Pushed by forward-looking execs or propelled by competition, companies are embarking on multiyear modernization programs overhauling technology infrastructure and business culture for the digital age.

To grow from dated operations, and in advance of adopting practices like agile while maintaining legacy environments, companies are making physical renovations to existing workplaces.

For IT, those renovations mean breaking out of the basement.

"In the past, we [had] what you might call a traditional IT space," said Steve Miller, CIO of Steelcase, in an interview with CIO Dive. While there was some space for mobile workers, the technology workspace was cubicle-centric with a heavy amount of conference rooms nearby. "It definitely felt like the basement no matter where you were at."

When Steelcase decided to renovate, "it was the company saying, 'hey, we need to work differently and IT needs to be part of what we're doing as a company more closely in order for use to be successful,' " Miller said. It was a step in driving IT to become a more strategic part of the company.

A layout of Steelcase's workplace, with room for collaboration and flexible workspaces.
*Credit: Steelcase*

The space, along with IT's technology roadmap and organizational changes, speaks to Miller's goal of promoting the idea of "fitness and wellness."

Over its history, technology that enables the business has grown, but to enable Steelcase's transformation, "we need to keep [it] fit," Miller said. "So that's where things like DevOps and cloud capabilities, advanced analytics, things like that, now need to come into play in our road maps to say, 'how exactly are you making those moves' and 'how are you moving towards more fit environments.' "

Fluorescent lighting in focus

Complaints over harsh lighting or walled-off workspaces only go so far. Large-scale renovations and modernization efforts are born from investment in culture.

Miller joined Steelcase 19 years ago, and was tapped as CIO earlier this year. The company used his transition into the role, in part, to put some of the new organizational structures in place.

As part of the overhaul, Steelcase had to redraw the lines of IT to be more product or customer-centered, rather than based on an org chart, according to Miller. With DevOps serving as a theme, the company structured tech workers around the customer and delivery.

Steelcase nicknamed the IT space overhaul "Project Ampersand," Miller said. Whether it's operations and IT or sales and IT, the "and" signaled IT should be a key strategic contributor from the start of projects.

Experts are quick to discuss the future of work, but the future of the workplace matters too. To remain relevant, organizations have to optimize offices to attract and retain talent, creating an environment employees enjoy working in.