Commercial Architecture May 2019 - 14

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FEATURE

| offices
cial to progressive office design. Focusing on the company's needs
and the needs of their employees informs us of the best use of their
real estate. Implementing observation-based technology such as
room booking and occupancy systems can provide useful data to
assist designers and their clients in identifying their space needs,"
she said.
Identifying the right questions is a key first step, Libby continued. "This is an opportunity to concentrate on the current and
future needs of the company both spatially and culturally. With
this information we can help them make informed decisions to
make the open office successful as a workplace and as a business."
PARADIGM SHIFT

Concepts such as remote or coworking will have an impact on
what tomorrow's office looks like. "This paradigm shift is already
underway, although telecommuting and co-working won't suit
every company's needs and workflow. The important thing for
each company and their design team to keep in mind is that the
workplace should support the organizational needs and mission of
the company it will serve. For companies that encourage employees to work remotely, the office should incorporate sufficient data
infrastructure to support the workflow, and probably will emphasize amenities that draw remote workers to the office to collaborate
when needed as well as unassigned touchdown workstations for
those times when remote employees do need a desk. The office
will become a destination, a place to go to see colleagues, meet
face-to-face and collaborate, rather than a sea of open desks where
people come, sit, and leave, just to prove they were in attendance
for a specified period of time," said Dyer Brown's Ashley Dunn.
"With workers spending less time sitting at a designated desk or
work area, offices are beginning to replace traditional desk space
with touchdown stations and rooms for group work. Expect to see
more of these innovative setups for sharing and flexible collaboration," Andrew Franz of Andrew Franz Architect noted.
Connection and connectivity are always desired regardless of
where work is completed. "Co-working will continue to gain popularity and should be considered as part of a mobility plan to allow
greater flexibility of work environments. Incubator spaces can also
serve as an internal co-working space for companies looking to
Top. Sivgals + Partners' recently completed
headquarters for pharmaceutical company
Biohaven, New Haven, CT, is an example
focused on remote and coworking modes,
encouraging employees to work in ways that
suit them best within the culture of the office.
The atmosphere is conducive to collaboration
and synergy, and reinforces the company
branding and culture. Photo: Carl Vernlund,
courtesy Sivgals + Partners
Above. EarthCam's headquarters in Upper
Saddle River, NJ, demonstrates the concept
that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes
to finding the "Goldilocks ratio"-the justright proportions of support space to open
space to amenity space, according to Spacesmith's Amy Jarvis. Photo: Joe Kitchen, courtesy Spacesmith

MAY 2019

what the company is today but also what it aspires to be in the

connect and collaborate with thought leaders and start-ups. Flexi-

future. Also, the company then needs to take charge and imple-

bility in work styles is still important to these environments too,"

ment a culture that will allow them and their space to work cohe-

said Kendra Ordia of Perkins+Will.

sively toward reaching their goals. Change management will play a

Sara Barnes, from the same firm, agreed that despite remote and

big role in whether a new office design is perceived well or not.

co-working arrangements, offices are still important. "As face-to-

Employees have to be taught how to use their new workspaces and

face encounters occur less frequently as technology develops, those

new work flows, and the company's managers have to be leading

encounters we do have hold a higher responsibility to build vision,

that charge. With hybrid open offices, often chosen to save money

joy, and trust among employees," she said.

and promote collaboration, a company will be more likely to oper-

Technology can be both connective and divisive, and many

ate successfully compared to those in a traditional plan where most

employers are not sold on remote or co-working. "Instead, we are

people are tucked away in offices."

seeing requests for spaces that reflect the culture of an organization

Spacesmith's Julia Libby concurred. "If the appropriate space
allocations are not provided when implementing change, the office

and encourage a sense of community for their staff," said Louise
Sharp of HLW, New York.

as we know it tends to fall short. The office can quickly become a

"These are the factors that most often drive people to work in

sea of benching instead of a dynamic workplace with breakout

an office, as opposed to working remotely. We are seeing a trend

spaces, phone rooms, and ample meeting space.

emerge with co-working spaces, however. This new typology can

"I believe pre-programming and programming phases are cru-

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Commercial Architecture May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture May 2019