After decades of research and post-occupancy evaluations, the impacts that workplace design can have on employee productivity, satisfaction, recruitment, and retention are well-documented, understood, and accepted. Those findings have inspired numerous innovations in workplace design, from more daylighting and shared or collaborative spaces to technology-enabled and -enhanced work areas.

But how has workplace design evolved recently to meet the needs and requirements of a new generation of employees, and to address the ever-changing ways in which people wish to work? Moreover, what’s driving the latest innovations?

Via facilitiesnet.com 

Collisions can be a good thing — under the right circumstances. Nobody wants to be in a fender bender. But when unlikely collaborators and ideas collide, that’s a different story.

“Accidental collisions” play a key role in innovation and workplace satisfaction. These chance meetings encourage employees to connect in ways they wouldn’t otherwise and can lead to surprisingly impactful results. In fact, unexpected conversations create opportunities for collaboration between unlikely partners and generally foster a happier, more productive workforce.

Via workdesign.com 

Throughout San Francisco and Silicon Valley, cash-rich technology firms have built or are erecting bold, futuristic headquarters that convey their brands to employees and customers. Another example is Uber, a ride-hailing company, which is hoping to recast its reputation for secrecy and rugged competitiveness by designing an entirely see-through head office. It is expected to have some interior areas, as well as a park, that will be open to the public.

Via economist.com

Recently we’ve noticed two overlapping narrative threads that weave through many project categories. End users are, to an increasing degree, seeking spaces that give them a sense of agency, or autonomy; this can be expressed in the ability to choose where they sit at work or the freedom to shop at whatever hour they want.

Via interiorarchitects.com 

Every time you enter a space, a rush of information about it is delivered to your brain through your senses. What does the space look like? What sounds are coming from it? What does it smell like? Is it hot or chilly, humid or dry? We humans are full-body sensors, and our feelers are out at every waking moment, helping us understand the places we go..

Via workdesign.com 

“Collaboration” as a buzzword is getting as old as “value engineering”; however, the inherent concept is increasing in importance.

Encourage a collaborative culture by focusing on food and activities that will bring people together, and create a space to house those two amenities.  You can spend a lot of money or a little money; the results will be the same – a more engaged and relational workforce.

Via anitainsights.com