HomeDesign with Impact in the Workplace
Last month I was asked by CoreNet Global New Zealand and Jane Roulston of Unison Workspaces to take part in an industry panel with the intriguing theme of “Design with Impact” – to discuss how the built environment should respond to current and future workforce behaviours - especially here in NZ. It was fun and vibrant conversation, and I really enjoyed hearing the expert views & insights of my fellow panelists Lauren Joyce, Wendy Jones, Matt Hockey MRICS and Jane as MC, who all provided their specialist take on the topic.
Knowing that this event was on the horizon gave me the chance in the weeks prior to reflect on how the workplace has evolved over the past few years, particularly in the wake of the impact of the recent Global pandemic. Arguably it’s been the most intense and ever evolving journey that those of us that are working in this field have experienced. Much has changed and yet in some ways a lot also remained the same but with added emphasis and influence on how space is used.
This Post pandemic period has been both a busy and rewarding one for me and the talented team at Wingates that I have the pleasure of working with every day. We have managed to work with some amazing clients – both local and global and design some incredible, innovative and award-winning workplaces in many wonderful buildings across New Zealand.
Approaching the discussion with a brief to understand how we can truly ‘’design with Impact’ and also reviewing the lessons learned from the series of exciting projects that the team has recently delivered; it’s become clear that there are numerous key factors that are now playing a huge role in ensuring the successful and impactful use of a workplace. Many of these are simple and common sense applications but the following are worth highlighting;
Optimizing Space and ensuring flexibility – do more with less
We have been talking about the concept of increasing flexibility in the workplace for some time. We are now seeing this being warmly embraced by occupiers and tenants as they look to optimize the user experience to allow people to thrive & work as a team as well as multitask based on what needs to be achieved on any given day. We look to design spaces that can accommodate changing uses or support a variety of uses and can utilise real estate efficiently but also giving back a greater degree of quality and inspiration.
Workplace Experience. Voice & Choice -personal experience and well being
The ‘Experience’ is fundamental in creating a thriving community and workplace culture that is productive, welcoming and effective. From the employer’s perspective “it’s how can I create a place where people really want to come together and connect?” From the employee’s view it’s “what does the workplace offer that I can’t get at home?” We often joke that the most important things in a workplace are coffee and car parking, and whilst they are somewhat out of our control as Interior Designers, they can essentially really be viewed as symbols for comfort and social connection and pain points.
Designing a space that optimises this user experience and addresses the ‘coffee and carparking’ issues through providing users “Voice and Choice” and control of their immediate environment – such as lighting, temperature or areas to collaborate/focus pays dividends for all. Wellbeing can be enhanced by ensuring a space supports the individual as well as the team. It’s not a ‘one size fits all’ approach anymore and allowing choice and the ability to decide on the way we work is one of most positive workplace gains in the past few years.
It's all about the data!!
Understanding the data and how a space is used, lets you manage the ebb and flow on a daily and weekly basis. These peaks and troughs are an outcome to the increasing adoption of hybrid working and sets the scene for many of the questions we are putting to our clients right at the beginning of the design process. Many of our projects are initially comprehensive Workplace Strategy exercises that allow us to seek out the data that sets the framework for designing spaces to ensure efficiency and create productivity. These days there are an array of tools that are readily available to ascertain desk or meeting room usage, what lockers are in use, who is using the carparks. We enjoy pulling this data together, using it to inform on the rapid change, adjust future space allocation - so meeting the needs of our clients by creating a current and future picture of their workplace.
It’s an exciting time to be in Workplace Strategy and Interior Design. It’s also incredibly enlightening that we have a vibrant community across our industry here in NZ that is keen to debate and provide insights on how we need to meet current and future challenges.
A closing quote shared with the panel and the audience included the comment “offices are where great ideas are sparked”. I have often wondered if this is true, but I think it is becoming increasingly so with the evolution of the workplace to include such a variety of spaces that truly support and encourage the connection between people and their common purpose.
