Project Workspace

By Connie Mitchell

The COVID-19 pandemic permanently changed work for many people. When offices closed and thousands of workers discovered they could do their jobs from remote locations, businesses had to reevaluate the role of the traditional office going forward. The question was: how?

Arcturis, a nationally recognized architectural design collaborative headquartered in St. Louis, works with local employers to redesign and effectively utilize office space as some employees continue remote or hybrid work and others return to their communal spaces. Since the pandemic began, the firm has worked with corporate clients to design more than 1 million square feet of hybrid office space.

“Pre-pandemic, most employees traveled to their office and had an assigned workspace. Today, companies are rethinking what the ‘right-sized’ footprint is to support their organizational needs and creating the quantity and type of space to support the organization,” says Julie Keil, principal at Arcturis. As employers consider the optimal environment for various roles, their space needs to reflect the new strategic structures.

“Clients are investing in work cafes, IT/AV improvements and replacing a portion of their traditional workstations and offices with activitybased work settings,” says Kelly Pimmel, senior architect and workplace strategist. “Activity-based work settings are designed to support the various work styles people experience throughout a day, from intensely focused work to highly collaborative work and everything in between.”

The relationship between architect and client has changed with these different desired outcomes. Keil notes that the initial process had been primarily data-driven, based on square footage per person, headcount information and ancillary requirements. Today, her focus centers on culture, employee engagement and creating environments that make employees want to come into the office.

“The most interesting spaces we have been designing for clients are active work hubs, where there are no assigned seats but instead a flexible environment to support both individuals and groups of various sizes,” Pimmel says. These often feature movable furniture and power sources paired with immersive technology, dining and gathering spaces.

Pimmel anticipates continued corporate investment in collaborative spaces, a renewed interest in sustainability and an increased focus on employee wellbeing. “There is no one-sizefits solution, and each company should plan their changes with their unique culture, values and strategic plan in mind,” she says. “Also, it is human to resist change, and investing in change management can significantly minimize the business disruption caused by workplace projects and initiatives.” Keil adds that the overall goal is “creating universal equitable design throughout the space where all employees can work to their greatest potential.” ln