Gensler is a global architecture, design,
Survey each year that casts new light on
more than 3,500 professionals in 43 locations
of spaces they want to work in. Based on
planning and consulting firm that employs
worldwide, including its headquarters in San Francisco and an office in San Ramon. The
firm works on more than 3,000 projects every
year, ranging in size and market segment from building out a retail store to planning a new
“ Space
corporate life: how people work and the kinds
“Gensler has been researching how space
are not only creative and productive, but also
discovered that knowledge work is composed
designing a workplace for employees who healthy and happy.
Genslerʼs Matin Zargari, Principal and
the headquarters for AAA near Pleasant Hill
and Design Director, and Tana Hall, Senior
Managing Director, Doug Wittnebel, Principal
is more important than ever. It is the place where all of a companyʼs most valuable resources— its people—come together to create the future.
”
BART, and for Riverbed Technology in San
Associate and Regional Marketing Director,
center, as well as ongoing design solutions for
century office:
Francisco, AT&Tʼs Foundry innovation
Chevron. For those of you who are frequent
Collaboration has become a buzzword
nal design reinvented the experience of travel,
companies across the board made more
bringing back hospitality and local authenticity.
sultants at Gensler probably know as much about whatʼs happening in the workplace
as any group of people on the planet. Since 2005, Gensler has conducted a Workplace
GENSLER: COLLABORATION IN THE WORKPLACE
in office planning and design. Have provisions for collaborative work?
“We are in the midst of a global obsession
about how space can support collaboration.
Caption here...
The top tier designers, architects and con-
08
offer fresh insight into the emerging 21st
travelers, you may have experienced Genslerʼs design of Terminal 2 at SFO. The new termi-
and productivity?ʼ
this research, Gensler guides companies in
urban district. When it comes to office design,
just a few of Genslerʼs recent projects include
this trend on the individualʼs health, happiness
We saw it take shape in the dotcom era and
supports work since the mid-2000s. Weʼve of four modes: focus, collaboration,
learning and socializing. The world has been preoccupied with collaboration, but weʼre
now seeing the pendulum swing back in the other direction. Our clients are recognizing
conversation and group learning. But it
address the spectrum of individual work
looking for a place to think and concentrate.
solutions that organizations can manage from
has been tough on the individual who is
We need spaces that support all temperaments, whether introvert, extrovert or
somewhere in between. Weʼre finding this balance by creating solutions that allow
relief from noise and disturbances. Solutions that allow individuals to control their own work environments.”
that focus work has been neglected—
Clearly, workplace design has multiple
art of concentration.”
behavior, cultural norms and the
and they are looking to bring back the lost
How are designers responding to the
perceived need to support more group work and collaboration?
“It may seem like a paradox, but we are
responding to the perceived need for more
collaboration with less collaboration! Over the
past five years, weʼve surveyed 90,000 people from 155 companies about how workplace
environments do—and donʼt—support them. New distractions such as social media,
less space, less privacy and longer workdays are creating frustration and stress among
employees that inhibit them from collaborating, socializing and learning. By focusing on
dimensions. Taking into account human continuing evolution of technology, how can a company find the right balance for its employees and their work?
“Businesses change continually in order to
stay competitive, and that means they need
sense. The wide-open collaborative office may not put up physical barriers to inhibit
interaction. There may be no private offices with solid walls and firmly closed doors.
At the same time, in an active, noisy open
space with workers sitting elbow-to-elbow along workbenches, people may put up psychological barriers and send signals that say ʻprivacy pleaseʼ—like wearing
headphones and keeping oneʼs head down.
rate, socialize and learn. This hybrid could
unlock as yet untapped value through a balance of concentration and collaboration in
the workplace; an approach that could yield a new level of success for organizations.”
look at the private office? Even given the private office has remained a consistent
in an office environment? Given the
ability to communicate, confer and share information via cell phones, tablets,
laptops and other technologies, what purpose does the office serve?
“This is a hot topic since Yahoo called back
its mobile workforce. That action has sparked
a global conversation about the importance of proximity and in-person collaboration.
the way people behave in the workplace.
were in the office, with a few telecommuting via video-conference. Now, due to a huge number of virtual meeting tools and a
mobile workforce, employees stay at their
desk longer on calls, becoming a distraction to those around them, and creating a
sedentary, unhealthy work life for themselves. Office design must respond to these
technology-driven changes, encouraging healthy, creative behavior."
Ultimately, the Gensler team acknowledges
Even the tech industry, which led the charge
Itʼs the place where all of a companyʼs most
“Private offices are making a resurgence.
toward an open workspace, no longer feels
that the closed door is a barrier to innovation. Quite the opposite. There is a place for the
that “Space is more important than ever. valuable resources—its people—come together to create the future.”
private office, for the focus room, the think
From a design point of view, what is most
these types of spaces every day. Moveable
and psychological work environment?
room, the idea room. Clients are asking us for screens are coming back. Can you imagine
having a moveable wall that can be positioned to absorb sound? You could create your own ʻinstant privacy.ʼ”
“Open plan,” says the Gensler team, “has
How will office interiors continue to evolve
selves and our clients: ʻWhat is the impact of
allowing transparency, serendipitous
“The future is about creating settings that
been a successful home for group work,
Why should individuals come to work
feature of the workplace.
spread around the world as companies
globalized. As designers, weʼre asking our-
Productivity will follow naturally.”
Five years ago, most knowledge workers
workspaces supported by places to collabo-
advent of the open plan in the 1960s, the
Genslerʼs research results make perfect
support their health, wellness and creativity.
individual choice with a spectrum of primary
collaboration and engagement.”
day thinking about how other people work,
advice to clients is: design for individuals,
"Weʼve seen how technology has changed
time. We envision an office that provides for
Do you find that clients are taking another
Even to those of us who donʼt spend our
a cost and operational standpoint. Our
flexible solutions to keep the balance over
focus spaces, we give people the quiet time
they need to think, which leads to increased
setting requirements with scalable, efficient
in the near future?
essential in creating a positive physical “We designed our office at Bishop Ranch as a laboratory for creating positive work
environments, testing concepts like access to natural air and light, incorporating views
of the canyons beyond our windows. We have alternated focused and open workspace,
designing a place that supports both work and community.
09