Office Makeover

 

Workspace makeover projects are designed to inspire. Yelp, for example, recently completed a US$20 million project to create an integrated office environment for its new headquarters in New York, New York, USA. The design takes its cue from the city itself, breaking departments into distinct work neighborhoods connected by color-coded “subway lines” that run along the floor to help employees navigate. Yelp also added an inhouse coffee shop, a bar with craft beers and a gaming zone to give workers social spaces to blow off steam.

This might seem typical for a social company born in the shadow of Silicon Valley—but Yelp isn’t alone. A 2015 study sponsored by Google found that 73 percent of North American business leaders believe the organization would be more successful if employees were able to work in more flexible and collaborative ways. Organizations also are rethinking workspaces in an attempt to boost employee engagement and satisfaction, sparking an increased demand for such projects, says Meg Osman, executive director of global corporate and commercial practice, CannonDesign, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

And there’s much room for improvement. A 2016 global survey by Steelcase indicates that only 25 percent of employees are satisfied with how their workspace is organized. But it’s not enough to simply chase the latest fads in office …

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