OUR OFFICE POST-PANDEMIC DESIGN REFRESH
Developing a New Workplace Strategy
As we return to work post pandemic, many of our clients are asking questions. How can we make our space more welcoming for our people as they're coming back to the office? How can we use our office as a tool to attract and retain great people? In early 2022, we began to ask ourselves those same questions to determine the future of work for Thomas Interiors. As leaders in the industry, it was important for us to embrace the changes in the workplace while supporting our staff.
Our first step was gathering insights from our employees that our leaders would use to inform decisions on our new workplace strategy. The feedback we received was very similar to the data collected in research from companies like MillerKnoll, CBRE and JLL. We found that 93% of our employees were looking for a hybrid schedule with 2-3 days per week in the office at their discretion. Additionally, most of our employees identified the main reasons they come into the office as collaboration and socialization. This data was crucial in helping us determine that a hybrid strategy was right for us, and we knew we had to redesign our office to facilitate this new approach to work.
Supporting Strategy Through Design
Our first step in redesigning our showroom was to reduce the number of workstations to make way for collaborative and social spaces. To do this, we transitioned teams that aren’t in the office as often to unassigned seating at a 1:1½ ratio. This strategy allows us to support the same number of people with fewer desks. Hoteling-style workstations were added for mobile workers to utilize for drop-ins ranging from one hour to a full day. These stations have minimal work tools but are equipped with task seating to provide ergonomic support throughout the day.
Our front lobby was transformed from an under-utilized space into an area that supports respite as well as work. The sectional sofa and laptop tables create a comfortable space for clients to visit us, for an employee to sit down to send a few emails or for co-workers to gather. In the center of the space, we created a large socialization plaza that features flexible furniture, allowing this space to serve different functions over time. The plaza has several furniture settings, which helps to provide opportunities for employees to choose the space that works best for their needs.
We also revamped our meeting areas to create more dynamic spaces that could accommodate groups of varying sizes. Where our main conference room previously featured a large table that was rarely full, we placed a smaller table that is better suited for our most common meeting size of 4-6 people. We then layered in overflow seating with a variety of postures so we could accommodate larger groups as needed. This required us to keep sightlines in mind! You’ll notice the table in the back of the room is higher so users in the back maintain a view of the monitors.
Based on the survey our employees took, we also knew it was important to provide people with spaces for heads-down work and private conversations. As hybrid and remote work has become more common, the number of phone calls our employees take has significantly increased. When designing our new showroom, we included several small, 1-2 person spaces throughout the office that create quite zones for calls or individual work.
It's been wonderful to watch our employees utilize our new showroom, taking full advantage of the space we designed with them in mind! Creating a workplace with choice empowered our employees to find spaces that best support the work they are doing in each moment, whether they’re working individually or collaborating with others.
As you begin to think about your own workplace and question what your workplace strategy looks like, remember that it’s not one-size-fits-all. We recommend understanding the desires of your employees and weighing those desires with the needs of your business. If you’re looking to start this journey, our team is ready to support you as you navigate the future of work!
