Many of us spend more time at work than anywhere else. Today, some basic assumptions about the workplace design are changing. New technology and the evolution of knowledge worker environments are driving these changes, along with a generational shift: millennials now make up the largest share of the workforce. There’s also greater awareness of how design affects health and well-being. As organizations compete for top talent and strive for innovation as a driver of growth, performance, and valuation in a highly competitive global economy, companies are embracing the idea that a well-designed work environment can improve the bottom line.
To look at where workplace design is headed, three leaders of SOM’s Interior Design practice: Lois Wellwood, Jeannette Lenear Peruchini, and Susan Orlandi, shared their insights. They respectively head up design teams in New York/Washington, DC, Chicago, and San Francisco/Los Angeles.