Hybrid Work Model - Office of the Future

As we approach the one-year mark of work from home orders in Alberta, we begin to wonder – how has this pandemic shaped the office of the future? 

In the article US Workplace Survey 2020 Summer/Fall published by the Gensler Research Institute, 52% of people surveyed want to have a hybrid work model implemented when recovery begins. What is a hybrid work model? To put it simply, giving employees the ability to choose where to work from. The physical office is not going away but COVID-19 has changed the way we feel about being in confined spaces and social interactions. A balance will need to be found that considers productivity and employee comfort, not only in the physical environment, but with the possibility of exposure to viruses from being around other people. Work from home has highlighted new distractions, inadequate ergonomics, increased stress and fatigue from constant digital meetings, and for some, difficulty defining boundaries for work life versus home life. On the positive side, it has also brought a new degree of freedom, greater flexibility, an added level of privacy, and, most importantly in the current pandemic, a sense of safety. 

Now, how do we translate this sense of comfort and safety into the physical work environment? Employees will no longer be satisfied with high density floor plates that offer little to no privacy. Flexibility will be key, in both work style and work location. While the office will need to be considerate of the type of work being done, we predict there will be a new emphasis placed on ensuring collaboration is a priority for employees when in the office. Face-to-face interaction is an integral part to being human and is something the office can offer that work from home cannot. Highly collaborative careers will have offices that look very different than those requiring focused, heads-down productivity. Some companies will choose to adjust their offices to promote collaboration, others may choose to eliminate the office all together if their work model is solely individual task based. 

B.S.R Group Offices designed by RUST Architects in Tel Avisi, Israel provides a beautiful example of blending the comfort of work from home into the corporate office through use of soft seating. 

https://officesnapshots.com/2019/11/05/b-s-r-group-offices-tel-aviv/

For companies that choose to eliminate the physical office, we see an increase in a model of task specific space rentals. At the beginning of the pandemic, when it was believed that the virus was transmitted through shared surfaces, companies like WeWork were seeing a decline in popularity. Now, with more information on this virus, we know that it is transmitted through the air – meaning shared surfaces are fine when you maintain distance from other individuals. These spaces will offer employers options for meeting spaces and collaboration zones, and will offer individual employees options for heads-down, quiet work environments.

We Work 19 Clifford St in Detroit offers employers a multitude of options for spaces to suit their needs.    https://www.wework.com/buildings/19-clifford-st--detroit--MI

For the employers that do anticipate a return to office utilizing the hybrid model, the following three areas will be important to consider to best support workers in a post-pandemic future:

1. Air Quality

We predict an increase in demand to meet WELL standards, especially in regard to air quality. Air borne viruses are not a new item, but the pandemic has put these at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Increased levels of ventilation and air circulation, washroom accessories with HEPA filters, and biophilic design are all techniques of achieving a higher air quality that we see gaining popularity. 

Westpac’s Barangaroo fit-out, designed by Geyer has received a 6-star Green Star Interiors rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). The integration of greenery is beautiful, and helps with air purification. 

https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/westpac-s-barangaroo-fit-out-is-australia-s-highes?utm_source=Industry+Newsletter&utm_campaign=d433576d4a-Industry%2520Newsletter%2520-%252020180130085246&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b6d140c101-d433576d4a-136133365#

2. Acoustics

In a hybrid model, there will still be a need for digital meetings. Work from home has highlighted the difficulties associated with digital meetings, especially in terms of acoustics. Everyone has experienced a “Can you hear me now?” moment, leading to wasted time and avoidable frustrations. By having dedicated rooms set up for digital meeting with proper equipment and acoustic considerations employers can ensure that all meetings will run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. While there is no way to control the other end of the meeting, ensuring that their end is functional will go a long way. Acoustic felt panels, acoustic ceiling tiles, white noise machines and the addition of drapery all help combat these issues. By approaching space design with acoustics at the forefront, we continue to create beautiful spaces with highly functional properties.

Arc acoustic panels are designed by Spanish design studio Stone. These panels bring in beautiful architectural lines that read as a work of art while providing excellent sound absorbing qualities. https://designwanted.com/design/arc-acoustic-panels/

3. Flexibility

In the article US Workplace Survey 2020 Summer/Fall published by the Gensler Research Institute, workers choose the Hybrid model to balance productivity with convenience and safety. Flexibility in the work environment will include offices that offer various forms of seating (task and lounge), helping bridge the comfort associated with work from home with the productivity of the office. Mentoring of junior staff members has taken a back seat during work from home orders, negatively impacting the work force of the future. With the hybrid model, this would allow junior employees access to senior members on days in the office to gain mentorship and guidance in a more structured environment. The interior design of each office needs to unique and tailored to the company that occupies it. To ensure this is successful, putting the emphasis on the programming phase will ensure all expectations are not only met, but exceeded. 

The collaborative spaces in Diageo Offices designed by M Moser Associates in Signapore offer employees a variety of work zones that can only be provided at the physical office. 

https://officesnapshots.com/2018/07/12/diageo-offices-singapore/?utm_source=Snapshots+Weekly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=7008fe0016-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_07_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_82997c3ce9-7008fe0016-91055277

We are ready to help you navigate the future of your office, give us a call.

- Holland