Join us in celebrating the honorable mentions of the 2024 Next Work Environment Competition! These submissions show continued commitment to innovation and excellence in the workplace design industry.
The DESIGN+BUILD Workspace team, Samantha Aleo, Ashleigh Lessard, Pilar Castro, Maddy Mackin Freeman, Ashley Takayama, Sara Donovan and Addison Mullins introduces WorkPlay, an innovative app bringing hybrid teams together through gamification.
WorkPlay is a user experience platform that provides employers with tools to analyze workplace metrics based on employee engagement. It empowers employees to manage and control their work environments, track personal preferences, and explore various workspaces, while fostering a sense of belonging and engagement.
The WorkPlay app serves as a community hub, entertainment center, and workplace organization tool, gathering data from users’ activities and preferences to provide metrics on employee engagement, office space utilization, and departmental goals.
The Amsterdam living lab is all about sustainability. This new space demonstrates how technology can strengthen operational efficiency and support ambitious climate goals, an invisible partner for making better decisions about design.
The approach continually aligns the space with our needs, offering a responsive solution to modern building management.
Living Lab is constantly evolving, since the competition data has shown:
The primary objective is to test the latest technologies and products available on the market, allowing us to provide informed recommendations to our clients on the most optimal solutions for the present moment.
We have a variety of IoT (Internet of Things) sensors installed throughout our space to monitor and optimize the environment. Awair sensors, for instance, provide real-time information on air quality and are also installed in our Paris office. Additionally, Delta O3 sensors help with occupancy estimation and track environmental factors such as noise and light levels.
For example, through this data, we discovered that certain desks were preferred over others. A detailed analysis revealed that these desks were more exposed and offered less privacy. In response, we added more dividers to improve the overall workspace experience.
The M Moser team behind the Amsterdam living lab demonstrates how technology can strengthen operational efficiency and support ambitious climate goals, an invisible partner for making better decisions about design.
Financial Services Firm Pilot Ideation Project by NELSON
The NELSON Worldwide Workplace Design Team, Marcia Dolga, Danijel Pocanic, Nicole Fernandez, Amanda Ferri and Maritza Estrada, asks: is the open office concept dead? Common complaints include distractions and lack of privacy. NELSON Worldwide’s study reimagines it with minimal demolition and furniture solutions, creating a workspace with three zones: Active, Shared, and Focus to meet different needs.
Active Zone users prefer to surround themselves with people and be part of the action. They enjoy the freedom to collaborate with others at any time. These zones might be located off elevator lobby, around interconnecting stairs, or in and around the work café to ensure that these active users are immersed in the hustle and bustle of the office.
The Shared Zone, with moderate noise levels, allows users who prefer to see what’s going on around them while being just off the beaten bath. There is a medium pace to these areas and occasional conversation is not disruptive to those who sit here. Located along common paths of travel, the Shared Zone serves as a buffer between the active and quiet zones.
The Focus Zone is ideal for users who prefer to be secluded with some privacy. The atmosphere is quiet and calm, where focus is key. Located well off the common corridors, or with buffers from corridors, these spaces are cozy, inviting, and most important – quiet.
Privacy and Focus on Demand
The Hollman team offers a highly adaptable solution to the shortcomings of in-office work puts personalization in the hands of the worker, allowing them to focus and succeed no matter what workstyle suits them best, supporting neurodivergent and neurotypical workers alike.
This solution is a workplace destination that increases productivity by eliminating distraction, all while transforming community and unlocking the innovative potential of neurodiverse team members. While it acts as a private oasis, it integrates seamlessly with zoning gradients, creating dynamic neighborhoods that enable all kinds of work.
The future of work can be as adaptably diverse as its workers. Productivity on demand and highly accommodating amenities guarantee personal experiences and form the foundation for the evolution of the flexibility of office space. A work environment is only as effective as its ability to foster community and empower its workers to accomplish work in their own way. We can unlock the potential of neurodiverse individuals and boost productivity for the entire workforce – our unique, differentiated design of these modern, customizable workstations will enable companies to gain a competitive edge while also supporting neuroinclusivity.
Modernform PDC’s Rueda Kuwinpant answers the question, “If remote work can yield high productivity and enhance employees’ quality of life, why do we need to return to the office?” with Rhapsody.
In the intricate world of work, the “worker, work tool, workspace, and workplace” are inextricably linked. Any change in one element inevitably cascades through the others, transforming how we work. The recent global pandemic has tested this belief, accelerating the shift towards remote work—allowing employees to work from home or anywhere else. This shift has prompted rapid changes in work styles, locations, and lifestyles, leading us to rethink the traditional office model.
While it offers clear benefits, remote work also introduces complexities. These challenges highlight the value of the office as a space for collaboration and connection—something that remote work alone cannot fully provide.
This realization has led to the adoption of a hybrid work model that combines the flexibility of remote work with the essential social and collaborative aspects of the office. By implementing a new model of space management and furniture design, environments have been crafted where confidence and safety are paramount.
At the heart of this philosophy is the belief that every organization has its own unique work activities and values. Just as a composer improvises to create a piece of music with a distinct story and character, our design concept, “Rhapsody,” empowers organizations to create spaces that resonate with their unique identities. This concept is not just about space management or furniture; it’s about orchestrating a harmonious hybrid workspace that adapts to the rhythms of modern work, enhancing both efficiency and well-being in a symphony of productivity.
M Moser partnered with Global Music Rights (GMR), a subgroup of The Azoff Company, to complete the refresh & expansion of distinct zones across its office’s 10th floor. Timeless aesthetics connect with optimal functionality in a one-of-a-kind space for these music industry disruptors.
As a distinguished player in the entertainment industry, The Azoff Company sought to empower its subsidiary, GMR, with a workspace that caters to the intricate needs of the music rights management domain. The goal was to support employee collaboration and community spirit by creating an inviting, futureproof workplace that resounds with warmth and fosters a deep connection to creativity, community and lasting design.
By successfully navigating opportunities and challenges, the project establishes a warm, inviting environment that supports wellbeing and purpose. Natural light and greenery are emphasised throughout the space. These elements envelop all participants in an atmosphere that inspires professional collaboration through a sense of camaraderie and shared motivations.
Our transformation of GMR’s workspace is a reflection of the company’s aspirations and spirit of creativity. A refuge of inspiration and support for its employees and clients, the space embraces the dynamic nature of the entertainment world. Furthermore, it acts as an extension of Azoff’s commitment to excellence in the industry.
The ‘McHappy Office’ focuses on people & innovation – elevating the user experience to inspire, engage & make everyone feel valued. Reflecting McDonald’s core values of diversity, passion & community, it’s an inspiring environment crucial for recruitment & operational efficiency.
McDonald’s employed the M Moser team to transform its Hong Kong office into a digitally driven, dynamic, people-centric hub that embodies the firm’s visionary ethos.
Designed to elevate staff experience and instil a sense of purpose through bold environmental branding, the ‘McHappy Office’ addresses a clear ambition: redefining the boundaries of the workplace. By establishing a meaningful and innovative destination inspired by McDonald’s retail experience, the new space sets itself apart as a premier choice for top talent.
Inspired by McDonald’s iconic golden arches and brand elements, the interiors feature memorable design moments, such as the bespoke staircase, arched ceilings and brand motifs integrated throughout.
McDonald’s new Hong Kong office displays the power of intentional design. It brings people together in a human-centric environment that supports mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Features like height-adjustable workstations, low-VOC materials and air-quality control ensure a healthy environment for all. Natural light, indoor greenery and exercise equipment further promote wellness and help people feel cherished and cared for.
