{"id":1004703372,"date":"2024-03-14T00:35:09","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T08:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/?p=1004703372"},"modified":"2024-03-18T22:16:43","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T06:16:43","slug":"new-in-office-design-creating-the-ultimate-employee-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/new-in-office-design-creating-the-ultimate-employee-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"New in Office Design: Creating the Ultimate Employee Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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 Today, landlords want their office spaces to feel inviting, similar to coworking locations, said Gorra.
Image courtesy of Roarke Design Studio<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Driven by the new hybrid work reality, the clear shift in tenants’ preferences is prompting landlords to reevaluate their approach to office design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corporate setups are now mimicking coworking environments, traditional seas of desks are being replaced with areas featuring cozy seating arrangements, while new amenities<\/a> such as showers and fitness facilities are becoming increasingly popular. Additionally, some offices now include more plants, art and bookshelves to infuse hospitality or home vibes. And this is not all, designers say. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To fully understand how savvy landlords are responding to employees’ changing needs, we asked Roarke Design Studio Founder Laetitia Gorra to tell us more about the trends she’s noticing in office design today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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READ ALSO:<\/strong> Enhancing Work Environments Through Creative Offices<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How have office landlords reacted to their tenants’ new requests so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gorra<\/strong>: After being holed up during the pandemic, tenants are looking for spaces that are inspiring and incorporate hospitality elements. Landlords are turning to designers to lure tenants back into their buildings, they are also going above and beyond by incorporating amenity spaces, gyms, outdoor areas that make the building all-encompassing and alluring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one project we are currently working on, we are helping a developer revamp an existing floor to rent out furnished. The developer wants the space to feel inviting and similar to a coworking space that has layers and warmth as opposed to a cold, typical office space that\u2019s filled with a sea of desks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To bring office users back, we\u2019ve already seen an increase in office amenities. What exactly is attracting users back to the office in 2024?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gorra<\/strong>: In my opinion, workers want to have the luxury and comfort of their homes extended into the office. There is also an overall trend around holistic wellness, so I think bringing a bit of nature inside and creating personal space for employees is a must. This means being able to work on a brief or presentation from the comforts of a sofa\u2014incorporating comfortable seating and plants becomes a necessity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a recent project, we were tasked with redesigning an office with zero construction, so we turned a large conference room into a lunchroom and around the perimeter of the space we created living room-like moments where people could comfortably sit and be productive. When we visit the site now, those are the first places we find employees. We also used plants to break up the otherwise very large sterile sea of desks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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READ ALSO:<\/strong> When Coworking Meets Hospitality\u2014A New Jersey Success Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How do you create that cozy office environment that employees expect?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gorra<\/strong>: Because everyone is over stimulated with devices and technology, we feel that we can use design as a calming force to help people reset\u2014incorporating personal space for employees to unwind. Palettes will be elevated neutrals and will create a nice sense of calm, plants will allow employees to feel more connected to nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In another project where the architect incorporated an amazing plant wall in the lobby, we made design choices to speak to that. We used wood and stone and plaster and neutral tones to make the space feel like an oasis. When you walk off the streets of Manhattan, you\u2019re immersed in a calming zen design. I also think that brands are looking to design for employees to feel immersed in the brand once they step in the office.  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Sorellina, a jewelry showroom we designed in Dumbo, we used their jewelry case as the guiding inspiration to set the tone for the space. We incorporated jewel tones and lush fabrics into the design to make it feel experiential once you step into their office. For Magic Spoon, a very highly branded cereal company, they wanted their employees to feel like they were walking into a cereal box when they entered the space. Each conference room is designed after a cereal box, the main area is painted a bright branded purple with lots of plants and colors to emulate the branding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n