FRIDAY MAY 28, 2021

The Upfront

The Future Of Work Is Flexible

Change – it’s the one thing you can count on in life and I’m sure we will agree that the last year has brought more than its share. Even as the situation finally improves there is no end in sight to the adjusting, transitioning, transforming and yes, that dreaded “pivoting.” As monotonous as this pandemic has felt from day to day, it’s been a major disruptor that has already spurred big shifts in all facets of life. Particularly in our workplaces.

We can still only guess at how COVID-19 will impact office design in the long term, but the most important lesson to take from the past 15 months is that adaptability is even more crucial than ever. Our workspaces should be ready for anything and everything – from fluctuating needs and preferences for remote work, to future pandemics.

The good news is that we’ve actually been building more and more flexibility into our workspaces for years. All signs are indicating that we can expect future workspaces to look a lot like the Agile Offices most of us were already working in – they’ll just be even more adaptable, ready to transform on a dime.

Why the wild variation in plans for returning to offices is a good sign

Is there a workplace topic more interesting right now than the near-term future of the office? This time last year, many of us would have been willing to bet that the office had no future at all. That prognosis quickly gave way to discussions about the efficacy of plexiglass dividers and air-filtration upgrades. Then it was on to reimagining the office as collaborative space, designed to bring people together rather than spacing them six feet apart.

And now the discussion is all over the place. Where you work today (or come September, or starting in 2022) might depend on your industry, your company culture, your manager, or your situation at home. There are presumptive bellwethers, but no clear trends. And to Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, this is an excellent sign.

Mayer-Schönberger is a professor of internet governance and regulation at Oxford and a co-author of the new book Framers: Human Advantage in an Age of Technology and Turmoil (May 2021, Dutton), which is about our thought models, and how we can improve them to make better decisions. The pandemic, he says, hasn’t definitively proven that one way of working is better than another. But it has opened our eyes to a wider range of possibilities than most companies saw in the before times, which means companies are likely to have more innovative answers to the question of where and how we work—even the ones that resume their office-bound ways.

“There is no return to normalcy,” says Mayer-Schönberger, whose research focuses on the role of information in a networked economy. “The environment people are reentering is fundamentally changed, so we need to reframe how we see our work and ourselves. If there is a reason why we go to a workplace, it needs to be a different reason than the one that we had: that this is the way we’ve always been doing it.”

Here's What The Research Says About Work-From-Home And Productivity

When WeWork CEO Sandeep Mathrani ventured on a podcast recently that “the least engaged [employees] are very comfortable working from home," the backlash from social and mainstream media was so swift and vitriolic that he soon issued a clarification on LinkedIn, apologising and clarifying that he had not meant to denigrate people who choose to work from home. 

But while he sought to explain himself more clearly, he didn’t walk back from what he said, because he felt he had a weapon on his side: evidence and data. Mathrani had been citing a study commissioned by WeWork of 2,000 employees and C-suite execs into how workers feel about different types of work environments. 

As government guidance changes and working from home becomes less mandatory in countries like the U.S. and UK, the debate about the best way for companies to manage their workforces and the balance between working from homes and offices is heating up. 

And those like Mathrani with skin in the game are increasingly commissioning or citing studies into where employees want to work in future, where their employers want them to work, and how productive they are in these various locations. Whether undertaken by academics, market research firms, tech companies or employers themselves, these studies are legion, and they will play a big role in determining how one of the huge societal shifts that will come out of the coronavirus pandemic, how and where we work, will play out over the coming months and years.

Reaching Out Post-Covid: What Event Spaces Does The Workplace Need?

Last week something amazing happened in Birmingham. Ten people, none of whom were related to one another and none of whom shared a house, met in a room in an office block on Colmore Row.

They took their masks off. They shared a long conversation and then walked 10 or 12 metres to another room, where they had some nice sandwiches and a glass or two of beer. It was remarkably normal and, as a result, completely extraordinary. Just real, live people, all a bit dazed by the experience, and all of whom had panicked about the dress code.

Fifteen months into the coronavirus pandemic, something as simple as a business roundtable event now feels giddy and exotic. 

The evidence, limited though it is, suggests substantial pent-up demand for business events more or less exactly like those people were enjoying pre-pandemic.

As the UK economy unlocks and the return to work begins, many more businesses will be seeking to host events as they reach out to clients and contacts. Will the in-workplace events space be there to meet their needs? 

If you thought working from home was messy, here comes hybrid work

Despite the tech industry’s broad shift to remote work, Facebook is doubling down on physical office space in New York. It signed a major deal during the pandemic, making it one of the city’s largest corporate tenants. WSJ takes an exclusive look inside Facebook’s future NYC offices. Photo Illustration: Adam Falk/The Wall Street Journal

It took months for bosses and employees to adjust to working remotely in the pandemic. The next era of work might be even more messy.

Companies are laying down new rules and setting expectations for hybrid work as some workers come back in and others remain out of office. At JPMorgan Chase & Co., employees on some teams can schedule work-from-home days, but not on Mondays or Fridays. At Salesforce.com Inc. offices that have reopened, Thursdays are proving to be the most popular in-office day, creating high demand for meeting rooms and collaboration spaces, and prompting the company to rethink its office design.

Executives at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP have voiced worries that workers who stay remote could wind up as second-class corporate citizens, falling behind in promotions and pay, so the company plans to track rates of advancement for office-based and remote staff in an effort to make sure nobody lags behind.

After months of discussions, big employers from Humana Inc. in Louisville, Ky., to Nike Inc. near Portland, Ore., say they are cementing plans to return to corporate complexes after Labor Day—in some cases relaxing capacity restrictions—while also promising employees some measure of flexibility in where they work.

Flexible Workspaces Are in Vogue in South Florida. Here's What You Need to Know

As employees begin to return to the office, flexible workspaces have become an increasingly popular option in South Florida, something its proponents say offers a work-from-home feeling with additional amenities, such as receptionist services, high-speed internet, technology and conference rooms.

What’s more, a recent COVID and flexible space report from global commercial real estate services company JLL found 30% of all office space will be consumed flexibly by 2030, as a result of flexible lease terms and uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

Philippe Houdard, co-founder of Pipeline Workspaces, a Miami-based shared workspace concept, said he’s noticed a big drive to reengage with society.

“People just started to become much more comfortable,” Houdard said. “I think it was a combination of people getting the vaccine early and there were a number of people who may have already had COVID, but it was also the fact that a lot of people’s businesses continue to grow until they feel the need to be back in the mix. There’s an immense pent-up desire to be out.”

Flexible workspaces offer membership options such as private office suites, dedicated desks, flex space options and virtual office services for entrepreneurs, startups, independent professionals and small business teams. 

Houdard said other amenities, such as private phone booths, mailboxes, 24/7 access, full kitchens and complimentary gourmet coffee and tea are also a draw for people during the pandemic who missed going to the office.

“What we see a lot of is people alternating days,” Houdard said. “People come in several days a week and then work from home the other days, or they work part of the day at the office and come back and work from home. It integrates life with all of its complexities in ways that people can be working, and they can handle other things that are going on in their personal lives.”

The Essential Design Attributes of Workplace Terraces

Our desire to get outside is not new. People have been enjoying balconies, terraces and green spaces connected to their workplaces, homes and communities throughout history. For many of us, nothing breaks up the workday’s normal pattern more effectively than taking a moment to step outside. According to University of Minnesota research, “Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our everyday understanding of the health and safety of outdoor spaces over indoor spaces, and fresh air over recirculated air. The result is a wave of businesses, organizations and educational institutions using inhabitable outdoor spaces for employees, students and others to enjoy. In our experience, once people start to use outdoor spaces as extensions of their workplace, the behavior becomes a healthy habit. The key is designing workplace terrace spaces that include many of the features found in today’s indoor environments. Mitigating nature’s forces like sun and wind is also important to ensuring these spaces are used regularly.

Goodbye tape measure? How lidar is poised to change the design industry

A few weeks ago I bumped into a design industry acquaintance on the street, and he blew my mind by taking a picture of my feet.

A little context: To explain how his startup was taking accurate kitchen measurements on the fly, my friend was demonstrating an iPhone app called Canvas that quickly generates 3D models. There was no kitchen handy on the sidewalk, so he waved his phone around and captured a few square feet of the pavement. Quickly, a strikingly detailed three dimensional model began to appear on his screen—a few recycling bins here, a fence there, and my two feet centering the image in a dazzling little bit of digital magic. (Also, I wished I hadn’t been wearing sandals.)

The technology powering this kind of on-the-spot 3D modeling is lidar, short for “light detection and ranging.” It works by sending out invisible pulses of light that bounce back to a tiny sensor, which uses that information to calculate depth. Simplistically put: Cameras take 2D pictures; lidar takes 3D pictures.

Lidar is not new. In fact, the technology dates back to the 1960s. What is new, and what promises to change the design industry, is the fact that a lidar sensor now comes as a standard feature on the most advanced iPhones and iPads, and will likely be rolled out to a wider range of smartphones in the years ahead. When lidar is everywhere, a new suite of tools will emerge that are poised to change the way designers do business.

US Office Market Posts Record Negative Absorption in Q1

While overall office vacancy has continued to rise throughout the course of the pandemic—thanks in part to an oversupply of new sublease space—average full-service asking lease rates for the sector have remained resilient, with landlords holding firm on asking rates. 

Asking rents for downtown Class A office properties were $51.99 per square foot last quarter, a 1.4% change over Q4 2020 levels, according to a new report from Colliers on the state of the sector. Meanwhile, asking rents for suburban office product averaged $32.33 per square foot in Q1, a 1% change over the prior quarter.

“While leasing remains well below pre-pandemic levels, the spread between asking and effective rates is widening as landlords continue to offer generous concessions such as free rent and tenant improvement allowances in place of dropping their rates,” the report notes.

Overall sublease supply increased by a whopping 55% in 2020, and an additional 15 million square feet were added in the first quarter of this year. That means that for the first time ever, the total amount of sublease space available for lease exceeded 200 million square feet. However, the rate at which new sublease space is coming to market across the US appears to be slowing and has decelerated over the past two quarters.

Amazon deals accounted for two of the top five office leases in Q1: a 706,996 square foot location in Boston (the largest office lease in the quarter) and a 605,000 square foot location in Seattle’s Puget Sound region, which clocked in at No. 2. Blackstone Group nabbed the No.2 spot, with a 652,615 square foot lease at 345 Park Avenue in New York City, and Andurll and Beyond Meat inked deals in the greater Los Angeles area that accounted for the fourth and fifth top leases in Q1.

Office Space Demand Continues to Grow As Companies Make Space Decisions

April marked the fourth month of recovery as the office market inched closer to its pre-pandemic benchmark, according to the VTS Office Demand Index (VODI).

The VODI, which tracks in-person and virtual tours of office properties across, is currently at 85, with demand for office space nationally at 15% of the pre-pandemic benchmark. VTS now defines the benchmark at 100, which is the average VODI, or rate of demand. Since January, demand for office space is up 117.9% nationally.

Seasonal demand in March and April helped drive growth—in addition to the recovery from the pandemic—but activity often slows after that. Still, VTS says it is uncertain if seasonality will play out as it has in recent years with attractive lease terms and pent-up demand likely to fuel a continued surge in demand for office space through late spring.

VTS notes that all markets saw an expected deceleration in demand in April. In Los Angeles and Washington DC, for example, demand pulled back. VTS attributes this more to typical monthly volatility than it to the beginning of a long-term trend.

Office Tenants Expect Post-Pandemic Space Changes. Landlords? Not So Much

Landlords and occupiers aren’t exactly on the same page when it comes to future space usage.

While 71% percent of commercial occupiers say the shift to remote work has fundamentally changed their long-term approach to space usage, 69% of landlords see no lasting impact from COVID-19, according to a survey of 200 tenants and 50 landlords from MRI Software and CoreNet Global.

Driving these changes will be the widespread adoption of remote working. More companies (89%) say they will be allowing remote working after the pandemic than before (66%). However, most respondents (more than 40%) still don’t know how many tenants will be required to come to the office. 

As remote work becomes more popular, 54% of occupiers say they will convert to or expand their use of hot-desking. Only 20% plan to keep assigned workstations. More than 25% expect to add space between desks or cubicles, while more than 15% plan to add breakout rooms.

As space needs change, 63% of occupiers plan to negotiate new terms, and 50% anticipate breaking leases. Forty-four percent will seek shorter renewal periods, and 29% will let leases lapse.

Mara launches new height-adjustable table Follow Me

With the pandemic having accelerated existing workplace trends in the last year, the domestication of workplaces in particular, has resulted in two previously different environments—the home and office—now blending into one.

To respond to these new work-live requirements, Italian design firm Mara has just unveiled a new height-adjustable table, which has been designed to organise and make existing spaces, whether at home or in the office, more functional, flexible and space-saving.

Aiming to bring the functionality of offices to the home, and home comforts to offices, Follow Me is designed for simple sit-stand use. Available in two versions (small and large) and in a variety of colours and finishes, the table is equipped with Mara’s innovative patented ‘no-gravity’ system, meaning it functions without the use of electricity or gas pumps.

Its functional tilting top and practical castors allow users to effortlessly move the table as needed, while once used and folded, it can also be stored in small rooms taking up very little space, making it ideal for smaller workspaces and bijou home offices.

Mute partners with furniture provider obo to launch UK exclusive range of acoustic product

As one of Europe’s leading manufacturers in acoustic products for the workplace, Mute has partnered with obo to support and accelerate the brand’s growth in the UK.

New to the market with a refined range of meeting pods, acoustic lighting and sound absorbers, obo’s exclusive collaboration with Mute will support the design firm with upcoming product launches and showcases, acting as Mute’s sole representatives in the UK.

A specialist in interior acoustics since its launch back in 2016, Mute offers a comprehensive portfolio of acoustic products thoughtfully designed to bring harmony to working environments, hotels and other commercial spaces, carefully striking the balance between sound and silence.

Based in Poland, its design philosophy explores aesthetic simplicity while marrying noise reduction with timeless, sustainable design. Mute’s extensive team of in-house sound experts work closely with designers to create products with high acoustic properties.

Jasper Morrison has given Emeco’s classic upholstered Navy Officer Collection a fresh, light and modern update

The upholstered Navy Officer series was first introduced in 1948. As US Navy Officers were being redeployed off Navy Warships to land based facilities, they wanted a little more comfort than the ship board 1006 Navy chair provided. The Navy Officer Chair was born a bit bigger and a bit softer. Since then, the Navy Officer series has been used for working and dining in settings where an extra level of comfort and durability is demanded. With its long history, not to mention its countless cameo appearances in films and TV series, this humble but proud chair is an unimpeachable symbol of no-nonsense American ingenuity.

Jasper Morrison has made this classic chair relevant for today, whilst remaining true to its original look, character and material - recycled aluminum. In our factory in Hanover, PA, our craftsmen build the Navy chairs by hand, following our unique 77-step process.

The Navy Officer Collection by Jasper Morrison features a chair, an armchair and swivel chairs, available in hand-brushed aluminum or a black powder coat finish. Upholstery is offered in a selection of Kvadrat and Maharam textiles and leathers.

“This distinctive US Navy design and personality is immediately recognizable. The idea was to build on that heritage and make it a chair for everyone – today and tomorrow. Jasper Morrison’s update has done just that, and given the Navy Officer Chair a healthy dose of Super Normal.”  – Gregg Buchbinder, CEO & Owner, Emeco

Foster + Partners turns palazzo in Rome into Apple Store

Fosters + Partners has restored and converted the Palazzo Marignoli in Rome into an Apple Store, uncovering historic features and opening up a central courtyard.

Apple Via del Corso is the largest Apple Store in Europe and occupies the historic Palazzo Marignoli, near the Piazza Colonna, in the centre of Rome.

The Apple Via del Corso building sits on a site that held a church and a convent in the 16th century.

The current Palazzo Marignoli building was constructed between 1873 and 1878 and served as a home for Marquis Filippo Marignoli. It also housed the Caffè Aragno, a famous gathering spot for artists.

Foster + Partners wanted to celebrate its history by highlighting its grandeur and restoring its historic features.

"The idea was to celebrate different aspects and various areas of the history of the building," said Foster + Partners partner Luis Matania.

"You have this juxtaposition of all these various areas in the building's history, through to now, the 21st century."

Stefano Boeri's plans for Salone del Mobile will "demonstrate that Milan is alive"

In this exclusive interview, Salone del Mobile curator Stefano Boeri sets out his vision for this year's fair, which will be called "Supersalone" and will feature products displayed on walls instead of branded booths.

"I believe that this will be a way to take a risk in the right direction and demonstrate that the Salone is alive, that Milan is alive and that generally, our field is still dynamic and open to new conditions," he said.

The fair, taking place from 5 to 10 September, will be open to the public all week and visitors will be able to buy discounted products by scanning QR codes located next to products.

Products will be mounted on a series of parallel walls designed by architect Andrea Caputo, which will replace the traditional branded booths.

"I think it's such a beautiful and civil message in this situation," Boeri told Dezeen.

"It's giving the general public a possibility to see, and then buy online, an incredible variety of furniture products. I think it's something exceptional and I hope unmissable."

The Milanese architect was appointed curator of the furniture fair earlier this month following a tumultuous period that saw president Claudio Luti resign amid rumours that key brands would not participate in the fair.

Damning letter details culture of abuse at Ideo

Nine global offices. More than 700 employees. More than $100 million in annual revenue. And, for a decade, partially owned by Steelcase. This is Ideo, the most renowned design studio in the world. It’s the firm that pioneered the very idea of “design thinking” and claims its boundless creativity comes from its “human-centered” culture. Clients include Coca-Cola, Ford, Ikea, and Conagra. Ideo has worked on everything from Apple’s first mouse to the Swiffer floor mop.

But the personal experiences described by designer George Aye could tarnish Ideo’s legacy. Aye worked at Ideo’s Chicago office from 2001 to 2008. In a letter he posted on Medium—for which he interviewed 23 people who have also worked at Ideo—he outlines a damaged culture of abuse, often grounded in systematic white supremacy.

“I believe that without significant reform, IDEO is an unsafe workplace for women, PoC (People of Color) and WoC (Women of Color),” he writes. Over the next roughly 5,000 words, Aye details personal trauma, a lawsuit, and Ideo’s own hypocritical actions to demonstrate a culture of abuse—and one that Aye says company executives have been well aware of since at least 2017. The essay is based on anonymous interviews, and Fast Company did not independently verify the accounts. Ideo also declined to respond to multiple requests for comment.

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