ONE WEEK until the 2024 Next Work Environment Competition Winners are announced. Register for the live podcast announcement here!
In the meantime, catch up with 2023 Next Work Environment Competition Human Sustainability, Return to Office, & Experimental Shared Experiences category winners, DESIGN+BUILD Workspace and their Parc submission.
The Parc
The Parc Design Concept created 4 distinct spaces with varying levels of complexity, stimulation, acoustic and visual privacy, variety, flexibility, and movement. This design concept can be used as a framework for creating human-centric work environments that support a diverse range of abilities and workers – to create spaces that inspire, nurture, and empower.
Catching Up
DESIGN+BUILD Workspace (D+B): Since submitting Parc to the competition, we’ve made waves in becoming experts in mental wellbeing and neurodiversity in the workplace. This concept sparked a lot of discussions that changed the way we looked at inclusive design on a smaller scale, thinking about how we can incorporate the main concepts of Parc into our regular practice of workplace design. Allowing for a wide range of activity and stimulation levels in the office can be accomplished in a variety of ways, and our team is always designing with sustainability and biophilia in mind.(EA):If the idea has evolved, what were the changes and why?
(D+B): While the idea itself has not evolved, we have expanded our network of experts, bringing workplace strategists, DEI consultants, and neuroscientists into the discussion. Earlier this year we hosted a round-table discussion that brought all these voices together for an uplifting discussion on the intersection of neuroscience and design – interdisciplinary collaboration is the best way to make sure we’re asking the right questions and pushing ourselves, as designers, to strive to implement inclusive design in our regular practice. Gathering like-minded voices and providing a platform for a diverse range experiences is what sparks innovation and keeps the conversation going. You can find the recorded discussion on our website!
Nature and Mental Health
(EA): The concept centers around mental wellbeing and natural elements. How have you seen these develop over the year? How are you continuing to implement them in new ways like the Parc?
(D+B): We have been promoting mental wellbeing and connection to nature both in the work we design, and in our personal workspace. Having a hybrid workstyle with opportunity to work in a variety of different spaces throughout the week has provided our team with the flexibility they need for a healthy work-life balance. As to how we’re implementing this in new ways – check out this year’s submission!
Looking Ahead
(EA): What are you working on now?
(D+B): Lately we’ve been connecting with local Portland businesses and non-profit organizations to help them optimize their workspaces and promote their brand and culture through the spaces we design for them.
