Empowering Your People


Having a choice in where to work is unequivocally associated with higher performance, enhanced creativity, and meaningful engagement. This level of flexibility is the driver that boosts worker happiness and organizational productivity. Through our research, we identified 6 Space Types to support workers' evolving workstyles and their need for belonging. By infusing these space types within a facility, organizations can offer choice and nurture feelings of connection, community, and comfort, empowering everyone to be their best.

Explore the 6 Space Types

SPACES THAT FOSTER BELONGING



The Hub


Often described as the heartbeat of the office, the Hub supports socialization and connectivity. These spaces are often designed with comfortable, casual, and eclectic pieces.


PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS


Versatile


Recognizing the fluid nature of work, it's essential to provide diverse settings that cater to various tasks, supporting connection, collaboration, focus, and moments of introspection.


Adaptable


Moveable furnishings add a layer to the dynamic of choice, allowing people the flexibility to adapt their surroundings to the specific task at hand.


Central


Centralized settings that support social interactions provide a space where people can gather, focus, and collaborate to build a sense of community.

SPACES THAT FOSTER BELONGING



Culture Café


These spaces play an important part in defining an organization’s brand and culture, as well as creating a positive customer experience. They offer a variety of seating options for meeting, catching up, and grabbing a bite to eat.


PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS


Reflect


Mental health and self-care have never been more important. Taking a brief break from the demands and pressures of the workday for self-reflection has not only proven to rejuvenate but also to spark creativity.


Connect


Work cafés present an excellent opportunity to create a more casual atmosphere, allowing for informal and organic connections between teams, roles, and generations.


Recharge


Studies show that the number one office perk is access to natural light. Designing a workplace café with access to natural views boosts morale, improves well-being, and allows workers to recharge.

SPACES THAT FOSTER BELONGING



Work Your Way


These workspaces support users throughout their workday. From spaces with visual and acoustical privacy to informal meeting areas, these destinations accommodate planned and impromptu interactions.



PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS


Private


Enclosed settings that support visual and acoustical privacy to elevate individual focus.


Dedicated


Dedicated workstations support a wide range of sensory needs, addressing factors such as privacy, noise, lighting, ergonomic seating for comfort, and storage for clutter reduction and cleanliness.


Touchdown


Touchdown stations can be utilized in rotation by multiple employees to help balance hybrid schedules and support individual focus.


Shared


Shared workspaces foster collaboration, promote flexibility, and cultivate a dynamic environment that encourages teamwork and supports a culture of innovation.

FEATURED IDEA STARTERS

SPACES THAT FOSTER BELONGING



The Meet-Up


From privacy pods for one-on-one meetings to casual lounge settings or tech-savvy boardrooms, these areas support collaboration and problem-solving.

PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS


Impromptu Connections 


Flexible small group settings provide visual and acoustical privacy, accommodate various postures, and can be designed to cater to hyposensitivity needs by infusing vibrant colors, textures, and providing ample space for movement and fidgeting.


Planned Connections


Dedicated meeting spaces provide a more controlled environment to focus. These settings can be designed for hypersensitivity needs, and benefit from a calm, neutral palette and acoustic wall panels.


Virtual Connections


These tech-savvy spaces support coming together, in-person or virtually.

SPACES THAT FOSTER BELONGING



Room on the Move


Versatile and movable furniture solutions allow these spaces to easily transition. Promote learning, training, mentoring, and hands-on activities by offering these flexible spaces.


PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS


Project Room


These settings benefit from the flexible furniture solutions that give users the opportunity to morph and transform the space to support different functions throughout the course of the day.


Community Space


Community spaces should offer a variety of furniture layouts to support focus, meetings, social interactions, and breaks. Comfort, natural views, and access to power are vital for these dynamic environments.


Focus Space


These versatile spaces feature flexible, ergonomic furniture and provide both visual and acoustical privacy to support individual focus.

SPACES THAT FOSTER BELONGING



Well + Good


Promote employee well-being and safety with spaces and programs dedicated to overall health. These areas can include yoga and meditation spaces or more personal needs like a mother’s room.


PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS


Rest Space


Isolated settings that invite relaxation can restore alertness, enhance performance, and reduce mistakes in the workplace.


Reflection Room


Taking a brief respite from the demands and pressures of the workday not only refreshes the employee but also, through self-reflection, has been shown to ignite productivity and creativity.


Outdoor Area


Since the pandemic, there has been a heightened awareness of the impact of air quality and outdoor spaces on our overall well-being. Incorporating outdoor workspaces as an extension of the office has emerged as a best practice.

Balancing Your Ecosystem


A blend of varied environments, adaptable furnishings, and flexible work arrangements not only accommodates different work styles and preferences but also empowers individuals to curate their work experience, fostering a deeper connection to their workplace. The ability to customize one's surroundings enhances the overall sense of ownership and belonging, creating a more inclusive and engaging work environment.


Design Thinking


As the workplace undergoes the most extreme transformational shift in over a century, the role of space has never been as pivotal as it is today. Our ELEVATE design process addresses human needs to foster a culture of belonging and help organizations navigate change. Experience the power of design thinking first-hand by continuing the conversation with our design experts.