For most of the last century, work was a place to go to. Now, work is something that gets done: at offices, at home, at coffee shops, even in transit. While some workplaces, particularly in the financial sector, still bring employees into the office daily, many more are evolving into new models with a central office and hybrid or fully remote employees.
This is a fundamental shift in how we think about and experience work. Our clients are catching up to the demand for seamless hybrid communication and, at the same time, exploring ways to get employees to make the commute. Flexibility and choice, both in schedule and in furnishings, are in high demand. We see a turning away from harshly-lit, banal bunkers and toward sunlight and fresh air and, with ESG goals and increased investor and consumer demand, an expansion of our definition of sustainability to include environmental and social impacts of our buildings. Work happens everywhere, and workers are seeking ways to engage with each other and with their communities.
So, what does this all mean for workplace design? Here, our practice leaders offer their observations and design strategies. More than anything, the workplace of the future is a place of connection. What we’re designing now is more than an office: we’re designing a way of working that supports our businesses, our people, and our planet.