HOME OF THE BRAVE
TOM ITO
Global Hospitality Leader, Gensler “We are seeing a shift in lifestyle. Designers are responding to a new set of values for consumers that were brought on by the pandemic—including social, economic, and political values—as well as considerations from the impact of climate change. Consumers are focused on intangibles: prioritizing self-actualization, freedom, creativity, and being. At the root of this is getting back to what’s important— connecting with people and what’s most meaningful to us. This is a great challenge for designers to make spaces for connection, and [for making] people feel better. It’s no wonder that we’ve seen the pillars of hospitality permeate across sectors, not just in hotels and food and beverage but also in sports, workplace, and health care. People want to feel good, healthy, and safe in the places
they inhabit. What does that look like? Open spaces, access to the outdoors, healthy or green materials, places for gathering and community, using local context for inspiration, all to create an authentic connection and experience for guests. The key to this is creating a place where hospitality workers feel empowered to do their best work, making the back-of-house design and building performance as important as guest-facing spaces. What’s distinct about American hospitality is that it doesn’t have to be elaborate or over-the-top. There’s been a desire to drive to destinations in our own backyard. Again, partly driven by economic factors, health, and safety concerns, but it has allowed a rediscovery of the great and diverse landscapes across the U.S. from coastal, mountain, or city destinations.” —Tom Ito
“Designers are responding to a new set of values.”
SASCHA WAGNER
“Designing workplaces intentionally around...wellbeing, sustainability, and social responsibility shifts the focus from merely increasing productivity to increasing satisfaction.” 82
METROPOLIS
“Workplace design has been undergoing massive, transformative change. We were already headed in the direction of hybrid work before COVID-19, but adoption was slow. With increased autonomy and reliance on technology, the built environment has pivoted to fulfilling more of a cultural function in organizations, one that goes beyond just facilitating occasional team meetings. Video calls cannot effectively replace in-person interaction, and prolonged isolation erodes our sense of belonging. While there is, now, an improved balance in where we spend our time, we still need physical spaces to connect around ideas and values, and to one another. Designing workplaces intentionally around key issues of well-being,
sustainability, and social responsibility shifts the focus from merely increasing productivity to increasing satisfaction. Meaningful employee experiences lead to better business outcomes, including retention. Designing for the human experience isn’t exactly new ground, but more clients now understand this is what their built space should have been doing for them all along. As we guide our clients toward new paradigms, our own profession is undergoing similar challenges. The labor shortage in design is forcing firms to be more selective in assignments, and is pushing fees upward. Combined with the increased focus on workspace design as part of business strategy, this is increasing our profession’s value.” —Sascha Wagner
TOP COURTESY: GENSLER; BOTTOM: COURTESY HUNTSMAN ARCHITECTURAL GROUP © CREDITS GO HERE
President and CEO, Huntsman Architectural Group