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Can Office Design Improve Efficiency?

Harry's Case Study

New York City, New York, US

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Harry’s former headquarters was essentially one cavernous workroom, a 3,000-square-foot loft in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. The space worked well enough in the company’s early days. The open office lent itself to interaction, and, because there weren’t many employees, there was enough space for people to separate themselves from the fray. But by the time the company had grown to a team of 65, the workplace had lost some of its charm. Business analysts squinted at spreadsheets alongside chatty customer service representatives, and product samples and packaging materials spilled over into the reception area.

“It was hectic,” recalls Scott Newlin, Design Director for the men’s grooming company. “All of that energy is great for momentum, but it also hurts your day-to-day when you’re just trying to have a phone conversation and you can’t.”

Inefficiency: The Cost of Making Do

Plagued by the pervasive hum of conversation and activity, people sought refuge in the outside hallway and stairwells for private conversations and phone calls. Meetings were another issue. With only two conference rooms to share, people were forced to gather in the freight elevator.

“We were meeting there in the depths of winter, wearing our winter jackets and sitting at a little cardboard table set up in the middle,” says Jeff Raider, Harry’s co-Founder and co-CEO. “At that point we knew we needed more shared space.”

The design for the new space would harness the vibrancy of the old office, but also allow people to do their best work.

It was more than just the inconvenience of meeting in elevators that drove the company to seek new accommodations. Harry’s office was inhibiting the collaborative creativity that had helped the start-up grow from two guys with an idea for improving the shaving experience to a booming business.

“Very few individual people in our company can see a project from start to finish,” says Raider. “It almost always involves a team effort. But in our old space, we were constrained. We had to dedicate the vast majority of the office to individual workspaces and desks, which didn’t leave lots of room for people to get together.”

The office was impeding employees’ efficiency, too. Hours were lost sending emails back and forth to schedule meetings in the single conference room. And with limited storage—placed far away from the workspace—people were running in circles to complete simple tasks.

Many employees had learned how to cope with the pitfalls of an outgrown office, but for new people and prospective hires, these small annoyances seemed overwhelming.

“We did have a couple of people come in that were interested in working for the company,” says Newlin. “I think that the old space and its buzz, and its energy and hecticness, were really something they had to sit and think about whether they would be able to work in a space like that.”

New Insights Through Discovery

The time had come for a new facility, and for a new way of thinking about the workplace. Harry’s worked with Studio Tractor and Herman Miller to design its new 26,000-square-foot space. And because Harry’s wanted to avoid the difficulties it faced in the old space, the company looked to Herman Miller and its Living Office® framework to better understand the ways its people work, identify the types of settings that would support their activities, and create a workplace where anyone would be proud to reside.

To begin this journey, Herman Miller guided Harry’s through the Living Office Discovery Process, which helps companies identify their purpose, business drivers, character, and activities. This allows an organization and its design partners to prioritize the settings that will best support the needs of people and the business, and to create a workplace with the right mix of these spaces.

Company leaders kicked off the process by identifying key organizational goals that they hoped the new workplace would help them advance. These included promoting knowledge sharing, increasing efficiency, and attracting and retaining top talent.

Next, employee focus groups met to identify aspects of the organization’s character—was it more formal or informal, uniform or diverse—and identified and prioritized daily work activities. The focus groups uncovered a few surprises along the way.

How to Be an Efficiency Expert

Read the Article

Living Office specialists led focus groups, including architects from Studio Tractor, through the Living Office Discovery Process to help the design team plan an office that would support people's activities, so people could work together—and alone—more efficiently.

From Findings to Floorplans

The first revelation was the staff’s desire for the organization—and their office—to become more formal in character. After working in a chaotic, open-plan office that didn’t support their activities, Harry’s employees craved more structure, organization, and efficiency.

“As a group that is working in a small space that has no real walls or boundaries or areas for specific tasks—literally just an open plan—I think that what ends up happening is you kind of feel like you’re grasping for structure,” says Newlin. “Private offices start sounding nice at that point.”

A second and equally important discovery was that their space wasn’t supporting the full range of activities people were doing throughout the day—creating new products, answering emails and phone calls, having quick chats and longer conversations, and solving problems together, to name a few.

“Through the discovery process, we really broke our activities and floorplan down into numbers,” says Newlin. “We need this number of conference rooms, we need this number of one-on-one chat rooms, this number of lounge areas where you could put your laptop on your lap and just work.”

Since the Living Office Discovery Process revealed that innovation is a top priority for Harry's, its new office has plenty of places for people to meet both formally and informally.

The Right Settings, Rightly Placed

Insights such as this helped Harry’s and the design team from Studio Tractor transform the new office into a diverse landscape with settings they could be confident would support a full range of activities—no easy feat in Harry’s cavernous new space. “At 26,000 square feet, the trick is to make sure the space doesn’t look like a ghost town,” says Mark Kolodziejczak, an architect at Studio Tractor. “With Living Office, you have different settings that support different activities. The settings are dispersed, but they allow activities to happen in meaningful proximity to one another.”

Employees now have formal Meeting Spaces where they can present to potential investors, small Coves for informal conversations, and bustling Hives where customer service representatives can power through emails or have quick chats with colleagues. In the Clubhouse Setting, graphic designers can easily create together. And if a task requires quiet, people can camp out in Havens—enclosed rooms that are perfect for making phone calls or thinking through problems.

With all of this variety and the freedom to work in the settings that best suit their needs, Harry’s employees were excited to move into the new space. But the true test came six months later when Herman Miller checked in to determine if these settings were actually helping the staff connect more easily and be more efficient. To do this, Herman Miller conducted robust, on-site research using a variety of methods, including on-site observation and extensive surveys among leadership and staff.

Wrote one employee in a survey. “The new layout allows for free communication with colleagues from all departments. But it’s comfortable and quiet enough to keep you focused.”

Giving Serendipity More Space

Settings aren’t the only thing helping people work better together. The hallways and open areas that cover 58 percent of the floorplan are also encouraging people to connect. These connective zones give people more opportunities to move about, bump into one another, and share ideas—much more than their former location, where only 37 percent of the layout was dedicated to circulation.

“In the last space, I felt like people weren’t moving because there weren’t options, or they were moving out of desperation,” says Rachel Peck, Staff Manager. “Here there are options and flexibility.”

Adjacencies Drive Efficiency

At the beginning of the project, Harry’s leadership team had also identified “Increasing Efficiency” as an important business driver. This priority was closely tied to the staff’s desire for a more seamless and structured workflow, which they expressed during the discovery process. The organized, efficient new floorplan is making this a reality.

“We have our marketing team sitting next to our customer acquisition team, who on a day-to-day basis have dozens of conversations,” says Newlin. “I think this really allowed a more streamlined approach to the way they work. It also has allowed us to take less time in between certain tasks.”

The employee survey shows that people are noticing this new level of efficiency. Only 29 percent of people thought their old office helped them work productively, but now 70 percent think the new space is helping them do their jobs faster and better.

Bringing the Brand to Life

When you walk into Harry’s new home—bright, open, vibrant but not chaotic—it’s easy to believe that the new space will help the company move the dial on its third business driver: attracting and retaining top talent. Anyone visiting the space will get a clear understanding of the type of company they will be working for. Harry’s brand and culture are evident in larger design choices as well as small details—from a display area with brightly colored razors and bottles of shaving cream and lotion, to a pop of blue from the company’s logo on the legs of desks.

Expressions of Harry's brand, including bright pops of blue, connect diverse settings throughout the office.

“I’ll meet somebody who I think might be a great fit for Harry’s. And my next step is always, ‘Come to our office. Just come check us out,”’ says Raider. “I think because we are so proud of our space, it speaks for itself for all who come here. They’re like, ‘Whoa, this is cool. It’s well designed, it’s open, it’s collaborative.’ The brand immediately comes to life.”

Peck agreed: “Every time I bring a visitor or guest in here people are impressed with the space. That’s really nice to finally be in a grown-up space where it feels good to bring friends, candidates, and investors.”

The employee survey also underscores this sentiment. Before the move, only 47 percent of employees were proud to bring visitors to the office. In the new space, 98 percent say they feel a sense of pride when they bring someone to visit.

Giving People What They Need

With its new workplace, Harry’s is fulfilling more than just their business needs; they’re also fulfilling people’s fundamental needs, such as security and autonomy. Take security, for example. When an office allows people to get their work done in a comfortable, intuitive way, people can worry less and focus more. Newlin can already see this happening in their new office. “You can walk into this space and know exactly what you need to do during the day, where you’re supposed to work, and where you can store things,” says Newlin.

Separated from the main workspace, Harry’s spacious café is a place where employees can enjoy meals together and hold impromptu meetings with colleagues.

In a Jump Space setting, anyone—from visitors to employees—can touch down to work for a few hours.

People also feel like their need for autonomy is being fulfilled; they appreciate that they have a choice of settings and the freedom to work in the ones that suit them best. Survey findings confirm this: 83 percent of employees said that they have the tools and resources they need to do their work, and 60 percent said that they have the ability to choose where they can work within the office. Newlin is already seeing a positive effect on employee satisfaction. “We have more spaces where people can work without being impeded by private conversations,” says Newlin. “People seem to feel happier in the spaces where they work.”

This improvement in employee morale is substantiated by the results of Harry’s Leesman Survey, which measures workplace effectiveness and employees’ satisfaction with it. While Harry’s previous accommodations garnered a mediocre 48.4 out of 100, its new headquarters received a 71.9—nearly twelve points higher than the Leesman Global Benchmark of 60.1.

Primed for Growth

It’s not that the new workplace is perfect—Harry’s has had to order additional furniture to support its growing staff, and make a few adjustments to the layout to better suit the staff’s workflow—but that’s what Living Office is about. It’s a system for creating work environments with a variety of purposeful settings that are capable of growing and changing as naturally as the people who occupy them.

“In many ways I feel like we have a Living Office,” says Raider. “I know the word living has multiple meanings. I think one is it’s an office that we feel like we can live in, and that accentuates action and vibrancy in the way that we interact. The other thing is that it can constantly evolve, and you can learn. And that’s very much aligned with how we think about growing our business. We’re really excited to continue to make this a Living Office.”

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The Biophilic Office: Design Principles & Examples

Published on:

12 July 2021

Updated on:

15 December 2023

Design Director

As the workplace evolves and we take a more wellness and people-focused approach to office interior design , we're increasingly turning to biophilic design principles.

There's also increasing demand for employers to provide agile workplaces and flexible working .

We want to create the most desirable working environments; nature-inspired spaces that bring workers into the office and help them engage with each other and their surroundings.

What is biophilic office design?

Living walls, an emphasis on natural light, and even water features can be biophilic office design. Other elements may include using earth colours, roof gardens, or the use of open space.

Professor of social ecology and one of the pioneering theorists on the impact of biophilic design, Stephen Kellert identified the term. It's defined in a paper he wrote with Elizabeth Calabrese on The Practice of Biophilic Design - " it's the inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature that even in the modern world continues to be critical to people's physical and mental health and wellbeing."

Biophilic design, in the commercial world, is rooted in the consideration of the office as a community. Its intention is to create workspaces that support social integration and communal wellbeing.

As a style of design, it is fast gaining traction. Architects and designers are starting to view it as an integral part of any commercial and public building blueprint.

Biophilia a brief definition & history

The term biophilia was initially coined by psychologist Eric Fromm in 1964. It is a reference to the human need and desire to connect to nature. The same principles apply to biophilic office interior design .

The recognition of this connection as a vital aspect of the restoration, and maintenance, of health and wellbeing, can be evidenced as far back as Victorian times. Seaside resorts gained popularity as a means to obtain rest and relaxation and for individuals to benefit from the sea air.

The natural world was celebrated during these times. There was much interest in gardening, with the cultivation of a vast array of plants and the creation of public botanical gardens. Nature and greenery were sought after and valued. The biophilic office or workplace seeks to celebrate natural elements.

Supporting the development of a community

Fast forward to today۪s commercial world and the act of creating a community in the office is to create a sense of belonging; of being part of something; working together and in support of each other; wanting to be a part of the whole. Biophilic design provides the canvas for this community.

Plants and greenery enhance our feelings of connectivity and can offset the rigorous digital working practice we are surrounded by. Biophilic design enables the establishment of a community.

Biophilic design fosters feelings of wellness

Kellert talked about the human-centred approach to design, and the positive impact of biophilic interior design and architecture on our connections with each other and with place and nature.

A study by commercial flooring manufacturer, Interface, The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace , found that workers in offices that contained natural elements such as greenery and sunshine are six per cent more likely to be productive and report a 15 per cent higher level of wellbeing. They are also 15 per cent more creative than other workplace and office workers.

The wellbeing connection was also picked up through research conducted on behalf of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, which found that the presence of plants increases a buildings occupants feelings of wellbeing by as much as 40 per cent.

Neighbourhoods in the biophilic office

There is much talk of neighbourhoods in office design at the moment.

Neighbourhoods commonly refer to the breakdown of office space into certain areas. Using the term neighbourhoods denotes a more friendly, warmer and inclusive approach. Biophilic office design plays a key role in this approach as, in the outer world, our neighbourhoods are broken up by parks and our streets are lined with trees. It makes sense to mimic this in an interior environment.

Renowned designer Oliver Heath talks about neighbourhoods in the guide he authored, Creating Positive Spaces , also commissioned by Interface. Heath points out that we are social we like to be together and, although we can operate perfectly well independently, our need to be a part of a physical community still exists, as it was when it was first evidenced thousands of years ago.

Heath says: " From an evolutionary perspective, our survival instinct, inherited from our Hunter Gatherer forefathers, means we still feel more secure and happy, less stressed, and are more resilient when part of a community."

He goes on to advise that, when creating these workplace neighbourhoods and communities, it is important that these spaces are positive. Not only will that have a positive impact on our wellbeing, it will also improve collaboration, making our integration far more effective. This creates a stronger bond to the organisation which likely means a bigger commitment and longevity of the relationship.

Biophilic design principles pull us together

As digital creates physical distance, the office of the future needs to do all in its power to pull us back in and bring us together. Using biophilic influences and design principles can do exactly that.

In his biophilic design guide, Heath talks about physical proximity and how face-to-face encounters enrich relationships and bring down barriers. He identifies two emerging types of office interior design solution : Campus styles environments, favoured by tech companies like Google, Facebook and Samsung, with their open-plan offices and outdoor areas, and cellular offices, designed to counter noise and lack of privacy.

It's the campus style that supports what is known as a collision design and there are stats to back that this works by creating more face to face interaction. This covers spontaneous meetings such as water cooler conversations and ad hoc bumping-into interactions in corridors. These offices promote the belief that proximity creates better collaboration.

If nature and natural elements are incorporated into the design work or office fit out in these spaces, this can further fuel the collaborative, people-driven approach.

As established, nature provides a great connection, bringing us together and creating opportunities for us to interact. There are different manifestations of biophilic design from the physical natural light, plants and living things; to the representative pictures of nature, shells, sand etc; and creation of spaces that emulate the natural world in its complexity and integration.

If we consider these varied aspects in the early stages of planning a design or office refurbishment project, we can create a real sense of community. We can also mark out neighbourhoods۪ and distinguish spaces using living walls, planters and water features instead of floor coverings and panelled dividers. This immediately allows for a more natural flow and encourages free movement.

Natural elements and feeling better

According to mental health charity, Mind, bringing nature into everyday life is one sure way to boost both your physical and mental health. A biophilic office can help you to be more active, improving your mood and making you feel more calm and relaxed overall.

Standard bearer for the built environment BRE , states that 60 per cent of office staff don't have enough access to sunlight. Choosing offices with lots of natural light is going to be an easy win, in the very first instance, and should help with all biophilic elements.

From the enhancement of natural light to the act of bringing the outdoors in, we can only benefit from a better connection with nature during the working day. The urban environment separates us from the natural world and positions a lot of us in an office for eight hours a day, removed from outside. When we do go out, to grab a sandwich or a coffee, it's unlikely that we'll see much green particularly if we're in a city centre environment.

Dr Gina Cavan, a senior lecturer in geography at Manchester Metropolitan University, is quoted in a recent article on biophilic design in workspaces by Manchester online guide, Confidentials as saying, "V egetation such as trees, shrubs, grass and flowers are particularly important in cities because they provide us with many health and wellbeing benefits including increased life expectancy, reduced health inequality and improved psychological health and wellbeing. So recreating a sense of this indoors can be vitally important."

There is also evidence that the presence of plants can act to combat potentially dangerous ingredients in a commercial environment. Business publisher, Raconteur, in an article outlining the benefits of biophilic design, references research carried out by Norway۪s Agricultural University in Oslo, which indicates that plants remove harmful organic compounds, such as formaldehyde and benzene, that are found in the paint, carpets and furniture in the majority of commercial buildings.

Biophilic design examples for your workplace

So, how best to bring the green in, while boosting wellbeing, enhancing space and enabling better interaction? Here are some biophilic office design examples your office may want to consider.

Not all employers have the resources to ape the style of Amazon and add glass-domed greenhouses to their company headquarters. Living walls, plants and flowers are the top favourite choices for those who haven't an abundance of space to play with.

On the lowest rung, you can get the ball rolling by asking each individual employee to bring in their own desk plant. If you are supplying the plants, be as plentiful as possible and encourage staff to take responsibility for certain areas let them own the plants and the space itself.

For those who have greater ambition (and budgets to match!), there are a whole host of big corporates, who have had the funds to pay for grand designs, to take inspiration from, all around the world. From CSG International and Adobe in Bangalore to Apple in California and Amazon in Seattle, there are no limits to what sensory celebrations are out there to feast on and admire.

Some of our office case studies also show biophilic design examples.

The last word on biophilic office design

Ultimately, there is potential for all office environments and workplaces, regardless of size of floor space or funds, to embrace biophilic design and architecture to some degree. Technology-driven environments feel static; introducing living elements is an opportunity to remove that static quality and breathe life into the environment, putting us at one with nature and with each other.

Interested in introducing biophilic design to your office? Contact us for an introductory chat.

Meet the Authors

Having worked in the Design and Build industry for almost two decades, Julie has built an illustrious portfolio that reflects talent, creativity and an effortless ability to create inspiring workplaces. Taking pride in her involvement through every step of the design process, Julie is inspired by her clients and relishes dissecting a brief to get to the essence of what will provide the end users with the best experience and improve their working days.

With a passion for creating exciting and innovative designs, Jo’s is the imagination behind a rich and varied portfolio of inspirational environments, spanning commercial, retail and residential markets. Experienced in architectural design and design and build, she has worked in the office fit out industry for over ten years and has led the design on a number of multi-million pound projects.

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Whitepapers

Biophilic | Spaces

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A guide to Biophilic Design

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Redefining and designing the office

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Designing the Hybrid Office

• Anne-Laure Fayard,
• John Weeks,
• Mahwesh Khan

The natural experiment forced on the world by the coronavirus demonstrates that the academics and tech visionaries who have been talking since the 1980s about the possibilities of remote work were not exaggerating. After months of working remotely, we have all learned that most tasks are accomplished and most meetings go just fine without the office.

But that, the authors warn, doesn’t mean companies should suddenly abandon their workplaces. Going to the office, they argue, has never been just about work. And technology won’t make socializing less dependent on direct interpersonal contact anytime soon. In this article they describe the important social functions of an office: It’s where people build trust through personal interaction, learn the nuances of their job, and build and maintain organizational culture. And it’s through random in-person encounters between people from different functions and cultures that many of the most innovative business ideas are born. The authors conclude by showing how design, technology, and management practices can be used to make tomorrow’s offices more effective as social, learning, and innovation spaces.

From workplace to “culture space”

Idea in Brief

The problem.

Remote work is delivering some near-term productivity boosts and cost savings, but the longer-term impact may be very negative for company performance.

Why That Is

Human beings require personal connection to build trust. Learning through observation requires physical proximity. And chance encounters between diverse individuals are a rich source of innovation.

The Solution

Tomorrow’s offices will serve primarily as a place to renew social ties, build a learning culture, and offer opportunities for serendipity. They will be designed and managed to foster human connections with the help of technology.

In June 2019 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) opened Olympic House, its new headquarters, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Constructed over six years, at a cost of $150 million, the new building was empty within just nine months. IOC staffers, like knowledge workers around the world, were working from home.

• Anne-Laure Fayard is the ERA Chair Professor in Social Innovation at Nova School of Business and Economics and visiting research faculty at New York University Tandon School of Engineering.
• John Weeks is a professor of leadership and organizational behavior at IMD in Lausanne.
• Mahwesh Khan is a research associate at IMD and a former corporate governance officer at the International Finance Corporation.

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Case Studies ( 228 )

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• Case Study: High class, modern office design

Client: Cata Appliances

Location: Normanton (Wakefield)

Industry: Kitchen appliances

Building: 2 storey office

Date: June 2013

Conceiving a contemporary design scheme and carrying out a complete refit of the office interior. Space/layout planning along with sourcing stylish, modern office furniture.

The Design Brief

Cata approached Rodley Interiors to design and fully refurbish their Wakefield head office. The design brief was pretty open; they wanted a contemporary look & feel to match their modern approach to business.

We showed the client some of our previous completed office refurbishment work from around West Yorkshire. This gave them the confidence to go with Rodley Interiors and provided some great inspiration for the new layout they wanted.

We had a blank canvas to work with as we completely stripped out the existing office including all floor coverings, external window blinds, old tired kitchen units & work tops and the various styles of office furniture.

Office Interior Design

The shape of the office and the existing dividing walls meant there wasn’t much opportunity to use partitioning. This meant we’d have to rely on savvy office furniture choices to create the impact and feel we wanted. Our many years of experience and great relationships with furniture companies came into its own here.

Following consultation with the client we decided on a monochrome colour scheme. We wanted to have a lot of white to help create a light workplace and a clean, more minimalist feel. We chose furniture from the Pure Collection by Imperial Office Furniture due to the crisp, white appearance and excellent build quality. We opted for a walnut finish to enhance the high-class, luxury look with the natural wood appearance adding a delightful contrast. This was offset with a dark grey charcoal carpet fitted throughout to heighten the clean lines of the furniture.

Contemporary Office Furniture

The walnut top desks have white extension pedestals with side pulls instead of handles to keep a minimalist aesthetic. The lockable two drawer desk-end filers are also finished with matching walnut tops to extend the desk space and add extra impact. The larger drawers on these filers have 2 side-by-side rows of filing per drawer.

Rolling door tambour storage units were required. We selected one full height and one desk height unit with white roll doors and matching walnut façade. The benefits of these storage units are:

• They colour coordinate with the rest of the new furniture
• The doors are lockable which offers privacy for documents and personal items
• Contents are easily accessible and quickly hidden thanks to the rollaround doors

Dividing screens between desks were added for a degree of privacy between staff. These crisp, frosted white dividers tie in well with the rest of the modern office furniture and are a far cry from the dull, bog-standard, canvas covered affairs.

Executive style office seating

Excellent seating is a must for the modern office. We sourced these stylish, contemporary black leather chairs that have black mesh backs. This backing aids breath-ability making them more comfortable for the user. Not only do these chairs have that designer look but they’re also ergonomically sound and very cost effective!

Office partitioning

The office partitioning is a good sound-prevention system, double glazed with a simple frosting manifestation. The white aluminium framework coordinates with the furniture as does the luxurious walnut finish doors. Black laminate skirting to the base of the partitioning ties in well with the charcoal colour carpet and other black accents used around the office.

High-end boardroom design

We thought the boardroom needed something a bit special. An elegantly curved boardroom table with a sparkling granite effect finish was ideal. As well as the luxury aesthetic of granite this also ties in with high-end kitchen surfaces – most appropriate for this company’s business. Vinyl graphics on the walls add interest with a large full-height B&W photo adding an extra touch of class. We added modern, stylish black leather meeting room chairs to complete this contemporary boardroom.

A modern office kitchen

For the staff kitchen area and break-out space we went with a shiny high-class, white gloss finish for the kitchen units with satin stainless steel handles. We fitted a large, spacious Walnut block breakfast bar for a real wallop of natural wood as you enter the office. Shiny black plastic stools with polished stainless steel bases make this an inviting area for staff to relax in.

We also designed the external window blinds (not pictured). These are 89mm slate finish slats, complete with white powder-coated slim-bodied head-rails.

Interactive panorama

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Case Study: Office Space Designed for Wellness and Collaboration 

Anthem Technology Center's new LEED Silver-certified, 21-story, Class A, build-to-suit office tower in Midtown, Atlanta, serves as a hub for approximately 3,000 professionals dedicated to creating new capabilities that will enhance the consumer health care experience. The 352,000-square-foot office is 100 percent leased to Anthem, Inc., which operates Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia.

Developed by Portman Holdings, the building's exterior was designed by Portman Architects and its interiors by Nelson Architects. The design team selected Rockfon ceiling systems as the basis of design for the majority of Anthem's office ceilings. Rockfon's combination of stone wool panels with metal suspension grid and perimeter trim provided the design flexibility, acoustic optimization and sustainable attributes required for the high-tech, highly collaborative setting.

The office tower's interior design encourages employee wellness and impromptu interactions. A double-height central atrium with staircase connects every two levels. Informal gathering areas and formal conference rooms promote group collaboration within the largely open floorplan. Amenities are provided on the 8th and 16th floors with dining options, a catering/prep kitchen to support hosted events, fitness centers, outdoor patios and indoor game rooms.

Adding to the interiors' openness, the office ceiling designs seem to float above the spacious floorplans. Conveying the desired appearance, Rockfon Sonar stone wool ceiling panels feature an elegant, lightly textured, white surface. The 9/16-inch exposed Chicago Metallic 4000 Tempra suspension system defines the visible grid pattern and showcases the square tegular narrow edge profile. Enhancing the sense of buoyancy, the ceiling system is framed in Rockfon Infinity 4-inch perimeter trim.

Respecting the variety of individual workstyles and tasks, private offices and quiet nooks designate separate areas for concentration and one-on-one conversations. Optimized acoustics was an important consideration within this interconnected office environment. Nelson and Newcomb & Boyd guided the acoustic performance requirements throughout the interiors.

To ensure the best sound experience and productive workspace for Anthem's associates, a sound-absorbing ceiling system with a high Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) was specified. Rockfon Sonar acoustic stone wool ceiling panels deliver a high NRC of 0.95. 

“Many acoustic standards require or recommend that ceilings be minimum NRC 0.90. In group workspaces, where people are talking and noise levels and distractions are potentially high, a ceiling NRC over 0.90 is very important,” says Rockfon's acoustic specialist, Gary Madaras, PhD. “High sound absorption overhead in open spaces helps control the ambient noise, increase speech privacy and decrease the number of people that are distracted by transient noises. In enclosed rooms, it prevents excessive reverberance. This increases speech intelligibility.”

Acoustic comfort is an essential characteristic in designing spaces that support wellness, health and sustainability. In Dec. 2020, the U.S. Green Building Council awarded Anthem Technology Center a Silver certification for LEED v4 Building Design +C: Core and Shell. Certification also is in progress for LEED v4 ID+C: Commercial Interiors.

Supporting LEED v4 ID+C criteria, Rockfon's three-step approach to optimized acoustics recommends:

1. Selecting the appropriate NRC rating for ceiling panels, absorbing sound and controlling reverberation and noise.

2. Selecting the appropriate sound transmission class rating for wall and floor-to-ceiling assemblies, preventing noise transfer between rooms using full-height walls.

3. Selecting the proper background sound levels, masking annoying or distracting noise.

Along with acoustic performance, Rockfon's ceiling systems support sustainability by maximizing the ample Atlanta sunshine radiating through the floor-to-ceiling windows with views overlooking the city. Rockfon Sonar panels' white surface reflects up to 85 percent of light, extending the daylight more deeply into the office's core. Relying on more natural light reduces the building's electrical and HVAC loads, energy use, and the associated emissions and costs.

Supplementing Anthem Technology Center's natural lighting, Rockfon worked closely with the ceiling design and installation team to accommodate 220 LED light fixtures. These continuous flush-mounted, linear fixtures ranged in length from 4 to 26 feet.

The ceilings conceal the electrical, security and air exchange systems. Contributing to healthy indoor air quality and LEED criteria, Rockfon's acoustic stone wool ceiling panels are GREENGUARD Gold certification for low-VOC emission. Both the panels and the metal suspension system are manufactured with recycled content and are inherently resistant to mold, mildew or other potentially harmful microorganisms. Easy to clean and maintain, Rockfon's stone wool ceiling panels have a 30-year limited warranty.

The new Anthem Technology Center replaced a 1970s two-story building. A groundbreaking event was held in Feb. 2018 and the project was completed as scheduled in Spring of 2020. Total construction costs were estimated at $150 million.

"The vision for the Anthem Technology Center is the product of a successfully coordinated effort of client aspiration, entrepreneurial spirit, design inspiration and contractor pragmatism," says Pierluca Maffey, OAR, Int. Associate AIA, former principal and vice president of design at Portman Architects.

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Workspace Exuding Luxury through utility : The New Workspace for Droom

Case study 1.

The office space of a company can play an integral role in building the right relationship with its employees, partners, and clients. Integrating the superstructures of ideology and thought process into everyday workings, it can become a tool for the company to increase productivity, further innovation, and build culture. The same reflects in the workspace

Workspace Aesthetics: The Future Of Happy Workplace , A case study on successful execution for the new workspace for Saif Partners

Case study 2.

Set up in true grandeur of luxury and ethos, this workplace is a masterpiece in versatility. The office of Saif Partners, located in the vicinity of Gurugram, is designed by Alka Vernekar, Meraki Studio & executed by SKV (Studiokon Ventures Pvt. Ltd.). The workspace is dominated by natural sunlight entering into the glass facade that

Decoding the Ideal Work-space for Millennials! A case study on the successful completion of the DMI Finance new office in Delhi

Case study 3.

Work-space design is nowadays intended to foster employers’ relationships and engagements. After all, it is the only place where people spend most of their time and hence, it becomes influential if the space around them motivates and comforts them amidst all the stress of meetings and work deadlines.Nestled in one of the most commercially well-developing

Workspace for DCM

Case study 4.

Nestled in the heart of Aerocity, New Delhi, DCM is integrated into three separate working spaces, two of which are located in separate blocks. he primary office space, named as WorldMark 1 is a 14500 Square feet leisure-workspace, aimed to accommodate workers looking for a well-designed, in style workplace that could offer a bespoke experience.

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• Curated by ArchDaily
• Architects: Spaces Architects@ka
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  150 m²
• Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2013
• Photographs Photographs: Bharat Aggarwal

Text description provided by the architects. An Architect’s office of 1500 sqft. (150 SQM.)in basement has been conceptualized as an open office, the office space on two levels, the lower to be used as workstation. The office design was conceptualized to be place which being leisure is also conductive for people to work in a creative environment, a workplace to enjoy.  The zoning of spaces is justified keeping the main cabin with attached conference at the rear to maintain privacy as well as visually connecting it to front office. As the front office space is narrow with regards to rear part, the front space is used as a gallery with walls in cement finish highlighting the project display.

One moves down from front entrance highlighted by fixing glass roof penetrating ample light into the interior space. A raised platform has an informal conference designed by fixing multiple dia. steel pipes with an abstract panel ceiling.

The flooring and walls at the front office is kept as cement finish to give emphasis on display panels. An abstract partition acts as waiting, continues on the ceiling extending into multiple abstract boxes displaying different firm’s design ideology.

The lower part has open workstations connected by cantilevered wooden steps, the opening from front office looking towards the lower floor frames it. The lower part in contrast to the upper being designed in white tone. The reception table has an interesting form with backlit glass panel. A bookshelf displaying firm’s project is placed opposite to it.

A green space with grass flooring and elliptical seating space is used as breakout space in the interior and used for reading books. Two workstations for senior architects are designed behind the seating.

The most interesting part is an experiment with designing of the main cabin outer partition in a fluid form with veneer cladding continuing to the conference room ceiling. The partition is inclined at both the planes and takes an interesting form. The conference and cabin has a glass sliding folding partition which when pulled acts as individual space.

The ceiling plays an important role in the studio creating a visual transition. As the ceiling near the reception made of multiple box panels continued to the ceiling in abstract form displays a journey of different projects and ideology of the firm. Similarly, elliptical ceiling over the reception has a hanging model inspired by Architect’s Thesis Project being a focus in space. The circular seating in green area is reflected on the ceiling in an abstract pattern continuing in the rear space.

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TELUS: Crafting a New Workplace

Telus is a leading telecommunications provider in canada. like many organizations in its industry, telus has grown dramatically in recent years, both organically and through strategic acquisitions..

Merging operations: telecomm combines fifteen offices into new, collaborative workplace.

TELUS is a leading telecom­munications provider in Canada. Like many organizations in its industry, TELUS has grown dramati­cally in recent years, both organically and through strategic acquisitions. Newly merged organizations need to leverage economies of scope and scale yet this often precludes immediately combining offices and staff who are usually widely dispersed. In fact, the need to rethink offices is often delayed for any company that’s experienced major organizational change.

Before long, however, the need to bring team members together is overwhelming. Scattered offices are inefficient and any sense of company identity is diluted. What’s needed is a renewed workplace strategy that reflects changes in the business, improves work processes, and creates a workplace that best serves the organizational culture and brand.

TELUS completed that journey for its Toronto team with the opening of their downtown Toronto workplace at 25 York Street, a 30-story office tower, TELUS House Toronto. This new office has delivered productivity gains twice the company’s expectations.

CRAFTING A NEW WORKPLACE STRATEGY

The journey began three years earlier. The company’s operations had grown to fifteen locations with offices ranging from 6,000 square feet to more than ten times that size. Different business units had dissimilar organizational cultures. Business processes varied. With a staff of 1,600 workers repre­senting three generations, from boomers to Gen Y, the company needed more than just a new office; they needed to unify the organiza­tion’s culture, brand, and team members.

Moreover, the company planned to use the Toronto project as an exemplar for its real estate portfolio. “Our goals transcended the new office tower in Toronto. We wanted a corporate workplace strategy that would help us create great work environments at our properties across Canada.

In keeping with our company tag line that ‘The Future Is Friendly,’ we’re giving people better, more collaborative and inspiring work-spaces. At the same time, we’re reducing our overall portfolio. Our mantra is ‘better space but less of it,’” says Andrea Goertz, senior vice president, strategic initiatives.

To help craft its workplace strategy, TELUS engaged Steelcase Applied Research and Consulting (ARC) to conduct a pre­occupancy survey of the company’s work force. The research examined key work processes and work styles, including:

• how people interact, socialize, and innovate
• factors that contribute to lost work time, and how to reduce it
• the organization’s mix of collaborative and individual work
• what types of workspaces were needed to support different work styles
• technology access requirements
• health, safety, and comfort needs

“The research really revealed a lot about how we work. It helped us understand needs for both collaboration spaces and meeting rooms, and places where workers can concentrate in private. We learned, for example, that workers needed easier access to spaces for impromptu collaboration, and team spaces that enabled teams to move furniture around based on the team’s needs.

The survey also gave us baseline information we could use for a post-occupancy audit to measure the effectiveness of the new space,” says Cathy Wardlaw, senior program manager.

AN OFFICE THAT MIRRORS THE ORGANIZATION

At most companies, workers are housed by function: finance staffers work together, customer service reps work together, etc. TELUS offices were the same. This meant that people in different departments, yet serving the same customer, often were located far apart, sometimes in different parts of the city. “But they all serve the same customers, so why not sit together?” says Wardlaw.

TELUS decided to organize their workplace the same way the company is organized, around three types of business units: customer-facing business units (e.g. consumer solutions, business solutions), enabling business units (e.g. technology operations), and supporting business units (HR, finance, etc.). People who serve the same clients would work in close proximity.

“So now we have the entire customer delivery process—people in marketing, sales, order fulfillment, finance, billing, and more—working on the same floors, organized around the customers they work for,” Wardlaw.

Their offices have a shared workplace model with just four types of worksettings:

• 120-degree workstations in an open plan
• benching workstations
• director workspaces
• private offices

“If workers serve the same customers, why not sit together?” Cathy Wardlaw Senior Program Manager

“We wanted workplace standards that balanced efficiency and effectiveness, and made future changes easier,” says Eva Cetra, real estate manager. A small number of standard workspaces will simplify work environment changes during the company’s 15-year lease on the building. “The floors are virtually identical so we’re able to move various groups up and down and around the floors as business reshapes.

The floor plan has a variety of different work settings, including amenity and group spaces, so when we reconfigure, basically everything people need is already there,” says Cetra.

The workplace reinforces the company’s open, collaborative work style. Panel heights are low. Meeting rooms and offices have glass fronts. Team meeting spaces are defined by an architectural framework that preserves site lines to other spaces. Natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows reaches across every floor, and blinds and lighting automatically adjust to maximize daylight and control energy costs.

MAKING THE LEAP

“TELUS has gone from a range of traditional work environments in a variety of different locations, to a single, mobile environment, and that’s a huge leap,” says Mandy Sutherland, a consultant with the Steelcase Applied Research & Consulting group that assisted TELUS with the 25 York Street project. To make the jump, the company crafted an extensive change management program.

It started with a detailed survey of employees to gather data about the effec­tiveness of their then-current environment, and what they needed to be more effective in their work. The survey started a multi-year communications effort.

“We’re a technology company, and we used technology to reach people via an internal web site, answering questions, etc. But as great as technology is, face-to-face is critical,” says Cathy Wardlaw, senior program manager. Beginning two years before the building opened, update meetings were held with employees to provide project updates and answer questions. “We held 67 face-to-face meetings with employees, explaining what’s happening, getting people engaged with the project, and building excitement,” says Wardlaw.

A change advocacy team, a mix of middle and upper management, worked to encourage acceptance of the new, open workplace strategy. Monthly presentations were held with employee groups. Advocates within each departmental group, called primes, brought questions to the project team and answers back to the rank and file.

A mock-up of the new Steelcase workset­tings was available for a month for employee visits, with a real estate person on hand to answer questions. Later, a video of the mock-up was posted to an internal web site.

When the first floor was installed, employees toured the space to see what was coming for them. A welcome kit was posted online with more information about the new work environment, and a Wiki page was created to provide information on everything from daycare availability and train schedules to parking and restaurant locations.

On move days, representatives from POI Business Interiors, the Steelcase dealer who managed the move and the consolidation of the 15 offices, showed employees how to adjust their new chairs, I.T. experts answered tech questions, and real estate staff were on hand to provide support. Welcome cards on desks included an email address and 800 number for quick help with any move-in issue, and ergonomics education posters were posted throughout the space.

CHANGE MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR “TURNING TREPIDATION INTO EXCITEMENT”

• Pre-occupancy survey
• Face-to-face meetings with all employees
• Monthly project update meetings
• Change advocacy team
• Internal web site
• Departmental advocates to convey questions and answers
• “Kick the tires” mock-up
• Online video of mock-up
• Wiki page for local area information
• Move-in assistance
• Chair adjustment demos
• Quick response 800# and email address
• Post-occupancy survey

“We had some concerns in consolidating our offices into one location. Some people were close to their homes in those old offices. Now we were asking them to come downtown and that could mean changes in transportation, child care, parking, and other activities” says Andrea Goertz, senior vice president, strategic initiatives.

“The change management process helps employees make those changes, even embrace them,” she says. “It became practically a non-issue by move in. Concerns were heard, and we gave people a lot of lead time. We turned trepidation into excitement.”

BUILDING THE BRAND

Walk the floors of TELUS House Toronto and you see graphics and colors consistent with the company brand. The organization’s values are printed on meeting room walls. Company attributes and team photos are showcased as well. This is an organization, after all, that for years had been spread across more than a dozen dissimilar work environments.

“By 2015, we will have only 30% of our workers located in a TELUS building, and the rest will be mobile or working from home. We needed the facility to be visibly branded TELUS, so that when you come in, you instantly felt the company, you got the vibe of the company, you touch and feel the brand,” says Goertz.

“Consulting firms learned the lesson the hard way: consultants working closely with clients started to relate more to the client company than their own. If we’re going to send people to work from home or be mobile workers, we had to have that strong connection to TELUS when they come back in,” she says.

Establishing a strong presence in the downtown area also builds the brand, and attracts customers, employees, and other stakeholders. “Many companies move outside the core city. We think it’s valuable to be here and to have customers see us here. This is a destination.

We’re building a legacy in downtown Toronto. It’s hard to put a number on the value of that, but we all recognize the benefits. Everyone at TELUS, from the youngest team members to our senior execu­tives, is proud of this place,” Goertz notes.

“Our mantra is ‘better space, but less of it.’” Andrea Goertz Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, TELUS Human Resources

By 2015, only 30% of workers will have an assigned workspace. Workplace branding reinforces the organi­zational culture for a mobile workforce.

A WORKPLACE THAT DELIVERS RESULTS

The company has, however, put hard numbers on the value of the new work environment’s impact on work processes and productivity. Using their pre-occupancy survey as a benchmark, the company conducted a six-month, post-occupancy survey that measured significant improve­ments in key workplace attributes:

• access to private space for concentrated work: up 45%
• access to impromptu meeting space: up 45%
• availability of bookable meeting space: up 42%
• team access to space with furniture that can support group work: up 38%
• perception that the workplace supports new idea generation: up 25%
• belief that the workplace helps attract and retain employees: up 20%

“The satisfaction rate has increased remark­ably in the vast majority of areas surveyed. Almost every category showed significant improvement, with several increasing 40 points or more. Some categories where improvement was not as notable already had high measures of satisfaction,” notes Goertz.

The company initially expected a boost in productivity of 2 to 3 percent. After calculating for reductions in lost work time, and improved adjacencies for employees, the company now estimates the jump in productivity at 5%, representing a savings of over $7 million each year.

RAISING THE BAR

What the company has learned in developing their new workplace strategy and work en­vironment will be applied to future projects, including the company’s headquarters in Vancouver. But at a company that values change and initiating opportunity, they’re looking for even better results as they fine tune the workplace at TELUS House Toronto. “This is a successful model, a gorgeous work environment, and people love it here. But we’re always raising the bar,” says Goertz.

Productivity was expected to improve 2% to 3%. It’s up 5%.

Steelcase® Answer ® systems furniture, Post and Beam architectural framework Privacy Wall Universal worksurfaces and storage, Duo™ storage Think® stool, Leap task seating and Move side seating Turnstone Jenny lounge and Scoop chairs Coalesse Bix booths Topo lounge

DESIGNED FOR WELLBEING, INSIDE AND OUT

TELUS has a company philosophy to “give where we live,” exemplified by philanthropy and team volunteer work. Their new work environment gives, too, in wellbeing benefits to workers, customers, and visitors.

The 25 York Street building is people-friendly. Instead of intimidating pedestrians, it’s set back from the street so there’s enough room for a sidewalk so wide that the Toronto Star said “it feels more like a plaza…the kind of place where crowds will gather regularly.” It’s located on a subway line, amid a mix of residen­tial, retail, and corporate buildings.

The building glass is untinted, and unusually transparent, providing not only natural light throughout the inside, but a wonderful view of the city outside.

This is a LEED Gold certified building that recycles heat and rainwater, captures sunlight, and incorporates high-efficiency lighting and green roofs. It’s also hooked up to Toronto’s deep-lake water cooling system. The result will be 30 to 50 per cent less energy use than a similar building. All furniture is formaldehyde free, reducing volatile organic compounds.

TELUS team members can take advantage of a fitness and wellness center, gym, prayer room, massage and physiotherapy rooms, and a gourmet kitchen where staffers can prepare meals, services that help make the workplace both a more invigorating, and relaxing, environment.

Andrea Goertz, senior vice president of strategic initiatives, says it all comes back to understanding the needs of TELUS workers. “It’s important that our people have access to amenities, whether it’s convenient workout facilities or collaboration spaces, but also restaurants, dry cleaners, coffee houses, everything the city can offer.

We believe our team members have to have a balance in their life. One way we can help them with that, which in turn will make them more productive, is to show that we respect their need for work/life balance.”

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Vintage Style  Advocate’s Office Interior | Karan Aakriti Interior Design

Vintage Style  Advocate’s Office Interior |  Karan Aakriti Interior Design

A comfortable, contemporary Advocate’s office, peppered with pops of color, with a slight inclination towards vintage style and plenty of space to accommodate books. The client Jasmeet Singh, advocate on record, the supreme court of India approached the Interior Architects, Karan Tuteja and Aakriti Tuteja of Karan Aakriti Interior Design with these thoughts in mind.

visit:  Karan Aakriti Interior Design

For this project, we needed to create private spaces in the earlier open-plan basement, giving the entire space a facelift. While the ground floor has provision for parking, the office has 2 entrances from the ground floor leading to the basement and a separate Lift Lobby. The lift from the ground floor gives direct access to the basement leading to the Foyer area of the office.

As one enters from the Foyer, the main attraction, the water curtain welcomes the user into the office, inculcating earthly vibes. Further ahead on the right of the water curtain are the Arbitration room adjoining the pantry and the common washroom. Since all the users of the office love to spend time with each other over lunch, one of their most stressed-upon requests was to have a sumptuous arbitration/conference room in which they are able to hold conferences when required and also use it as a leisure room.

Upon entering the arbitration room, the eye is caught by colorful arbitration chairs. The black checkered flooring surrounded by patterned floor tiles adds a dash of boldness to space. Behind the Water Curtain is the Juniors’ working area, the water curtain acting as a partition and an earthly element in the space. The highlight of the Juniors’ area is the series of Vintage Wall Lights along with the customized Swivel Chairs, giving a stylish touch. The fusion of vintage elements lends a hint of eclecticism to the décor.

On the left of the water curtain are the Waiting area further leading to the 4 lawyers’ chambers and the storeroom. We were given free rein over the creative process, and we experimented with materials and textures, marrying elements like cane, exposed brick, metal and painted finishes with vibrant colors and accessories, to create a luxurious yet minimal aesthetic.

The Chamber of Jasmeet Singh, which, according to the designers, is one of the most interesting spaces in the office. Since the chamber is divided into two parts, working space and a seating area, the designers added an arch between the two to add more character in the entire space. The herringbone wood floor adds visual richness and volume to space. The Charcoal Grey, Stainless Steel, Bookshelf serves as a striking backdrop for the working desk. The matte green walls on the sides of the bookshelf add a splash of flair to the design and soften the charcoal tones.

According to Aakriti, “The ambiance of the entire office was intended to create a sense of comfort amidst the working environment.” Karan says, “The project brief being extremely specific, the entire range of fixed/loose furniture is our in-house production.” “This is a fair milestone in our journey and a humbling one too. Aakriti and Karan did a fantastic job and made this lawyer from Beawar look like a fancy one.” Jasmeet Singh concludes.

Architectural and Interior Designers : Karan Aakriti Interior Design

Location : Jangpura Extension, New Delhi

Year/decade built : 2018

Size : 1600 sq.ft.

Number of spaces : 1 Foyer, 1 Arbitration Room, 1 Waiting Area, 1 Juniors’ Area,

4 Lawyers’ Chambers, 1 Store, 1 Pantry, 2 Washrooms

Photo Credit : Karan Dhall

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/karanaakritiinteriordesign

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/karanaakritiinteriordesign/

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Publication detail

Transformative innovation for better climate change adaptation

Case study : emilia-romagna, italy, publication metadata, available languages and formats, english (en).

• Publication details
• Related publications
• Published: 2024
• Corporate author(s): Joint Research Centre ( European Commission )
• Personal author(s): Haegeman, K ;  Murzyn, D
• Themes: Environment — Ecology , Scientific and technical research
• Subject: adaptation to climate change , case study , decision-making , environmental risk prevention , EU environmental policy , EU regional policy , EU research policy , innovation , Italy , multi-level governance , regional development , report , smart specialisation
• Released on EU Publications: 2024-05-03

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