Transforming your office into a desired destination

Today’s workplace is so much more than cubicles and conference rooms. It can often be a direct link to a company’s success. To stay competitive, smart companies know they need to offer a well-designed workplace that encourages real productivity and collaboration, promotes health and happiness, and helps attract and retain top talent.

But in an ever-evolving industry, it’s hard to stay on top of the latest trends, which is why we partnered with five of our preferred suppliers across key design areas—architecture, flooring, lighting, furniture and audio visual technology—to author a series of articles intended to showcase cutting-edge trends in planning and design that are enhancing workplace experience for our clients. Trends that will help get you in front, and even ahead, of the workplace curve. 

This is the third article in a five-part series.

Bringing your employees back into the office

Today’s employees can work from almost anywhere they want. As long as they have access to wifi, they can work from coffee shops, restaurants, home, you name it. Today’s employers recognize this trend and an increasing number of them are offering flexible work programs in order to attract and retain the best talent.

At the same time, many of these employers also see the value in creating destination offices – places where employees want to come into work. Destination offices are not only vibrant and full of energy, they enhance the employee experience and promote a contagious culture of collaboration, which employees crave. According to a survey conducted by Queens University on employees (born between 1980 to 2000), three out of four employees rate teamwork and collaboration as “very important” to their work.

Of course, the idea of a ‘destination’ goes much further than a really hip space and plenty of breakout areas a la Google. It needs to be a place where people feel energized, welcome and able to thrive. From virtual reality to fitness centers to employee lounges, destination offices need to be thoughtfully designed to appeal to the employee experience as well as your broader organization’s needs.