Thanks for including us as a trusted resource in 2024. Your sharing, commenting and forwarding of our articles with industry experts culminated in the following list of most read articles. Just in case you missed any of them, we’ve put them altogether for you in one place!
Five years after a global disruption to the workplace, followed by several years of organizations questioning its value and ultimate sustainability, the office is coming back to life – redefining its purpose and proving its resilience as a place where people and businesses can thrive. Hendy’s Director of Workplace Strategy, Anna Alm-Grayhek, breaks down the 4 key driving factors – with Gen Z leading the way.
“The spaces we occupy have an impact on our mental, emotional and physical health – and in many cases it’s not positive.” In 2025, Kay Sargent, of HOK, is urging workplace design to prioritize sensory stimulation as recent research shows that it could be the root of employee performance and wellbeing.
Thanks to Netflix, the series Suits has sparked an unusual interest in the dynamics and design of the legal workplace. If you look beyond the unqualified attorneys and unrealistic pace of case work, the show depicts incredible offices. However, what the drama doesn’t show is how much the physical workplace impacts employee experience. Gensler’s Dana Nalbantian interviewed younger associates at a top law firm to understand their work styles, desires and demands of the current legal workplace. Here’s what they would love to see!
The office is often misunderstood as a space designed for peak productivity, but in reality, it has always been a place of compromise. The traditional office was never meant to be a finely tuned environment for specialized work; rather, it was created to accommodate the broadest range of needs with the least amount of friction.
Gensler’s Christian Lehmkuhl explains the workplace’s tendency to find the extremes of work modality and encourages a tailor made office that better fits all types of work.
As the office leasing and development scape changes, Michael Stueve, Principal at Ankrom Moisan, details key design interventions to implement so older buildings can keep up with new developments.
How can we bring the unpredictable and enticing into the landscape of workplace design? What will elicit a feeling of true discovery and adventure in the everyday? Gensler‘s Todd Heiser and Eric Gannon are reshaping the spaces that win over workers: Amenities.
In February, Gensler’s Amie Keener was feeling the love and appreciation for design features in today’s modern offices spaces. Consider incorporating these nine ideas to bring more joy, fun, and wellness into the built environment.
In today’s evolving workplace landscape, the break rooms of the past are transforming into vibrant, experiential café spaces that act as the heart of modern offices. No longer just a quick stop to fill up your coffee mug, these new environments are spaces to build community and foster connection. More than simply an escape from the desk, Ted Moudis Associates‘ Nicole Zack shares how modern work cafés invite people to stay, collaborate and feel a genuine sense of belonging.
“Feeling socially disconnected is comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” The loneliness epidemic also extends to the workplace, with one in five employees experiencing it daily, per Gallup’s global workplace report. Given that people spend nearly a quarter of their time on the job, Gensler’s Lauren Vogel urges her peers to think about how the workplace can be reimagined to foster connection, engagement and even cultivate joy.
“As leases come up for renewal, firms are rethinking their spaces to foster deeper cultural connections both among employees and with clients through a form-meets-function lens.”
Skender‘s Ashlee Pforr offers insights into what the law firm office needs to ensure its relevancy with the evolving needs of the workforce.
Unispace’s Albert DePlazaola outlines the five keys to success for an innovative hybrid workplace.
The experience economy is transforming how people dream, share and spend. From revenge travel to pop stars changing the GDP of entire countries, people everywhere are demonstrating that they value experiences over things. Industries aren’t just taking note, they’re rapidly adapting and evolving to catch the wave.
Downstream’s David Waingarten discusses three key takeaways the built environment can learn from event experiences, like a Taylor Swift or U2 concert.
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