The Working Space
TWS - Orgatec 2022 Photo/Video Album

A quick walk thru of Orgatec 2022.

TWS - Orgatec 2022 Photo/Video Album
Manufacturer, NeoCon 2021
Source: CFN News Desk
Hightower wins multiple NeoCon awards including ...

Contract furnishings provider, Hightower received multiple awards at NeoCon 2021, including IIDA's 'Best Small Showroom' (under 4,000 sf) and 'Best of Competition' for its newly designed Chicago showroom.

Hightower wins multiple NeoCon awards including ‘Best Showroom’
Manufacturer, People
Source: CFN News Desk
Humanscale Announces Elizabeth Margles as Chief ...

Humanscale welcomes Elizabeth Margles to its Marketing Division in the role of Chief Marketing Officer. Margles comes to Humanscale with twenty years of experience in design, fashion and retail and a background in public relations and advertising.

Humanscale Announces Elizabeth Margles as Chief Marketing Officer
Manufacturer
Source: CFN News Desk
Steelcase teams up with Kontrol Technologies to ...

The exclusive relationship with Kontrol's BioCloud® Technology will provide real-time detection of airborne pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 to help make workplaces safer as organizations return to the office.

Steelcase teams up with Kontrol Technologies to provide air quality monitoring and viral detection technology
Manufacturer, People
Source: CFN News Desk
Alan Jay Heller dies at 81

For over 50 years, Heller offered leading designers the opportunity to work with new technologies to create innovative products. Those were great partnerships and they resulted in great products.

Alan Jay Heller dies at 81

Workplace

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How Would Future Designers Create Tomorrow's Design Studio?

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How Would Future Designers Create Tomorrow's Design Studio?

Meet the people shaping the future of design. Students from design programs stretching coast-to-coast recently traveled to Michigan in the heart of winter to unveil their final design submissions for Steelcase’s annual NEXT Student Design Competition. The finalists emerged from more than 65 programs and 800 students competing this year.

The students rose to the challenge of creating the next generation design studio situated in Los Angeles’ entertainment district. All five finalists presented in front of a panel of top industry leaders. Judges awarded Amy Groome, a Virginia Tech talent, top prize for her design inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. All five women who made the journey to Steelcase said they came away winners — validated for taking risks, energized by their new peers and inspired by their differences.

To see renderings from all five submissions presented to the judges, go to the latest 360 Latest News article published today.

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There Are More Than 2,000 Plants In This Lush Coworking Space

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There Are More Than 2,000 Plants In This Lush Coworking Space

The architects at the Madrid-based firm Selgascano are well acquainted with the power of plants. At the 2012 Venice Biennale, they orchestrated an artful pavilion of hydroponically grown greenery. Their own office is sunken into the forest floor, which naturally insulates the structure and can help fuel creativity by communing with nature. So it comes as no surprise that the architects chose to collaborate with Mother Nature on the new Lisbon, Portugal, outpost of Second Home, a coworking space for creative companies.

The office goes all-in on biophilic design, which encourages a connection between people and nature. Brimming with more than 2,000 individual plants and trees from 100 different species—such as tillandsias, philodendrons, and monsteras—the collection is watered and manicured by a team of local gardeners.

Via fastcodesign.com 

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The Open Office: What’s Working And What’s Not?

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The Open Office: What’s Working And What’s Not?

The term “open office” is a lightning rod for those in the corporate world. With articles, blog posts, and other commentary coming out seemingly every week (many of them negative), there is no shortage of opinion about this office design. As a facility executive, it is a topic that can’t be ignored; as the open plan becomes more mainstream, it’s likely that someone from your organization knows someone who has had a negative experience in this type of work environment. Due to the pervasiveness of this design, employees may just assume their office will be next. Regardless of actual plans for future workplace endeavors, it’s helpful to have a solid grasp on the concept. So what do facilities professionals need to know?

Via facilityexecutive.com 

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‘Green’ Buildings May Boost Productivity, Cut Down on Sick Days

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‘Green’ Buildings May Boost Productivity, Cut Down on Sick Days

When evaluating a job offer, there's more to consider than salary and health care benefits. New research suggests that working in a green-certified building could improve productivity, job performance and overall well-being.

A series of new studies, led by Harvard University and SUNY Upstate Medical University, found that occupants of high-performing green buildings showed higher cognitive function scores, fewer sick-building symptoms and higher sleep quality scores than workers in high-performing buildings without green certification.

Via shrm.org 

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The Evolution of Office Design and Pre-fab Partitions of the 20th Century

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The Evolution of Office Design and Pre-fab Partitions of the 20th Century

Long before the modern cubicle became popular in the 1960s, prefabricated office wall partition systems that simulated stick built walls were available. By the 1930s, there were several major manufacturers of office partitions systems, most of whom offered railing systems—the architectural grandparent of today’s cubicle—with optional glazing. The BTHL provides an overview of the stylistic evolution of office partitions following changing fashions, from traditional wood panel systems in the 1920s to minimal Miesian models in the 1960s.

Via architectmagazine.com 

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WHAT CHANGES IN THE WORKFORCE MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF WORKPLACE DESIGN

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WHAT CHANGES IN THE WORKFORCE MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF WORKPLACE DESIGN

Over the course of the next five years, the workforce as a whole is projected to become more diverse both in terms of inherent attributes such as age, race, gender, religion, socioeconomic background, as well as acquired traits, like cognitive viewpoints and life experiences. While part of this is due to increasing incorporation of diversity initiatives, it is also reflective of larger demographic shifts.

Expect to see changes to the composition of the workforce: more retirees returning to work (or simply staying on part time), employees seeking work/life balance and greater flexibility/autonomy, and the increased influence of the 1099 economy.

Via workdesign.com 

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North Texas Work Spaces That Will Give You Office Envy

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North Texas Work Spaces That Will Give You Office Envy

Workplace design has never been so important. If you need proof, look at retention, recruitment, and productivity at companies that did their offices right.

Today, interior designers approach office projects almost like functional art, unique to each client. Architects consider design trends as you do the stars in the sky—they’re reference points, something to analyze and consider. But they’re probably dead by the time they’re seeing them. The interior designer must be a mirror. If not, the company risks this, as described by Gustavo Hinojosa, the director of commercial interiors for Dallas design firm HKS: “You’re in a suit that doesn’t fit.”

Via dmagazine.com 

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The see-through office: Why interior glass is all the rage in workplace design

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The see-through office: Why interior glass is all the rage in workplace design

Over the past decade, the average size of offices has shrunk by 30%, to 175 sf per employee. That trend coincides with the growing popularity of interior glass for offices construction and renovation.

“Glass is being used to reduce space but still give the appearance of openness,” says Brett Shwery, IIDA, CID, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Vice President–Corporate Workplace and Design and Delivery Director at AECOM’s Los Angeles office.

In 2016, Gensler completed an 800,000-sf government project with thousands of offices, all with glass fronts, says Maurice Reid, an Associate and Project Architect in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. That project is also distinguished by stacked conference rooms on floors six through 13 that look onto the building’s 13-story atrium.

Via bdcnetwork.com

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Interruptions may actually improve team decision making, claims study

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Interruptions may actually improve team decision making, claims study

Teams make better decisions if they are interrupted with advice during their task, rather than advised before it, new research from UCL School of Management claims. In a study published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Professor Colin Fisher of UCL looked at the timing and impact of formal interventions in decision-making groups. He found that giving teams advice ahead of time to prevent problems from emerging doesn’t work as well as interrupting them with in-process interventions.Decision-making groups value interruptive advice more, which leads them to share more critical information and make better decisions, compared to groups getting the same advice before they begin their task – even when the difference between receiving the information was only a few minutes.

Via workplaceinsight.net 

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DESIGNING SPACE TO SUPPORT COLLABORATION

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DESIGNING SPACE TO SUPPORT COLLABORATION

In fields as disparate as healthcare and product development, interdisciplinary teams have emerged as the pathway to better, faster results—for patients, clients and other end users.

By bringing people from different disciplines and with varied specialties together, organizations today are finding new solutions to all kinds of challenges. Creative collaboration is driving innovation.

But cross-functional collaboration is hobbled without the space to support it.

Businesses that are committed to breaking down silos and promoting the cross-pollination of ideas need to provide creative spaces, huddle rooms, project areas, lounges or other communal spaces where people can gather—where they can ask questions, dissect problems, exchange ideas and show examples from their own work. Spaces where teams can be the “melting pot” driving progress.

Via coalesse.com 

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Generation X... The Forgotten Generation?

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Generation X... The Forgotten Generation?

Every generation is told that one day they will have a chance to run the show — to really change the way the world works (literally and figuratively). My generation’s time in power lasted exactly three years.

I’ll excuse you if you blinked and missed Generation X’s lilliputian epoch as the dominant generation within the labor force. That’s because it was very short-lived. Gen X statistically took over in 2012 when 52.9 million of us surpassed the Baby Boom labor force to become the largest generation in the workforce. It unceremoniously ended in 2015 when Millennials took over.

If you are between the ages of 37 and 52, the definition of a Generation Xer, you might be asking yourself: Did I miss my work prime? And who are all these young kids running around in my office?

So let’s take a look at the brief, but illustrious attributes found in the forgotten generation — Generation X.

Via ki.com

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The companies that encourage staff to socialize with each other

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The companies that encourage staff to socialize with each other

Banish any thoughts of that cringe-worthy nightclub scene from The Office. There’s no reason why a social work culture has to be awkward or embarrassing, as these UK companies prove Socialising with work colleagues can be a tricky balance to strike. While studies show that it increases productivity, supports wellbeing and can lead to lasting friendships, there is always the fear that work might take over your personal life. That you may blur the boundaries of professional relationships or, even worse, end up embarrassing yourself on the karaoke machine when it goes too far. However, it seems that we are certainly not adverse to workplace relationships. In fact, one in five of us (22%) met our partner at work – according to a YouGov poll for the TUC – while a third of us have had a relationship with a colleague at some point.

Via inews.co.uk

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Staying on top of change: Five ways to futureproof the workplace

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Staying on top of change: Five ways to futureproof the workplace

Change is coming to workplace as advancing technology and data driven insights fuel new ways of working.

Both companies and their real estate will have to adapt. In fact, a workplace designed on today’s needs and assumptions could be redundant in little more than a decade, according to JLL’s Workspace, reworked report.

“Size and scale no longer guarantee success,” says Tom Carroll, Head of EMEA Corporate Research at JLL. “The companies that survive the changes set to take place will be those who successfully manage this uncertainty and seize the opportunities created by disruption. Leading firms are already identifying ways to use technology to transform the products and services they provide, the structure of their operations and the ways in which they compete.

Via jllrealviews.com 

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How Does Noise Affect Productivity in the Office?

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How Does Noise Affect Productivity in the Office?

Noise is one of the top causes of dissatisfaction and loss of productivity in the workplace. In today’s varied and diverse office environments, it is more important more than ever to create spaces that are acoustically appropriate and supportive of the people who work there. Unwanted noise can result in annoyance, heightened stress levels and reduced performance; therefore it is critical that we understand not only how people perceive sound in the workplace but also how this affects their health, wellbeing and performance.

Many architectural acousticians have a physics or engineering background, and their approach to mitigating noise is mostly, but not entirely, focused on purely physical solutions.  The demands of 21st-century workplaces often calls for a more rounded approach, with experts working together to offer a combined psychological, physiological and physical solution to acoustic problems.

Via humanspaces.com

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A Public Library That's Nicer Than The Fanciest Tech Offices

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A Public Library That's Nicer Than The Fanciest Tech Offices

Libraries are like the Madonnas of the architectural world—changing, evolving, and morphing with the times. Now they're in the midst of a technological reinvention. And as they shed their physical media and go digital, libraries' most significant contribution to a community is often not as a repository of books—but a beacon that draws people together.

Thionville—a city in Northeastern France near the Luxembourg border—opened a new library last year that embodies this shift. Designed by the Strasbourg-based firm Dominique Coulon and Associates, the space is brimming with details designed to foster a sense of community. The architects hope it becomes the city's collective living room; to appeal to the different types of people who might use the library, they filled it with lots of unique moments, like rooms that have distinctive personalities, differing furniture, and plenty of outdoor spaces.

Via fastcodesign.com

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Employers urged to create age friendly workplaces to help retain older workers

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Employers urged to create age friendly workplaces to help retain older workers

Employers should provide full and equal access to flexible working arrangements, occupational health support and appropriate workplace adaptations to help older workers to manage health conditions at work. This is according to a new report from the Centre for Ageing Better, Fulfilling work: what do older workers value about work and why? which identifies the characteristics of work that are important to people aged 50 and over, and explores actions employers can take to attract and retain them. Understanding what older workers want is the first step in helping employers, policy makers and others create age-friendly workplaces. By 2020, one in three workers will be over 50 but while the employment rate for all working age adults remains at a record high of nearly 75%, for people over 60, this falls to around 50%. and there are currently 12 million people heading towards an insufficient retirement income. Ageing Better commissioned the Institute of Employment Studies to carry out the study as to ways of helping people stay at work and the report finds that health is the most important factor affecting older workers’ decisions to continue in work, ahead of job satisfaction and job quality.

Via workplaceinsight.net 

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The Tiny House Fad Comes To Office Design

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The Tiny House Fad Comes To Office Design

Tiny houses have evolved from a twee trend into a viable design solution for combatting homelessness, densifying cities, and making vacations more affordable. It's also creeping into office design, as a new workspace for the tech startup Coroflot shows.

The Portland, Oregon design studio Los Osos tapped the fad when it set out to build a 280-square-foot office for Coroflot, an online design-services directory and community that was beginning to build out its team. The company didn't want to shell out for something that it would quickly outgrow; however, it didn't want to compromise on design in the present, either. Working with a $40,000 budget, Los Osos created a space that clearly communicates Coroflot's creative vision, can grow with the company, and makes the most of resources at hand—including a mobile office-on-wheels.

Via fastcodesign.com 

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Is An Open Office Plan Healthy For Your Staff?

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Is An Open Office Plan Healthy For Your Staff?

Depending on who you ask, open work spaces are the best thing to come along since sliced bread, or they’re the devil’s invention to sow chaos and discord among employees. Fair-minded managers and efficiency experts say that the open office space plan can be both a blessing and a curse; it all depends on how it’s structured and supported. Remember that the original purpose of the open office was to bust employees out of their mind-numbing cubicles to increase their satisfaction and efficiency. The jury is still out as to whether this has succeeded one-hundred percent. My own office space has both open and closed areas. Here’s a look at the pros and cons to help you see what you might do if you’re considering an open office space.

Via forbes.com 

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4 Questions to Ask Before Investing in Your Next Workspace

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4 Questions to Ask Before Investing in Your Next Workspace

New ways of working are driving the demands for different kinds of spaces at work. People are looking for more informal, comfortable places to get work done. Workers want to feel like they can be themselves at work leading them to seek out spots that remind them of home. But, while a couch and a coffee table might look inviting, they don’t all survive the rigors of the workplace.

There are four questions you need to ask before investing in casual spaces. Whether it’s a bench, lounge chair, coffee table or something else — what works for a seating area at home doesn’t always work at the office.

1. Does it feel good?

2. Can you plug in?

3. Will it hold up?

4. Can you be proud of it?

For more information on each of these questions, visit 360 Latest News: 

https://www.steelcase.com/blog/4-questions-ask-investing-next-workspace/

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