BUILDINGS asked readers to weigh in about what’s wrong with their workplaces. The results illuminate the morale- and workflow-impacting result of outdated furnishings, thermal discomfort, poor acoustics and layouts that don’t meet the needs of their users. “I can hear everyone’s phone conversations,” wrote one reader. Another person complained that “acoustics and lighting are bad, with inefficient work and staff circulation and too little space available.”
Complaints like these are common, says Cara Rooney, Junior Designer for IA Interior Architects. “We are constantly seeing our clients faced with the challenge of adapting their current layout to meet the needs of shifting work styles,” Rooney explains. “One of the first signs that an office needs a significant update is when employees can no longer maximize their productivity in the space. This can be a result of outdated technology, a lack of settings that encourage collaboration and information sharing, or even something as simple as needing a quiet space for individuals to take a break from work.”
The following six case studies spotlight innovative solutions to real-world workplace challenges.
Room to Grow for a Dynamic Research Firm
Inside the sunny new home of 20|20
Research Gresham, Smith & Partners
Expansion Brings Together Collaboration and Art
Good circulation and glass partitions invite interaction
Ted Moudis Associates
Cutting-Edge Technology in a Century-Old Building
How Gogo’s Chicago home took flight
Syska Hennessy Group
Welcoming Millennials with a Modern Office
A former bookstore transforms into a contemporary financial office
Gresham, Smith & Partners
From Blank and Boring to Flush with Amenities
A new, modern look for a top IT firm
Syska Hennessy Group
Egalitarian Design Supports Consolidated Financial Office
A conference center also provides right-sized meeting rooms
Margulies Perruzzi Architects
Harmonizing Team and Individual Spaces
Texas aesthetics enliven the offices of Intuit
IA Interior Architects
