an asset and contribute to your culture?

Design Collaborative Team Meeting

Work With a Design Team That Understands You

First – it starts with working with a design team that will take the time to understand you…and your culture. This requires meetings with not only the executive team, but should include everyone from managers to new hires. It requires observation and an idea of the things you do that make you unique. Getting a full picture on how your team operates, and needs to operate, creates the building blocks needed for your future design.
Design Collaborative Team Meeting

Your Unique Culture Requires Distinctive Needs

Second  – your unique culture requires unique needs – that is the importance of your design team learning as much as they can about you. Your weekly meeting might need to accommodate 5 or it might need 50 – and what happens to that space the rest of the week? In person meetings with clients are now virtual, how do you best use that space and not create distractions for the others in the office? It’s critical through that first step, that the design team understands your operations and culture so they can enrich the design of your space and make it functional for you.

Image: Abbot Laboratories Employees Credit Union (ALEC) Headquarters 
ALEC Credit Union lobby with wood ceiling detail and soft seating area
ALEC Credit Union lobby with wood ceiling detail and soft seating area
Indiana Michigan Power Break Room

The Workplace Today Looks Different

Finally – the workplace today looks different than just a few years ago and design is proving to be more critical than ever. As employees continue to return to work, they want to work in a space that is refreshed, equipped with amenities, and houses spaces they need to be engaged in their work. Returning to work in an outdated office, without proper spaces to do their jobs only creates friction to getting people back in your office and lowers engagement.

Image: Indiana Michigan Power Center – Corporate Headquarters
Indiana Michigan Power Break Room

Other design trends we’re seeing include:

  • Just the opposite of open & collaborative spaces, the need for small and private rooms is increasing quickly. Whether someone needs to attend a virtual meeting away from their open desk, a need for head down time, or just for private phone conversations, small areas dedicated to a single person are becoming necessary. This also reduces someone using conference rooms for individual use, gaining efficiencies with your space.

Image: SAFE Financial Operations Center
SAFE Federal Credit Union Privacy Room
SAFE Federal Credit Union Privacy Room

  • Shared community areas that foster interactions and promote discussion and cross collaboration, as well provide opportunities for interaction help reduce isolation that is common in fully work from home situations. While a nearby coffee pot is convenient, promoting a core central area also provides an opportunity to get away from their desk.

Image: Indiana Michigan Power Center – Corporate Headquarters
Design Collaborative Services
Design Collaborative Services
Indiana Michigan Power Center - Corporate Headquarters break room

 

  • Collaborative spaces that promote teamwork and can handle impromptu meetings. These are becoming more than formal meeting rooms, but open spaces and comfortable seating that encourage and foster engagement and productivity from others.

Image: Indiana Michigan Power Center – Corporate Headquarters
Indiana Michigan Power Center - Corporate Headquarters break room

 

  • Bringing in light and nature isn’t something new, but continues to become more popular as employers seek to recognize the importance of happy, engaged, and healthy employees.

Image: Katz, Sapper & Miller
Katz Sapper Miller private office
Katz Sapper Miller private office
SIRVA Long Table

 

  • Flexibility – the office is no longer Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 – how you now design the office needs to accommodate that. It’s important your large training room can also be used the rest of the week!

Image: SIRVA
SIRVA Long Table

Your new building needs to do a lot, but it’s critical so that it can be an asset to your company, improve engagement and be a healthy place to come to, regardless of the day, or time.

As you notice, design trends are quickly moving towards incorporating aspects of hospitality and more amenities. Whether we want the feel of a boutique hotel lobby or airport lounge – people want spaces and designs that are better than what they can get at home, as well as spaces that allow them to work more effectively with their teams.

 

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