The future workspace will need to empower collaboration, creativity and culture. With hybrid work a cornerstone of 2022, workplace design must be agile and adaptable. It must also be welcoming, offering some of the comforts of working from home while also providing areas for building connections.
Casco is always surveying the latest workplace design trends and leverages our intel and experience to help clients create inspired spaces.
Here are a few of our predictions for 2022:
Hybrid Workspace
A Microsoft and LinkedIn work trend survey of 30,000 people in 31 countries found that “Employees want the best of both worlds.” More than 70% of workers want the flexibility to work from home, while 65% crave more in-person time with their teams. Designing engaging collaboration space through a tenant improvement project is one of the best ways to motivate the office return and boost employee morale.
Research shows that quality workplace design reduces stress and increases productivity. An overwhelming 87% of employees say they want healthier workspaces that include open collaboration, wellness rooms, standing desks, ergonomic seating, natural light, and fresh air. As people blend time at home with time in the office it’s critical that inspiring spaces drive the in-office employee experience. Now is the time to turn your office into a perk that rebuilds in-person camaraderie, resets work-life boundaries, and reestablishes company culture.
High-Tech
It’s critical to install the right technology to facilitate remote collaboration between onsite and remote employees. Investing in top-quality hardware and IT infrastructure ensures that your teams remain productive and connected, regardless of working in the office, at home, or from another remote location. Be smart when considering video conferencing technology and networking hard and software. Quality connectivity, secure networks and clear video conferencing bring teams together for more productive work.
But 2022 tech goes beyond office walls and into our parking lots. With President Biden’s “historic investment” in the nation’s infrastructure, $1 trillion is earmarked for roads, bridges, public transit, rail, airports and electric vehicles. The $7.5 billion EV infrastructure package includes charging stations, which are critical to accelerating the use of EVs and curbing climate change, the administration says. A whooping $5 billion will purchase electric school buses and hybrids to reduce reliance on diesel fuel.
At the state level, these funds will help develop charging networks across communities, including rural, disadvantaged and hard-to-reach areas. With the law officially passed, states are eagerly putting plans into place to tap into these federal investments. From office buildings to hotels, hospitals and schools, EV charging station installations are a focus point for the New Year.
Human-Centered Design
But the top priority for 2022 is people. Service design combines human, digital and physical interactions to create the perfect space and user experience. Understanding emotional connections and how people engage with one another are major components of the design process.
As more and more companies refocus on company culture and bringing teams back together, human-centered design will lead office upgrades to improve health and wellness, productivity, satisfaction, engagement and happiness.
Ready to reenergize your office space? Casco Contractors and Casco Design Studio are here to renew your office for 2022.