On October 13, 2015, CREW Boston member Kristin Blount moderated a panel comprised of Dave McLaughlin of WeWork, Lois Goodell of CBT Architects and Levi Reilly of Skanska to discuss the changing landscape of workplaces. In a move toward creating more efficient workspaces and workplaces where millennials would like to work, many design changes have been made to increase mobility, flexibility, density, sustainability and to create varied places for collaborative working.
Gone are the days of rigid office layouts - replaced now with layouts that seek to improve the experience of the user and create natural areas where users can collect, connect and collaborate. Gone too are office spaces where all users work for the same company. Co-working spaces such as those operated by WeWorks foster interaction, collaboration and community not only among start up companies but also independent workers. The spaces also provide social events events, using technology to suggests networking opportunities among users.
Creating such innovative workspaces in new buildings is a bit less complicated than retrofitting existing spaces. With a focus on increased ceiling heights, open space, and the need for more intensive vertical transportation, designers have to be more creative and use new technologies such as chilled beam cooling systems.
Where does this lead us in the future? In the near term, we will continue to have a mix of traditional and innovative offices. For the long term, advancements and innovations in technology will reshape the office landscape in ways we cannot even imagine at this point.
