Beyond Workplace Vol. III

BEYOND WORKPLACE

By Eddie Portis

THE GREAT CUSTOMIZATION

Prior to the Covid pandemic, the world of business was driven by corporations, CEOs, and a standardized way of thinking about how we work. At the onset of the pandemic the way we work simultaneously shifted to the individual. Working from home was not just a choice, it was a mandate. In many ways, companies and employees were successful at transitioning to this new reality, money continued to flow and the beat went on. However, as the pandemic continued, challenges began to surface. Parents had to become teachers for their children, those alone began to feel isolated and depressed, the collision of work and life began to crack the life/ work balance. In some industries, work flows began to show signs of weakness, but in other industries, it began to thrive.

Now, several years later, the pandemic has forever changed how we work, where we work, and even why we work. We are in the era of the Great Customization, a time where every company and every employee have evolved into a new way of thinking about work and its relevance to everyday life.

At the same time, the rise of AI suggests an even larger shift in the world of work. Instant Architecture, make believe worlds, generated photos surpassing real ones, all transform the possible into the reality... or does it...

As the working world seeks to redefine its culture and the working force demands equity, the questions of how we work, where we work, and why we work are the foundation of our evolving world. This book explores the possibilities, the realities, and even the impossible. The Great Customization is underway, are you ready?

CONTENTS LEVERAGING A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH CRAFTING EXPERIENCES THAT MATTER

WE MUST BELIEVE IN IMPOSSIBLE THINGS.

HOW WE WORK IS THE FUEL FOR IGNITING CURIOSITY AND CREATIVITY.

HOLLY CHRISTIAN PRINCIPAL LITTLE

LEVERAGING A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

By Sharon Crawford

CULTIVATING AN EQUITABLE CULTURE FOR REMOTE, IN-OFFICE, AND HYBRID WORKFORCES

Sharon Crawford, IIDA, RID, NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP, is an Interiors Studio Principal and Partner at Little. She can be reached at sharon.crawford@littleonline.com.

The term “culture” is a bit like a chameleon, seamlessly taking on different shades and interpretations. Some distill culture to the daily choices made within a given environment over time. Miriam Webster defines culture as, “the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an organization.” As an interior designer, crafting experiences at the intersection of a company’s beliefs, behaviors, and the built environment, I like to think of culture as the organic growth of an organization’s soul.

In the past, culture was often equated with wellstocked kitchens, modern furnishings, and afterhour gatherings. However, the “new," more flexible workplace presents a unique challenge. With employees working remotely, exclusively in the office, or in a hybrid model, organizations now face the task of nurturing their “soul” in both physical and virtual work environments. This shift brings new challenges such as distance bias, unequal access to information, and reduced impromptu interactions that can lead to culture inequalities among employees.

To cultivate a thriving culture, it’s important that employees feel valued, heard, and that their well-being is prioritized.

Sacha Connor, founder of Virtual Work

Confidential Energy Client

Insider, advocates for building culture from a remotefirst perspective. This includes technology that enables seamless collaboration and communication among remote employees that deepen day-to-day culture. It also means establishing consistent communication protocols that foster a sense of belonging and inclusion, and evaluating work hours and locations to optimize personal strengths and enhance engagement.

Does remote-first mean no office space? Not necessarily. Several of our clients with remote workforces have requested a physical workplace that supports their organizational culture. The workplace, albeit less traditional, serves as a hub for monthly, all-hands meetings and offers exclusive amenities and support spaces. Channel Advisor, an e-commerce company, highlights this approach, having completed their workplace with a predominantly remotefirst approach. According to Rich Cornetta, Chief Integration Officer at Channel Advisor, “Having a physical space doesn’t contradict our remote-first mindset; it actually strengthens our culture. Our office is designed utilizing a neighborhood concept – our library offers focus and solitude, and our garden area offers social collaboration. Our employees are thriving personally and professionally.”

While some organizations have fully embraced remote work policies, others, like Little, have welcomed their employees back in the office full time. Carol Rickard-Brideau, CEO of Little, believes “We do our best work in person. Being physically and mentally present fosters a culture of collaboration and performance that sets us apart.”

Recognizing that space plays a vital role in nurturing culture, many organizations are reassessing their office environments. The spaces most successful in attracting employees back into the office full time include a variety of work modes for focus, collaboration, video-conferencing and social gathering along with amenities that provide the same convenience and comfort of home. Outdoor work environments, for example, are a great option if climate allows as fresh air and natural light are key to a productive day. Concierge experiences, such as dry cleaning and meal offerings, also make life easier for employees outside of work hours.

Carol Rickard-Brideau, CEO of Little, believes WE DO OUR BEST WORK IN PERSON. BEING PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY PRESENT FOSTERS A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION AND PERFORMANCE THAT SETS US APART.”

Studies have shown that the hybrid workplace can be the most challenging when attempting to maintain a strong organizational culture. This hybrid approach requires thoughtful attention to in-office culture, distributed culture and a balanced combination of the two.

Like remote workforces, technology infrastructure plays a critical role in a hybrid organization's culture by ensuring seamless virtual collaboration and video conferencing between in-office and remote employees. In addition, organizations can nurture a meaningful culture through customized, activity-based spaces. Creating a workspace that accommodates activities like brainstorming, focused work, and socializing, along with shared desk policies, promotes fairness and equal access to resources for hybrid workers.

“With hybrid working, our company has a focus on ensuring that our corporate culture endures and that new hires are welcomed, integrated, and supported,” says a real estate representative of one of our Durham clients. “The office now plays a huge role in attracting teammates to come in – they have to want to be there. Folks tend to ask themselves, ‘why come in if I won’t see anyone.’ Therefore, we have placed emphasis on collaboration and spaces for impromptu gatherings.”

Whether your employees work remotely, in the office, or a combination of both, intentional recognition, connection, and equal opportunities are essential for aligning them with your culture. So, how can you determine if you’ve established a resilient and equitable culture you can be proud of? Engage with and listen to your employees. If employees feel inspired to believe in and defend your company, regardless of where they sit, they’ll feed your organization’s “soul” for years to come.

Channel Advisor

Channel Advisor

CRESCENT COMMUNITIES

THIS SPACE HAS ALLOWED US TO TEST OUR THEORY ON OFFICE DEVELOPMENT AND BE ABLE TO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO CREATE COMMUNITIES THROUGH OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS.

MCMILLIAN VP COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT CRESCENT COMMUNITIES

ELIZABETH

CRESCENT COMMUNITIES

A STORY OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITY

GOALS

1. Foster teamwork and collaboration

2. Celebrate Crescent’s culture and story

3. Inspire curiosity

4. Embrace wellness and sustainability

SOLUTION

Where people thrive and excellence is delivered.

Crescent Communities' Charlotte office relocation was more than just a move; it was a transformational journey. The new workspace communicates Crescent’s rich history, vibrant present, and prosperous future while celebrating their people and accomplishments. And, at the heart of this endeavor was a commitment to storytelling.

Certifications

Starting with a two-day visioning experience, Crescent and Little’s design team uncovered opportunities that yielded four design goals. Fostering teamwork and collaboration, the design more than doubles Crescent’s collaboration space. Meeting rooms and workspaces are multi-functional and moments of visual intrigue create an inspiring backdrop for celebrating Crescent’s culture and story. The space is WELL and LEED certified, reflecting Crescent’s commitment to human and environmental wellness.

RESULTS

20 %

INCREASE IN EMPLOYEE WELLNESS AND HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY

14 %

INCREASE IN THE SATISFACTION OF COLLABORATION SPACE

12%

INCREASE IN THE EXPRESSION AND BELIEF OF MISSION AND VALUES

31% REDUCTION IN WATER USE

15 %

INCREASE IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE OVERALL WORKSPACE

92% OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE WAS DIVERTED FROM THE LANDFILL

By Holly Christian

THE POWER OF CREATIVITY

FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO FOSTER CREATIVITY IN YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION

Creativity Leads to Results Beyond Architecture

In today’s competitive and rapidly changing world, creativity plays a vital role in a business's success.

“Can you deliver the most vibrant solutions we’ve never seen before?” That was the final interview question posed to us by a curious and deeply serious client.

The design team responded with a clear, confident, “Yes, absolutely,” and the client, Northeastern University (pictured left and right), selected Little for the project. We made that commitment to Northeastern University as we emerged from the pandemic. The future was hazy, but the spirit, optimistic. Now, we proudly report that we delivered on our promise to an incredibly happy client, whose student population continues to rise year after year, exceeding their growth expectations.

This is the type of success story we love to share as design professionals who deliver Little’s promise of “Results Beyond Architecture” every day. As architects and designers, successfully leading another client toward their optimistic future, we apply creative processes and creative thinking to our clients’ businesses. We know the power of creativity, and we have the joy, honor, and responsibility of applying it as we address our clients’ biggest challenges – the ones discussed in the board room and the ones that keep them up at night.

CREATIVITY IS INTELLIGENCE HAVING FUN.

Creativity Allows Us to Shift Perspective

Avoiding the status quo while moving forward and persevering in challenging times is a special trait of an effective leader. This trait requires one important skill — the ability to shift perspective.

—Albert Einstein

As Astro Teller, the director of Google X, said, “Shifting perspective is more powerful than being smart.” Shifting perspective allows one to see things differently, helping you become more flexible and open minded in your thinking. It can bring the good into focus, elevate your mood, and all you to uncover new, creative solutions. You shift perspective by thinking or doing something differently to change yourself, your situation, or the people around you.

Northeastern University

THE POWER OF CREATIVITY

5 WAYS TO FOSTER CREATIVE LEADERSHIP IN YOURSELF AND YOUR ORGANIZATION

By taking small intentional steps toward creativity everyday, individuals can create big change in their personal effectiveness, and within their organization. Leaning into creativity allows us to free ourselves, to think new, and to work through both small and large challenges. Here are five ways you can foster creativity in your daily processes and within your own team.

5 4 3 2 1

EMBRACE A CREATIVE MINDSET DAILY BE CURIOUS & STAY CURIOUS SEEK VARIED PERSPECTIVES TRY THE “YES, AND…” APPROACH OWN YOUR CREATIVITY COURAGEOUSLY

A creative mind is an open mind. Build your creative, mental muscle through games and strategies. Use the phrase, "I am trying something new" and then do it. Creative-thinking methods lead to new perspectives, so don’t let your preexisting beliefs block the flow of ideas.

Read content from diverse authors, ask questions, and seek to find answers. Constantly consuming content to fuel your creative pursuits will keep your mind fresh and active. Like an athlete in the off-season, putting in consistent work will prepare you for future opportunities.

Reach out to people different from you for their insight. It may see daunting, but undoubtedly, the results will be richer, more robust, and more unique. As our CEO, Carol Rickard emphasizes, "our differences make us stronger than our similarities ever could".

The “yes, and” approach encourages agreement. People build off one another's ideas, as they resist the urge to shut down any idea at the start. It removes “no” from the table to ensure all ideas are heard. This method can be done in a fun exercise among teammates. Try it! You will be surprised at the positive outcomes.

Enjoy the journey. People are often intimidated or scared of their own creativity. In my experience, most people do not readily identify as creative and believe their ideas are not creative enough to share. Squash the fear and challenge this mindset by embracing your unique talents and perspectives. Many times the most creative ideas are the simplest ones.

Creativity is a vital ingredient for success in the modern business landscape. It fuels innovation, enables adaptation, differentiates brands, enhances problem-solving, and drives customer empathy. By prioritizing creativity, organizations can navigate the complexities of today’s business environment and seize new opportunities for growth and success as they go into their optimistic futures.

Holly Christian, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP BD+C, is a Principal at Little. She can be reached at holly.christian@littleonline.com.

NOW WE’RE SELLING EXPERIENCES, AND THOSE EXPERIENCES NEED TO BE WELL-DESIGNED,” “CREATIVITY LENDS ITSELF TO THAT AND INSPIRES GOOD DESIGN.

7 TANGIBLE WAYS CREATIVITY CAN IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS

Creativity fuels the generation of fresh thinking and groundbreaking ideas. It encourages employees to use their imaginations, challenge conventional wisdom, and develop visionary solutions to complex issues.

1

3 2

4

6 5

7

ENCOURAGES INNOVATION FOSTERS OPENNESS TO CHANGE STIMULATES PROBLEM SOLVING ENGAGES EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHES DIFFERENTIATORS PROMOTES DIVERSITY EMBRACES CUSTOMER EMPATHY

Creativity is the foundation of innovation. Creativity is a mechanism by which we innovate, providing the spark that ignites the innovation process. Without creative thinking, it is challenging to identify new opportunities, develop unique products or services, or improve processes.

Adapting to change is a requirement in today's fast-paced, dynamic business landscape. Organization response to changing market conditions, customer preference, and technology advancements can be immediate.

Creative problem solving allows organizations to focus on the horizon, looking ahead of the curve to new possibilities and opportunities.

Encourage your employees to share ideas via open dialogue, surveys, and committees. They will become more vested in the organization's growth and feel valued and motivated.

Creativity helps businesses stand out from the competition and offer memorable experiences to customers. By infusing creativity into their processes, products, services, spaces, and overall brand identity, companies can create a distinct and compelling brand image that resonates with customers.

Creating diverse teams and seeking diverse perspectives enrich business. Seeing situations from different viewpoints enables everyone to have a broader view to challenges and opportunities. Broader perspective helps develop more creative solutions and a robust workforce.

Walking a mile in someone else's shoes is one of the best ways to creatively embrace customer empathy. This helps understand and meet their needs in unique and unexpected ways. By creatively exploring customers’ insights, preferences, and pain points, organizations can develop innovative products, services, and experiences that resonate with their target audiences, leading to increased customer loyalty and satisfaction.

GOALS

1. Craft a transformative space that showcases our design process

2. Create spaces that support individual work and face-to-face collaboration

3. Be an epicenter in the community by providing a safe, inviting environment

4. Advocate for sustainability and employee wellness

SOLUTION

A seamless blend of individual work, collaboration and technology while emphasizing cultural connections

It’s not often we get to play the role of both client and designer, but when Little’s Orlando office needed more space, our design team welcomed the opportunity to transform the 8th floor of a 1980s office building into a workplace that champions health, sustainability, and community.

The design is organized around Health, Energy, Water, and Social Equity, guiding principles to Little’s Sustainability philosophy. The open office incorporates sit/stand desks to encourage movement, an abundance of natural light,

and branded graphics that reinforce Little’s values and local ties. At the heart of the space is a large, flexible collaboration area that offers the perfect spot for lunchtime gatherings, private meetings or after-hour community events.

IIDA Florida Central Chapter, Interior Design Excellence Award for Sustainability

LITTLE ORLANDO OFFICE HEALTH, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY

75 % OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE DIVERTED FROM THE LANDFILL RESULTS

WE CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, EVOKES SURPRISE AND INSPIRES WONDER. SINCE MOVING IN, I THINK WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED JUST THAT. EVENTS HELD IN THE OFFICE INCREASED BY 4X

By David Stephenson & Melissa McDougall Jones

DIGITAL NATIVES AND THE FUTURE WORKPLACE

David Stephenson, CFM, Wired Score AP is the Director of the Smart Building Studio at Little. He can be reached at david.stephenson@littleonline.com.

Melissa McDougall Jones is a Marketing Director at Little. She can be reached at melissa.mcdougall@littleonline.com.

rom our phones to gaming platforms like Occulus Rift and even in our cars, technology is embedded everywhere to make our experiences more immersive and streamlined. And, with the arrival of Gen Z or “Digital Natives” into the workforce, organizations are witnessing a seismic shift in workplace expectations. Born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, this generation has grown up in an era defined by technological advancements and rapid digital transformation. As they embark on their professional journeys, Gen Z brings a unique set of values, preferences, and aspirations that are reshaping the modern workplace.

CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

As Digital Natives, Gen Z possesses an inherent comfort and fluency with technology. They expect companies to embrace the latest technological advancements and provide an environment that supports their digital skills and interests. Companies that want to future-proof their business will need to invest in state-of-the-art technology infrastructure, tools, and software to enhance productivity and provide a seamless digital experience.

A digital workplace integrates and streamlines various digital tools, applications, and systems into a unified platform. This digital integration extends past the hardware and software applications we use to do our work and into edge devices that help organizations better manage their office space. Enhancing efficiency, digital integration eliminates silos and promotes a seamless flow of information and data across different departments and functions. Cloud computing is one tool that has significantly impacted the digital workplace, transforming how organizations operate and enabling new ways of working. It has become an essential component for organizations that seek to embrace digital transformation and create a modern, flexible, and efficient work environment.

COLLABORATION IS KEY

Through tools like instant messaging, video conferencing, shared documents, and project management platforms, digital workplaces leverage technology to facilitate seamless collaboration and communication among employees while enhancing teamwork and productivity. Gen Z thrives in collaborative environments where they can engage in teamwork and creative problem-solving. In addition to integrating virtual collaboration, companies should also focus on creating inspiring physical environments that foster collaboration, innovation, and social interaction to encourage impromptu interaction and idea sharing.

We believe organizations that focus on providing an environment that fosters collaboration will experience greater in-person attendance. In turn, this engagement leads to opportunities for younger staff to receive informal mentoring, a key component of what Gen Z strives for in the workplace.

CONTINUOUS LEARNING & EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

If you post it, they will learn. Gen Z is well-aware of the fast pace of change in today’s world. They understand acquiring new skills and knowledge is essential for personal and professional growth.

Consequently, this generation prioritizes continuous learning and educational development. However, whether rightly or wrongly so, we often characterize Gen Z by their short attention spans and ability to process information quickly. They naturally gravitate toward concise and engaging content, which has led to the rise of “edu-tainment” (think TikTok and similar online or app-driven platforms) where complex ideas, concepts, or knowledge is distilled into bit-sized, entertaining videos. There is value in this type of content as it allows employees to learn on the go or whenever they have a few minutes to spare.

To cater to short bursts of learning, organizations and educational institutions can incorporate engaging visuals, storytelling techniques, and interactive elements into shortform learning experiences to capture attention and deliver valuable knowledge.

FLEXIBILITY

ABOVE ALL ELSE A defining characteristic of Gen Z, their desire for flexibility in the workplace goes beyond simply determining when and where they work. This demographic craves a work environment that allows for flexible work hours, remote work options, and the ability to balance personal and professional commitments effectively. They value a healthy work-life integration, seeking opportunities where they can pursue their passions, engage in meaningful activities outside of work, and maintain a positive mental well-being.

A digital workplace supports these ideas by enabling employees to work from anywhere and at any time, using various devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets. It embraces mobility and flexibility, allowing individuals to access resources, applications, and information remotely, and leading to increased agility and work-life balance. According to a 2023 study by Deloitte, 77 percent of Gen Z who are currently in remote or hybrid roles would consider looking for a new job if their employer asked them to work on site full-time.

One challenge of this hybrid model is coordinating team schedules to enable the in-person collaboration that is so important for Gen Z workers. Luckily, tools like a workplace experience app can streamline coordination by nudging employees to come into the office when someone in their “circle” schedules in-office time. In addition, organizations can expand these apps by incorporating news, announcements, and access to other company services and information, further deepening the connection between employees and their company.

It’s increasingly important for organizations to understand what sets this emerging generation apart and how to adapt to their work processes, communication methods, and workplace culture to effectively engage and empower these digital natives Leveraging their technological proficiency, collaborative skills, and innovative mindset can help organizations embrace digital transformation and thrive in the evolving digital workplace.

By Nick Ault & Garrett Herbst

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving technology that is set to influence nearly everything in our lives and is already making notable impacts on architecture. At Little, we are leaning into this technology, leveraging AI to redefine design and to reimagine the built environment in novel ways. The integration of AI into our work allows us the ability to shape designs to fit unique client needs, enhancing our efficiency and the customization of our design process. This shift is not a reduction of the architect’s role, but a significant opportunity to improve the solutions we provide for our clients in our constant pursuit of delivering Results Beyond Architecture.

AI can be roughly organized into three categories - Large Language Models (LLMs), Visualization, and Data* - each already making an impact on how we pursue and execute projects. By understanding the strengths of each of these platforms and engaging with this technology at this early stage, we can improve efficiency/effectiveness, reduce the impact that the built environment has on our planet, and expand upon our creativity to realize places and spaces that make our cities more livable.

We recognize that the ripple effects of AI will touch every industry, including those of our clients. As AI reshapes the business landscape,

we aim to not only integrate this technology into our designs but also to help you navigate its integration into your own operations and built environment.

As architects and designers, we believe in the power of human ingenuity, and we see AI as another tool to amplify that creativity. We invite you to join us in this journey, embracing the vast potential of AI to enrich our work, our lives, and our world. Together, we can shape the future - a future built by innovation, sustainability, and collective growth.

Click here to learn more about Large Language Models, Visualization and Data.

Nick Ault, AIA, NCARB, is a Workplace Studio Principal at Little. He can be reached at nick.ault@littleonline.com.

Garrett Herbst, AIA, NCARB, is a Project Manager at Little. He can be reached at garrett.herbst@littleonline.com.

GOALS

1. Thoughtfully and successfully integrate office, retail, public space, hotel and parking deck

2. Create a community destination with a unique pedestrian experience

3. Design a workplace that would attract and retain the best talent

RESULTS

80 %

LEASED BEFORE COMPLETION

BUILDING SOLD WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF COMPLETION

THE FIRST BUILDING IN CHARLOTTE TO ACHIEVE WIREDSCORE

CERTIFIED PLATINUM

SOLUTION

One of Charlotte's most transformative mixed-use projects

A 26-story mixed-use office tower located at the gateway to Uptown, Ally Charlotte Center uses community, stewardship and inspiration as the core design drivers. In partnership

with Crescent Communities, the tower is designed to be the workplace of the future, with agile spaces, efficient floor plans, enhanced connectivity, and a strong focus on human and environmental health. The office tower uses a structural exoskeleton grid to allow for column-free workspaces and

is grounded by a public plaza, contemporary retail, and restaurants. The success of our public spaces relies on activity, the team worked together to minimize the scale of the lobby aimed at providing a 360 degree experience.

THE RULES OF WHERE WE WORK HAVE CHANGED. YET, INTENTIONAL DESIGN CONTINUES TO PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN ELEVATING PERFORMANCE.

CHAD WENTZ STUDIO PRINCIPAL LITTLE

CRAFTING EXPERIENCES THAT MATTER

THE LOWE’S TECH HUB IS SIMULTANEOUSLY ONE OF THE PRIME CATALYSTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH END AND ONE OF THE RESILIENCY FACTORS FOR CHARLOTTE’S ECONOMIC FUTURE.

MICHAEL SMITH CEO CHARLOTTE CITY CENTER PARTNERS

OUR BIGGEST ASSET REMAINS OUR ASSOCIATES. AND WHAT THE BUILDING DOES IS ENABLE THEM TO DO THEIR BEST WORK.

GOALS

1. Grow and expand technology talent and presence

2. Create an environment that promotes innovation while elevating the associate and customer experience

3. Ignite the surrounding community by sharing the organization’s passion and culture

SOLUTION

A workplace that is a testament to heritage and a vision for the future

LOWE’S GLOBAL TECH HUB

WHERE HARDWARE MEETS SOFTWARE

Designed to align with modern employee needs and integrate into the vibrant South End community, this space embodies Lowe's commitment to technology and collaboration. The three-floor hub embraces innovation with adaptable pods, breaking away from conventional fixed offices, and offers a fluid environment that encourages new connections and sparks fresh ideas.

Beyond its functional role, the Tech Hub has become a catalyst for development in the neighborhood, inspiring other businesses of similar scale to invest in innovative workspaces. Throughout the space, thoughtful branded graphics highlight the history and mission of Lowe's, reinforcing their dedication to innovation and technology.

RESULTS

SINCE THE COMPLETION OF THE TECH HUB, CHARLOTTE HAS SEEN CONSISTENT GROWTH IN TECH WORKERS

FROM 2022-2023, CHARLOTTE MOVED FROM #8 TO #5 FOR TECH TALENT GROWTH AMONG 30YEAR OLDS

By Casey Cline & Sharon Crawford

SUBURBAN REPOSITIONING

You’ve seen them everywhere. Dated suburban office buildings immersed in asphalt wonderlands. Three-to-four story office buildings with lifeless facades, dark-banded privacy windows nestled in hardy, overgrown foundation planting. Places that lack life, inspiration, vibrancy – and tenants.

Our team is determined to flip the lens and reimagine these suburban campuses as opportunity centers to build community. As designers, how can we help our clients entice tenants back to the suburban campuses by providing amenities that bring space to life?

REIMAGINING SUBURBAN OFFICE SPACE

The design challenges of the 1980s suburban landscapes can be repositioned and reimagined into attractive tenant space close to home, a prototype more relevant to today’s evolving working environment. Perhaps even better, suburbia offers something urban spaces don’t always have – access to landscape and nature.

Vast empty parking lots can be restructured to create safe pedestrian pathways; scaled for walking, biking and connecting. Surface lots can be re-envisioned as outdoor rooms and workspaces, promoting amenity spaces that create identity and unite campus community. Ground floor spaces, once hidden by overgrown plant material, can be thinned to provide visibility and promote safety, along with entrances identified by new portals or canopies. Old precast and brick facades can be simply painted or turned into works of art using murals, public art or graphics that provide branding opportunities to identify place and community. Indoor dated flooring and walls can be refreshed with new, modern materials, acoustic paneling and living walls. Lighting can be upgraded to add warmth and brightness.

Casey Cline, PLA, ASLA, LEED® Green Associate, is a Landscape Architect at Little. She can be reached at casey.cline@littleonline.com.

RENEWED FOCUS ON BEING CLOSE TO HOME

The rules have changed as a response to lessons learned from three years of living a pandemic-centric lifestyle. Core values are now nonnegotiable with a focus on health leading the charge. As people navigate a renewed focus on balancing personal responsibilities, the necessity of commuting to more urban settings has been reconsidered.

In fact, a recent U.S. Census Bureau report estimated that the average one-way travel time to work is a lofty 27.6 minutes. Furthering the argument against long commute times, “Gallup” (Global Research for Workplace) found that commutes of more than 30 minutes are linked to poor wellbeing, high stress and anger.

DESIGN STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENTS

Through our experience, we know in-person collaboration is key to innovation. Ideas are born when people work together and brainstorm as a team. Micro-offices and coworking space in multiple locations may appeal to companies hoping to draw people back into an office. Convenient locations in the neighborhoods where employees live, provide ease and access like never before. People crave connection to outdoor space, convenience and work-life balance. Amenities bring spaces to life and solve for these innate desires.

Through these six design strategies, we can strengthen suburban environments.

1. Wellness – Access to nature, fitness features, wellness clinics

2. Nutrition – Variety of healthy options (food trucks, cafes, grab and go)

3. Lifestyle – Everyday amenities to ease lifestyle (childcare, dry cleaning, pharmacy, salon, market)

4. Technology & Virtual Support – Curated environment with adjustable lighting, noise sensors, temperature controls

5. Commuter and transit connections – Connection to transit (walkable, bikeable, rail connections)

6. Flexible Work Environments – Variety/Scale/ Use – Diversity of spaces to facilitate multifunctional use

Design moves are strategic. They can be additive or subtractive and work in layers of scale to help users maximize use and benefit. From a landscape perspective, outdoor rooms can be carved into under-utilized parking lots; green paths can create wayfinding through former seas of asphalt; dense woodlands can be strategically thinned to create pockets of interest, such as tree houses, outdoor amphitheaters, workspaces or even a hammock retreat to calm the mind and recharge.

Don’t underestimate the power of simple design moves. Suburbia reconsidered can become a true live, work and play model that reunites tenants with the workplace.

Sharon Crawford, IIDA, RID, NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP, is an Interiors Studio Principal and Partner at Little. She can be reached at sharon.crawford@littleonline.com.

At Imperial Center in Durham, NC, our team worked with one client to reimagine their newly acquired collection of six office buildings with low vacancy. The initial ask was to consider a finishes refresh, but our approach looked at reimagining the buildings as campus setting: How could we create intuitive pedestrian connections between the buildings, leverage space in one or two of them to create a more contemporary café and coffee shop, and then connect them all together via outdoor pocket parks and workspaces that weave the campus together?

We envisioned a Phase 2 that would convert about half of the existing surface parking lot to build a new parking deck, another 100,000-square-foot office building, and an amenity complex with a café, fitness space and conference center to create a people-focused center. Coworking spaces, fresh paint jobs with modern signage, richly layered and activated interiors and landscapes, outdoor terraces and new modern entrances. Building lobbies with lounge and work furniture along with technology so that the square footage is maximized for use instead of being a large, wasted passthrough space.

BRIGHTLEAF

THESE RENOVATIONS HAVE DEFINED A NEW BEGINNING FOR THE BRIGHTLEAF DISTRICT THROUGH THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS, PRIORITIZING THE PEDESTRIAN, AND CELEBRATING HISTORIC WAREHOUSE ARCHITECTURE. IN ADDITION TO REINVIGORATING THE PUBLIC DISTRICT, THE WORK HAS SUCCESSFULLY ATTRACTED NEW BUSINESSES TO THE AREA.

BRIGHTLEAF

HISTORIC REVITALIZATION

GOALS

1. Refresh and reinvigorate the courtyard with sustainability at the forefront

2. Reclaim the courtyard’s presence as a historic landmark

3. Draw pedestrians into the space with a central walkway and comfortable seating areas

4. Activate retail spaces by blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor

SOLUTION

Reinvigorating an urban district with an integrated design team Brightleaf Square, steeped in history, has emerged as a cherished landmark in Downtown Durham, NC. Once storing the prized bright leaf tobacco that fueled Durham's turn-of-the-century economy, these warehouses evolved into a public square. Now, the dynamic landscape of Durham has prompted a new role for this iconic space.

What began as an effort to address accessibility and pedestrian challenges evolved into a grander vision to reimagine the area as the vibrant heart of a larger Brightleaf district. This expansion aimed to connect, revitalize, and redefine the district's identity while keeping sustainability top of mind.

Primarily led by Little’s landscape and brand experience teams, the design reused existing materials, added more resilient plants, incorporated strategies to reduce the carbon footprint and created a new brand identity, supported by new wayfinding and placemaking signage.

AT THE URGING OF LITTLE'S LANDSCAPE TEAM, WE CREATED A TWO-TIERED STREET EDGE, WHICH WAS A MUCH BETTER SOLUTION THAN HAVING A RETAINING WALL AT THE EDGE OF THE PUBLIC WALKWAY. IT MADE THE PROJECT MUCH MORE APPROACHABLE.

RESULTS

30 % INCREASE IN NEW LEASES

By Courtney Downey

THE IMPACT OF AMENITY SPACES

Transforming Legal Offices

Courtney Downey, IIDA, CID, LEED AP, WELL AP, is a Design Principal at Little and can be reached at courtney.downey@littleonline.com.

As the world reemerges from the shadows of the pandemic, companies are taking innovative measures to reinvigorate the workplace. One key strategy is the provision of amenity spaces to create a more inviting and attractive work environment. A proven, powerful tool to entice staff to return to the office, these versatile spaces promote relaxation, collaboration, and employee well-being.

Legal offices have long been associated with highpressure environments and demanding workloads. By incorporating thoughtful and well-designed amenity spaces, these firms can not only attract and retain top talent but also support their well-being and productivity.

First and foremost, amenity spaces play a significant role in supporting a balanced work environment. They offer staff a respite from the pressures of the job, fostering a healthier work-life balance, reducing burnout, and contributing to improved mental health and job satisfaction. Moreover, amenity spaces encourage spontaneous interactions and informal discussions among colleagues. These impromptu social touchpoints strengthen teamwork and camaraderie while further supporting improved employee well-being. When team members feel valued and connected, they are more likely to be invested in the firm's success and contribute to its growth.

In our recent project with a major media corporation’s legal department, our client’s primary goal was to encourage their employees to return to the office. The client wanted to create a welcoming, comforting space that would help foster collaboration and community – to “create a buzz” in the office and give people a reason to want to work from there.

“After initially struggling with the work-from-home model, I had become very comfortable and content working remotely and wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about returning to the office,” said one staff member. “Our newly renovated space is bright, sophisticated, and welcoming, and has completely changed my mind. I am now back in the office full time and credit the new space with enhancing my ability to focus, facilitating collaboration with my co-workers, and restoring my enthusiasm for working in the office.”

By Rebecca Sistruck

To cultivate our client’s ideal office culture, we designed a variety of elevated amenity spaces to support differing work styles and settings. One of these spaces, a “Hospitality Lounge,” serves as the office’s main hub by day and as an entertaining space after hours. The Hospitality Lounge is a reception, break room, library, coffee bar, and living room, all in one. It’s a place where staff can come to relax or engage with colleagues while fostering a sense of community in the workplace.

QUIET ZONE

ACTIVE ZONE

We also designed a “Quiet Lounge” for more focused collaboration or individual heads-down work in an alternative work setting. The Quiet Lounge features two adjacent “Zoom rooms” for one-to-two person Zoom meetings, a bespoke wellness room, and a standing-height meeting counter that doubles as a puzzle table. (Our client specially requested this puzzle table as a getaway from high-stress work). These spaces enable lawyers and support staff to recharge their minds during hectic workdays.

The post-pandemic workplace is witnessing a transformation, and amenity spaces in legal offices cater to the changing preferences of the modern workforce. Many legal professionals, particularly the younger generation, value workplace flexibility and a blend of formal and informal settings. Through amenities such as flexible workstations, casual meeting spaces, and collaborative hubs, legal firms can accommodate diverse working styles and create an environment where staff feel empowered to work in ways that suit them best.

By prioritizing employee well-being, fostering collaboration, and accommodating diverse working styles, companies are enticing their staff back to the office with a promise of a fulfilling and rewarding work experience. A thoughtfully designed office that prioritizes employee well-being and fosters a sense of belonging can significantly contribute to staff retention, satisfaction, and productivity. Ultimately, the provision of amenity spaces is not a gimmick to attract staff back to the office; it is an investment in the company's culture and workforce.

DESIGNING A WORKPLACE OF CHOICE

In today's evolving work landscape, the quest for an ideal workplace experience has never been more critical. Employees desire an experience that is customized to individual work styles and preferences. However, cost hurdles often impede this vision as organizations shift between remote and office-based work.

At Little, we understand these challenges and are collecting metrics and insights to understand our own employee needs, and we are sharing this valuable knowledge with our clients.

OUR 80/20 APPROACH, WITH 32 HOURS IN THE OFFICE AND THE ABILITY TO WORK EIGHT HOURS REMOTE EACH WEEK, FOSTERS COLLABORATION AND PERSONALIZED MENTORSHIP, ALIGNING WITH OUR VALUES OF CARE, STRETCH, AND SPARK.

Overall, we have found that proximity and availability of employees to one another provide the ultimate opportunity to shape a customizable workplace experience and drive success. Click here to learn more about how we’ve optimized our office spaces to enhance ROI and foster creative collaboration.

Engage with us to learn more about how we can ensure your employees love coming into work while creating a hub of innovation and productivity.

Rebecca Sistruck, LEED AP ID+C, is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner at Little. She can be reached at rebecca.sistruck@littleonline.com.

The Quiet Lounge promotes well-being and collaboration, offering spaces to focus on work, meet with your team, or just take a breath and recharge

The Hospitality Lounge is the main social hub for emloyees to connect, relax, engage, and build community, serving as a Reception, Cafe, Lounge and Event Space.

TRULIANT OPERATIONS CENTER

DEPARTMENT STORE TRANSFORMATION

GOALS

1. Support long term life cost efficiencies

2. Repurpose the building into a highly functional, thoughtfully designed space

3. Develop a central hub and distinct "neighborhoods" to encourage collaboration and focus

4. Incorporate brand elements in a sophisticated manner

SOLUTION

A vision realized where a former retail space becomes a thriving workspace

When Macy's announced its closure of its Hanes Mall store, Truliant seized the opportunity to transform the 110,000-squarefoot space into a cutting-edge operations hub and call center.

Their goal? To create an amenityrich workplace that fostered collaboration, improved wellbeing and met long-term space needs. The agile environment features Central "Main Streets" that connect dynamic quadrants, promoting community, while glassfronted meeting rooms and cozy seating encourage collaboration and privacy.

Branded graphics infuse life into the space and reflect the vibrancy of the Truliant brand. Sustainability measures, including solar panels and LED lighting, demonstrate Truliant's commitment to the environment.

RESULTS

CO2 EMISSIONS

SAVED OVER 319,000 LBS, EQUIVALENT TO 2,418 TREES PLANTED

before

Conceptual Rendering

after

I FEEL LIKE THIS PLACE IS DISNEYWORLD. I RECRUITED SOMEONE ELSE TO WORK HERE, SHE STARTED, AND SHE RECRUITED SOMEONE ELSE. THIS ENVIRONMENT – THE WAY THAT IT ELEVATES YOUR MOOD – IT LEADS TO GREAT JOB SATISFACTION, AND AGENT MOTIVATION.

By Eddie Portis

ADAPT AND LEARN

In a world suffering from climate change, breathing life into old structures is one of the most regenerative things we can do for our planet. It has been suggested by the World Green Building Council that 11% of global carbon emissions are a direct result of construction. What if we could reduce that to 10% or 9%, simply by taking advantage of our existing building stock?

There is something unique and elegantly beautiful about adapting an old space to a new typology. The recent mall conversion to workplace by Truliant Federal Credit Union is a prime example of how successful this can be for our environment and our bank accounts. Little worked with the leaders of Truliant to prepare an economic comparison of purchasing and converting an old Macy’s versus constructing a new building on the existing campus. It was determined that the purchase and adaptation of Macys store to their Operations Center would save Truliant over $10 million dollars. Always focused on their members, Truliant purchased the Macy's store and recently completed their conversion to support their growth needs with great success. Truliant went even further, adding solar panels and beehives to the roof, improving our world, one step at a time.

Another exciting example can be found in downtown Rock Hill, SC. The partnership between The Kieth Corporation and Capital Broadcasting Company has committed to saving an old warehouse and re-energizing this section of town. The conversion is a true mixed use dream including retail, office, and multi-family. Several courtyards are being carved out of the heart of the building creating a powerful sense of place. To capture the carbon impact, Little used the Cove Tool app to compare new construction to this adaptive re-use. The impact was the reduction of over 20,000 metric tons of Embodied and Operational Emissions over a 50-year period.

But there is something else hidden within the walls of adaptive re-use, learning. What can we learn from the world today as office buildings struggle to convert to residential? Who knows

what the future of transportation holds in store for us. It makes you ponder the impact of parking deck demolition alone in our futures future.

The scale at which office space is becoming vacant has staggered the industry. Some even say that the conversion of office buildings to residential is the key to the housing crisis and that this is a real opportunity to improve our cities and our planet. What makes the environments we live in engaging is flexibility and that is at the heart of mixed-use communities. There is a reason that we strive to find the live/work/play environment, it is dynamically intertwined, more residential drives more retail and in turn, they both fuel more office, which then impacts residential. It is a fragile dance that is constantly adjusting and adapting. To be clear, office is not dead, it is evolving, and it will remain in our systemic typology of life.

There are hard lessons being learned today by those who convert office buildings to residential.

The office building plates are too deep, and the glass typologies don’t align, and the mechanical systems are ineffective to note a few. For decades the golden rectangle for efficient office floor plates, 120’x240’ clothed in floor to ceiling glass veil has dominated the industry, to a fault. Even more egregious have been ridiculous parking ratios. Our drive for parking convenience has resulted in trillions of unnecessary and unused parking stalls. What can the pain of today’s conversions teach us about the way we should design? How do we wake up long enough to understand the interconnected living nature of our cities and design with a sense of flexibility at the forefront, right alongside scale and proportionality. Imagine if we learned and our children’s children experience a world where those construction carbon emissions have been reduced to 5%? Imagine a world where adapting structures are commonplace.

Eddie Portis, AIA, NCARB, CDT, LEED AP BD+C is a Workplace Practice Leader and Partner at Little. He can be reached at eddie.portis@littleonline.com.

The Thread

THE THREAD

WEAVING TOGETHER THE PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE

“WE HAVE A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TYPE OF PROJECT, WITH IRREPLACEABLE HISTORY AND DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS, SET IN A PRIME LOCATION THAT WILL OFFER OUR OFFICE, RETAIL AND RESIDENTIAL TENANTS ALIKE A TRUE EXPERIENTIAL REAL ESTATE OPTION THAT IS UNRIVALED WITHIN THE GREATER CHARLOTTE MARKET.

GOALS

1. Transform an old textile mill and warehouse space into a modern mixed-use redevelopment

2. Create a creative, dynamic, pedestrian-friendly destination for the Rock Hill community

3. Retain as much of the building’s existing detail to preserve and celebrate the site’s long history

4. Showcase the experience of the space prior to completion to support tenant leasing efforts

RESULTS

SOLUTION

Reinvigorate an old textile corridor into a progressive innovation district

Originally built in 1946 as a historic textile mill and warehouse, The Thread is located in the heart of Rock Hill’s thriving Knowledge Park district, spanning from Winthrop University to Old Town Rock Hill. The Thread’s design, developed in partnership with The Keith Corporation, preserves the historic elements of the building while adding modern, tenantfocused enhancements to create one of the most unique mixed-use redevelopment projects in the Southeast. Upon completion, the renovated site will represent a more than $100 million dollar investment to deliver a mix of Class A creative offices, loft apartments and ground-floor retail to Rock Hill.

20 TONS OF CARBON SAVED THROUGH REUSE OF EXISTING BUILDING

50 % LEASED EARLY IN CONSTRUCTION

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SOLVE SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST COMPLEX ISSUES. THAT'S WHY WE WORK WITH CLIENTS USING INNOVATION, SIMPLICITY AND COMPASSION AS A FRAMEWORK FOR WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER.

PHILIP DONOVAN DIRECTOR OF REGEN COLAB LITTLE

UNCOVERING PURPOSEFUL WORK

By Philip Donovan

THE BUFFALO GAVE US EVERYTHING WE NEEDED. WITHOUT IT WE WERE NOTHING. OUR TIPIS WERE MADE OF HIS SKIN. HIS HIDE WAS OUR BED, OUR BLANKET, OUR WINTER COAT. IT WAS OUR DRUM, THROBBING THROUGH THE NIGHT, ALIVE, HOLY.”

–John Fire Lame Deer, Lakota Elder

KEYSTONE OPPORTUNITIES

Why We Need Ecological Restoration on Every Site

As we increasingly leverage design and engineering to facilitate human convenience, we have set in motion a tipping of ecological dominoes that affects all natural life cycles. Advanced societies, empowered by technological capabilities, have exerted control over and altered natural biological processes to accommodate our rapidly growing human population. While we can achieve efficiency, speed, and cost-effectiveness to better meet our needs, this pursuit comes at the expense of threatening our own existence. A keystone species, humans have the greatest opportunity to support and uplift our natural life systems. We must now return to our place in nature and work towards a collective goal of sustaining all life on earth.

Our first step begins within the boundaries of a project site and expands outwards through the interconnected systems of life. Ecological restoration on each site is possible with carefully integrated design and an understanding of how each site’s connection to its greater ecosystem. We need only look at the lessons of the past to guide our restorative work for the future.

The decimation of the buffalo was a swift and brutal event that profoundly impacted on the ecological balance of the North American continent. In a mere 80 years, this critical species, once numbering over 50 million, devastatingly collapsed. The relentless westward expansion by European settlers disrupted the interconnected and symbiotic cycles of life across the Great Plains. By the late 1880s, the buffalo population had dwindled to less than 500. This tragic loss of a keystone species serves as a stark reminder of the consequences when intervention processes operate in a linear manner, detached from the holistic systems of life upstream and downstream of place.

The devastating collapse of the buffalo population did not spare the humans that had lived in partnership with the buffalo for thousands of years. These tribal communities suffered the loss of a crucial element to their existence, one that provided support for their social, financial, and natural ecosystems, its loss profoundly altering their way of life. Recent studies even indicate that the consequences of this collapse may have had physiological implications on our indigenous ancestors. This evidence underscores the deep wound inflicted upon the ecological fabric of North America, emphasizing the long and arduous process required for its healing and repair. However healing has begun.

Like the wolves in Yellowstone, buffalo are intricately linked to the life cycles of numerous other species across our continent's ecosystem. Often covering hundreds of miles in their migrations, buffalo foster biodiversity, enabling various species to thrive along their path. Their significance is evident in how they diversly enhance the regions they traverse. Their grazing manages vast grasslands, enriching the nutritiousness of plants and creating habitats for nesting birds and prairie dogs. Their wallows collect rainwater, forming breeding pools for amphibians and offering drinking sources for a variety of wildlife. Their footsteps leave navigation trails, guiding the way for other species to find essential resources.

"Boy-zshan Bi-den, Buffalo Return" is a phrase the Shoshone Native American tribe use to herald the return

of the buffalo to the lands they once roamed as a force of nature. Restoration efforts are underway in many areas across the western United States. The IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species reports a mature buffalo population growing in the US with current numbers reaching above 30,000 on public ranges, where the buffalo are once again roaming the wild places and indigenous lands their ancestors once inhabited in the tens of millions. This resurgence of buffalo signals the commencement of an imbalanced system’s grand-scale restoration and regeneration.

This restoration effort, while vast in scale, can help us understand how to create micro restorations on our project sites with similar outcomes, creating keystone projects in support of ecological harmony.

When we prioritize restorative efforts throughout project phases of design, construction, and operations, we can cultivate sites that exhibit adaptability and resilience in the face of climate change and natural disasters. This approach not only facilitates swift recovery but also yields positive outcomes for the communities upstream and downstream from each project location. By understanding the intricate interconnections of various life systems across our work and the long-term operation of our projects, we can leverage the vast energy and resources of a place to foster improved outcomes for all.

Our water systems have tipped unbalanced as well, and large-scale ecological restoration projects are needed to help restore some of the most polluted bodies of water in the United States. As with the decimation of the buffalo, man-made devastation ravaged the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay in the late 19th century when overharvesting, pollution, and disease eradicated roughly three-quarters of the bay’s oyster reefs. The oyster population was not the only victim, the loss of this aquatic keystone species affected the ecological community, including those parts most relied upon by humans. Change is underway, however, as we better understand the critical role of oysters within the bay’s ecosystem.

According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, “Eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, are a critical component of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, known as a keystone species. With their clean, hard surfaces and intricate threedimensional structure, large oyster reefs attract a wide variety of life. They provide food, cover, and habitat for hundreds of small and juvenile fish, crabs, shrimp, and other species, which in turn provide prey for larger fish

BUFFALO WERE THE REAL TRAILMAKERS – TRAILS YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE. THEY WERE AS GOOD AS THE BEST CIVIL ENGINEERS. IT REMAINS TRUE TODAY.”

– David Love in John McPhee’s Annals of the Former World

Buffalo in the Grand Teton National Park

© John Walker, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Partner | Workplace Studio Principal, Little

and crabs. These shellfish are also prolific filter feeders. They remove light-blocking algae from bay waters and help remove excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. And healthy reefs are home to other filter feeders, as well, including barnacles, encrusting bryozoans, sea anemones, and hooked mussels.”

Efforts are underway to restore and create oyster reefs in ten key tributaries that feed Chesapeake Bay. To date, seven of the ten have been restored, with the remaining three on track to be complete by 2025. This restoration’s benefits include an 80-percent increase in seafood harvest in the Harris Creek tributary and an increased removal of nitrogen from the water system equivalent to 20,000 bags of fertilizer. The oysters’ return creates a service value of $1.7 million in just one sector alone, with time, one can begin to see the gains across the entire system.

Micro-ecological restorations can do the same on even the smallest project or site.

The Society for Ecological Restoration defines “ecological restoration” as an “intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity, and sustainability.” The society recognizes that restoration efforts positively impact businesses and underpin an adaptive, resilient response to changing climates. By its own definition, the society “advances the science, practice, and policy of ecological restoration to sustain biodiversity, improve resilience in a changing climate, and re-establish an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture.”

Why is ecological restoration essential for our workplace projects? The rationale behind this work reveals a compelling return on investment, even for the smallest endeavors. Restoring a damaged ecosystem to balance yields diverse rewards, including the regeneration of natural resources and financial profits. Embracing sustainable practices is not only good for business but also resonates with clients who

actively seek out companies and brands aligned with their own sustainable values. By incorporating these principles into our projects, we tap into the goodwill of clients who are eager to support environmentally conscious organizations, creating a win-win scenario that fosters long-term success and a harmonious approach to life.

The framework for this effort is simple: restore natural systems and our place in nature. Doing so will create positive outcomes for the nested systems of life of which our work is a part. In their 2007 book: Ecological Restoration at the Micro-Level: A Guide for Practitioners, John D. Liu, Sandra L. Postel, and Mark Giordano outline five key themes to consider for ecologically restorative efforts.

Ecosystems are disturbed, impacted, punctured, damaged, unbalanced with current design/ construction practices altering structure and function of nested systems of life.

Restoration involves understanding the interconnection of the ecosystem that extends upstream and downstream of a project site.

Restoration can be introduced and developed to provide scales of improvement and adaptation that benefit both the project and the broader ecology.

Transdisciplinary resources must be used to develop science-based solutions that are strategically deployed, easily managed, and adjusted to respond to evolving conditions over time toward success.

Ecological restoration at the micro-level is accessible to all projects and works to improve the outcomes of the interconnected systems and ecologies to the site resulting in a positive triple bottom line.

Oyster Reef Restoration in Chesapeake Bay

PLANTING NATIVE PLANTS TO RESTORE HABITAT.

So, where do we begin? It’s important to understand that any effort of any size will start to yield results. Micro-ecological restoration can occur at the scale of a driveway, a rooftop, a tree, or a brick (a new home for bees?). Start small and be patient. Restorative efforts take time to reengage within the existing systems. The work must be deeply embedded in the ecology of the place and the intended outcomes defined with data and measurements over time to ensure the best return on investment.

Examples of small-scale restoration include:

This could look like planting rain gardens and bioswales, restoring littoral edges to existing water ways. Doing so improves water and air quality and provides habitat for native animal species.

REINTRODUCING NATIVE WILDLIFE.

REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES THAT PUSH OUT NATIVE LIFEFORMS.

This can be a simple as creating new homes for native pollinators. By removing non-native species, we provide space for natural systems to rebalance themselves in alignment with the carrying capacity of the surrounding ecosystem.

RESTORING NATURAL FEATURES OF A SITE.

This can include restoring natural water pathways or aligning building elements with natural views that enhance conditions across the project’s boundaries.

Embracing micro-ecological restoration on project sites holds immense value in elevating the triple bottom line for people, planet, and profits. By prioritizing the restoration and enhancement of local ecosystems, we not only nurture the well-being and goodwill of surrounding communities but also safeguard the health of our interconnected relationship with nature. This holistic approach not only benefits the environment but also promotes sustainable economic growth and fosters long-term profitability. By recognizing the interdependencies between nature, society, and economic success, we unlock the potential to create, adaptive, resilient, and thriving project sites that prioritize the well-being of all stakeholders, leaving a lasting positive impact on both local and global scales.

Philip Donovan, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, LFA, is a Director of Regen CoLab and Partner at Little. He can be reached at philip.donovan@littleonline.com.

Native plants require minimal water at Brightleaf in Durham, NC

WHEN YOU COME HERE YOU SHOULD THINK ‘WOW, BMW IS INVESTING IN MY FUTURE BY CREATING A FACILITY THAT IS STATEOF-THE-ART.' BUT, WE'VE ALSO DEVELOPED AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS WELCOMING, ENGAGING, INSPIRATIONAL AND INNOVATIVE. IT WILL BE RELEVANT FOR YEARS TO COME.

PAUL SINANIAN MANAGER OF TALENT PROGRAMS + TRAINING

SOLUTION

A commitment to the community and automotive excellence

A hub for performance automotive excellence, innovation thrives in every corner of this wildly flexible and modular 67,000 square foot facility. The building is home to BMW's educational programs for local high school, trade school, and college students, equipping them with the skills needed to flourish in the realm

RESULTS

GOALS

1. Support BMW’s commitment to fuel upward mobility

2. Build a transformative space that provides modularity, flexibility and efficiency

3. Be the centerpiece of a cultural change at BMW that values transparency and learning

of advanced manufacturing. It also is the training destination for current BMW employees, providing them with traditional classrooms that seamlessly merge with expansive laboratories that offer cutting-edge robotics and augmented reality training. This culture of innovation transcends the building as the entire site is a thriving learning environment, featuring outdoor pavilions and an amphitheater for collaborative and innovative pursuits.

THIS FACILITY HAS STARTED ALLOWING US TO OPEN OUR MINDS AND GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE DOING MORE THAN JUST COMING TO WORK. THIS IS THE CULTURE OF BMW - TO ENCOURAGE EACH ASSOCIATE TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND PART OF THE BMW FAMILY AND THAT THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO THINK ACROSS BOUNDARIES.

PAUL SINANIAN MANAGER OF TALENT PROGRAMS + TRAINING

By Rebecca Sistruck

ESGs: DOING RIGHT BY PEOPLE AND OUR PLANET

Now more than ever, why we work is intricately linked to our local, national, and global communities. This link has brought about a reckoning of responsibility, with a long-overdue lens focused on organizational accountability to create spaces that support employees and their work. Although nuanced, achieving this accountability begins by tying organizations’ greatest environmental and social impacts to their values and belief systems.

As I contemplate the future of work, I am deeply driven by the pressing need to promote social equity and reduce environmental impact. I regularly engage in conversations with the next generation, including my own young adult children, about why concepts like equality, transparency and accountability, which seem inherently simple, can be so challenging to implement. Humans should all be afforded fair and just treatment in the world. If that complex but straightforward problem was solved, the workplace would fall in line.

In today’s world, social inequity and climate change are at a critical crossroads. Global events and actions have had a domino effect on our communities. We saw a prime example in June 2023 as the devastating wildfires in Canada resulted in reduced air quality throughout the US East Coast. We cannot afford to ignore or be paralyzed by the expansiveness of the global issues in front of us. A global pandemic clarified how connected we are and how our choices at micro and macro levels impact both humanity and the communities where we live and work.

We find ourselves at a crossroad between the “volunteerism phase” and the “evaluation & adoption phase.” No longer can we afford a selective approach. We must understand where we are and how we can set goals to measurably improve, as inaction has dire consequences. Even at the individual level, action brings about momentum and increased awareness, which leads to more collective action.

ESG IN THE WORKPLACE TODAY & BEYOND

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) has become a commonplace acronym in the world of business, strategy, and planning. ESG in its simplest form is first, “doing the right thing by people and our planet,” then being able to document and prove that value. The "governance" component of ESG brings both opportunity and challenge. Trust, competence, accuracy, and accountability play a key role in ensuring that business strategies support the environment and its inhabitants.

As the prominence of social consciousness continues to rise, the influence of both public and privately owned business regulatory reporting requires a harder look at the organizational role of supporting their people and keeping the planet habitable for future generations. While publicly held companies have launched more formalized ESG initiatives and reporting, some privately held companies are still grappling with how to effectively define and prioritize environmental and socially conscious reporting.

Whether public or private, these critical and timesensitive considerations have moved up the business agenda. We are seeing a major transition from financially motivated ESG initiatives to avoid risk to ESG initiatives that align with customer expectations and employee demands for purposeful work. These initiatives influence organizations' business drivers, work processes, and engagement with their stakeholders, customers, and employees.

WE

WE CAN

TO MEASURABLY IMPROVE, AS INACTION HAS DIRE CONSEQUENCES. EVEN AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, ACTION BRINGS ABOUT MOMENTUM AND INCREASED AWARENESS, WHICH LEADS TO MORE COLLECTIVE ACTION."

WHY ESG MATTERS?

Stakeholder Expectations are demanding transparency, accountability, and responsible practices from organizations

Strategic Decision Making proactively manages risks, enhances resilience and drives innovation, and competitiveness

Employee Expectations are high, and employees are more likely to be engaged and committed when they feel their organization is socially and environmentally responsible Sustainable Growth Strategies and ESG align, providing better positioning to capitalize on emerging market shifts while differentiating from competitors

75%

OF U.S. EXECUTIVES SAY ESGS HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

“Not only does our team consider how building design, construction, and operations can impact residents and tenants, we also walk the talk when it comes to designing our own offices. The enterprise headquarters of Crescent Communities, located in Ally Charlotte Center, was completed in 2021. The 29,000 square foot office achieved both LEED Silver and WELL Platinum certifications, underscoring the company commitment to both environmental stewardship and the health and well-being of our own team members.”

– Lisa Phocus Director of Stewardship, Crescent Communities

Rebecca Sistruck, LEED AP ID+C, is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner at Little. She can be reached at rebecca.sistruck@littleonline.com.

86%

OF WORKERS WHO WORK FOR ORGANIZATIONS WITH ESGRELATED GOALS SAID THEIR EMPLOYER'S ESG GOALS MAKE THEM PROUD TO WORK THERE, MAKE THEIR JOBS MORE MEANINGFUL AND MAKE THEM WANT TO STAY WITH THEIR ORGANIZATION

Winter 2023 SHRM People & Strategy Journal

48% GEN ZS

43% MILLENNIALS

NEARLY HALF OF GEN ZS AND MILLENNIALS SAY THEY HAVE PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THEIR EMPLOYER TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Deloitte Global 2023 Gen Z and Millennial Survey

RISKS WHEN ESG IS NOT PRIORITIZED

Talent - Organizations that neglect ESG considerations may struggle to recruit and retain skilled employees, leading to talent shortages and increased turnover. A lack of diverse talent can also hinder innovation and limit the organization's ability to adapt to changing market dynamics.

Market Relevance - Organizations that fail to adapt and meet these expectations may find themselves falling behind their competitors and losing out on potential business opportunities.

Reputation - In today's interconnected world, negative publicity related to environmental damage, labor violations, or ethical misconduct can damage a company's image.

Operational & Financial - Failure to address social risks can result in legal disputes, employee unrest, and damaged relationships with local communities. Environmental risks, such as resource scarcity, pollution, and climate change impacts, can disrupt supply chains, increase operational costs, and lead to regulatory penalties.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

People and environmental needs must come first, or there will be neither. Without people no environment. Without environment, no people

There is power in organizations and leaders’ collective responsibility. Organizations and their leaders hold significant influence and resources that can drive meaningful change in society.

Business Metrics + ESG Metrics = Best Practice Strategy Documenting and reporting measurable impact for people and social and environmental policies is the smart equation strategy.

By Scott Brideau

INTEGRATIVE PROCESS TRAINING

Providing custom design solutions responsive to the unique conditions of a place - including financial, human, social and environmental factors - is the best, and perhaps the only way, to deliver holistically sustainable projects that lead to regenerative outcomes. It is for those reasons that Little is investing in the Integrative Process, working with the Regenesis Group, which is key to our shared future. Integrative work doesn’t mean coordinating disciplines that are otherwise working in separate silos, briefly tapping into the knowledge of a subject matter expert or simply brainstorming together at the onset of a project. Integrative work requires a consistent coming together of all project stakeholders to identify, analyze and uncover the entire “system” being impacted by the project. This includes its place, end users, community culture, environment and more. Leveraging this approach allows us to design for the project’s highest potential, while also measurably elevating the performance of our clients.

Scott Brideau, LEED AP O+M, is a Workplace Studio Principal and Director of Regen CoLab at Little. He can be reached at scott.brideau@littleonline.com

Courtesy of the Regenesis Group

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AIMS TO CONSERVE THE LANDS AND WATERS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS. TO SUPPORT THAT MISSION, THIS WAS THE FIRST BUILDING IN ARLINGTON, VA TO USE A BIOSOLAR GREEN ROOF AND PHOTOVOLTAICS.

DESIGN PRINCIPAL LITTLE

JASON SLATINSKY

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

REGENERATIVE DESIGN APPROACH

a. Biosolar Roof Improvement

b. Renewal Energy Integration

c. LED Lighting Retrofit

d. Mag-Lev Chiller Upgrade

e. Energy Recovery Ventilation Integration

f. Building Systems & Controls Upgrade

g. Rainwater Harvesting System

h. Rainwater Filtration & Flushing Riser Integration

i. Air Handler Upgrade with Air Scrubbers / UV Disinfection

GOALS

1. Create a more sustainable and resilient building

2. Ensure a more responsible ecological footprint

3. Enhance the overall user experience and increase marketability of new multitenant floors

SOLUTION

Aligning a worldwide office to TNC's core purpose of conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends

When evaluating the design of their global office, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) saw an opportunity to do more than just reduce harm; they embraced a holistic "do good" approach.

The project began with a focus on regeneration, guiding a collaborative design process that emerged from intensive workshops. TNC's dedication to environmental conservation and regeneration pushed the sustainability boundaries beyond a 50% energy reduction, setting the stage for something more profound.

As one of the world's leading organizations for environmental preservation, TNC recognized that their office could become part of a larger living system, both socially and ecologically. This vision propelled them to explore new frontiers and set an example for deep, embedded ecological design.

EXPECTED RESULTS

50 % INCREASE IN EMPLOYEE WELLNESS AND HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY

50 EUI 100 EUI

Existing Building (Baseline) Proposed Building (Predicted)

ENERGY USE INTENSITY (EUI) COMPARISON

EUI (Energy Use Intensity) measures building performance based on energy use per square foot over the course of a year.

Certifications

LEED (O+M, CORE & CI) WELL

ENERGY STAR

CoreNet Global Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Award of Excellence for Workplace Sustainability

By Jim Thompson

CREATING PURPOSEFUL AND BELOVED CITIES

REIMAGINING URBAN PLACES FOR THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE

Reimagining urban spaces to prioritize the human experience, foster social equity, and embrace sustainable design principles is of vital importance.

By incorporating elements such as neighborhoodbased planning, curated environments, vertical expressions of neighborhoods, programmatic elements, and considerations for human health and social equity, cities can be transformed into vibrant, inclusive, and engaging urban environments.

Cities are the heartbeat of human civilization, serving as centers of commerce, culture, and community. However, the traditional approach to urban development has often neglected the human experience, resulting in generic and disconnected environments . Such an approach argues for a paradigm shift in urban planning and design, emphasizing the importance of creating purposeful and beloved cities that prioritize the collective community’s well-being and satisfaction.

By reimagining urban spaces, embracing social equity, and integrating sustainable design principles, cities can be transformed into dynamic and vibrant environments that resonate with the people who live, work, visit and play in them.

Neighborhood-based planning is a fundamental to this argument. When we think of a city as a collection of neighborhoods, this approach offers several benefits.

To begin, it fosters a sense of identity and belonging, promotes local economic development and social cohesion, and encourages meaningful community engagement and participation. Creating distinct neighborhoods through design and community engagement involves incorporating local culture, history, and architectural elements, engaging residents in the planning and design process, and establishing neighborhood amenities and public spaces. This approach promotes local economic development, social cohesion, and equity by supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs, enhancing access to essential services and amenities, and addressing socioeconomic disparities – all those efforts that create a meaningful and vital community.

Jim Thompson, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, is a Design Partner at Little. He can be reached at jim.thompson@littleonline.com.

Enhancing the Urban Fabric: Image for Confidential Design Competition

Enhancing the Urban Fabric: Image for Confidential Design Competition

CREATING PURPOSEFUL AND BELOVED CITIES: REIMAGINING URBAN PLACES FOR THE HUMAN EXPERIENCES

GREAT CITIES ARE CURATED EXPERIENCES

Great communities are in fact neighborhoods, carefully chosen and thoughtfully organized and presented in a meaningful way. In effect, great communities are “curated” environments that prioritize the human experience through beauty and delight and placemaking. Cultivating these experiences involves designing for walkability and human-scale environments that incorporate vibrant cultural amenities to welcome the public; places that have meaning and authenticity and are intimate to the community.

This pursuit of “curated” environments seems a simple quest, but it is only achieved by encouraging collaboration between various stakeholders for a truly purposeful development. Engaging urban planners, architects, developers, and communities in a collaborative process, balancing economic objectives with social and environmental considerations, and leveraging public-private partnerships are all critical components. Realizing a curated environment also entails incentivizing sustainable, resilient, and inclusive design by incorporating green building practices and sustainable technologies, designing for resilience and adaptation, and ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all residents. These efforts are the building blocks of a Beloved Place.

Enhancing the Urban Fabric: Image for Confidential Design Competition

GREAT CITIES BUILD FROM THE STREET TO THE SKY

Activated by the built experience, the curated city includes the spaces, places, and sense of belonging created. However, the opportunity before us with today’s cities is how we consider the vertical neighborhood, the city in the sky.

Vertical office spaces, residential buildings, mixed-use towers should be intimately linked to the neighborhood they belong to by incorporating design features that reflect the local community’s identity, particular culture, and history. Historically, we see this reflection achieved in communities through the use of local materials and architectural styles that incorporate cultural motifs and symbolism.

In the near future, designing the Vertical City will take cues from the urban approach to community planning and integrate and create opportunities for social interaction and community engagement. There will be a thread of human experience in our cities that is all-encompassing from the street to the sky.

With intentionality and a broader consideration of programming within vertical buildings, vibrant experiences will be achieved by designing communal spaces and amenities within the building. This design approach will promote vertical neighborhoods and facilitate social events and activities for building occupants and the greater urban neighborhood, creating a singular immersive human experience.

GREAT CITIES HAVE A PULSE

Great cities have a pulse. Cities like Singapore and New York push the boundaries of being forever-relevant, with these places evolving through the course of a day, a week, a year. Programmatic Elements become triggers to a meaningful and memorable experience, making a robust 24-Hour City.

Incorporating the right elements within urban places can contribute to the development of a thriving city. By diversifying the functions and activities within a tower, these places then become active and engaging spaces throughout the day and night. Programmatic elements add vibrancy and vitality to the urban fabric, making the tower a destination for residents, workers, and visitors alike.

The additive nature of programmatic elements within the vertical tower enriches the 24-Hour City experience. By incorporating diverse functions such as residential, commercial, recreational, and cultural spaces within the tower, it becomes a multi-functional hub that caters to the varied needs and preferences of the community. Adding an additional layer of programmatic experience – civic spaces, learning environments, museums, theaters – a diversity of destination-based program ensures there is always something happening within the tower. These spaces provide opportunities for artistic expression, performances, exhibitions, and community events, creating a sense of belonging and shared experience.

GREAT CITIES FOSTER COMMUNITY WELL-BEING

A layer of shared community spaces within the tower, such as communal lounges, co-working areas, and event spaces, foster collaboration, interaction, and a sense of community. These spaces become gathering points where people can connect, exchange ideas, and build relationships. Additionally, incorporating health and wellness facilities within the tower promotes a healthy lifestyle and supports the well-being of residents, workers, and visitors. Fitness centers, yoga studios, and wellness clinics encourage physical activity, relaxation, and self-care, enhancing the overall quality of life.

In the context of the 24-Hour City, it is essential to consider the connectivity and integration of the vertical tower within the larger urban environment. Seamless connectivity with surrounding neighborhoods, public transportation networks, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure ensures accessibility and ease of movement. This integration allows for the flow of people and activities between the tower and its surroundings, enriching the overall urban experience.

In conclusion, incorporating programmatic elements within the vertical tower contributes to the development of a thriving 24-Hour City. By diversifying functions and activities, the tower becomes an engaging and dynamic space that caters to the needs and desires of the neighborhood. Shared community spaces, health and wellness facilities, and social and cultural amenities enhance the urban experience, promote human well-being, and foster a sense of community.

A seamless integration with the larger urban environment ensures connectivity and accessibility, enhancing the overall vibrancy of the 24-Hour City and creating a city that is inclusive, active, and alive. Buildings and cities should be multi-dimensional in their blended programmatic exuberance, with an invitation to explore an amplified sense of belonging characterized by a neighborhood that is active in both horizontal and vertical dimensions.

By Eddie Portis

BEWARE OF THE RIFT

In the world of “Workplace,” finding our footing since the shutdown has highlighted a distinction in how we define work and how our bias toward that definition overlooks large sectors of our workforces. It's true we can achieve a more balanced life through flexibility in our working location. It's true we can still be productive, collaborative, and even grow in a hybrid world.

In truth, for most of us who are reading this article, the ability to work from home has always existed. For longer than I can remember, at Little we have had the flexibility to work remotely when our lives benefited from it. Covid merely shined a spotlight on it. Personally, I have benefited from the large-scale acceptance of a hybrid work life.

I have stronger relationships and a higher sense of self-worth since Covid forever changed our society. What could possibly go wrong?

While the hybrid world is here to stay, like everything, it too will change. The question may rather be: what impact will it have on our society? Decades from now, it's possible that our bias may no longer be rooted in race, sexual preferences, or gender. It may instead be the bias against working in person that creates a rift in our societal engine and weakens our collective wellbeing.

Over the past year I have actively observed other sectors of work, those sectors that cannot work remotely: the server on a Saturday

lunch rush, the CRNA jumping out of bed at 3:00 am to save a life, the construction worker who labors so that his family has a safe place to live. Their opinion is not one of envy but of resentment, that somehow their contributions to society are a bit less worthy. I'm not convinced we all share this belief, but it is the perception, and "perception is reality," as my grandmother would say. To be honest, I never understood what she meant until many years later.

In fact, it could be that what we're truly seeking is work-life separation as opposed to work-life balance. The act of going to work and returning home has some benefit to our limbic system. Maybe shifting our emotional energy from the workday to taking our daughters to soccer practice is a critical switch. With every major societal shift, mental health is challenged in new and different ways that force us to adapt, and so we will.

But what if our bias toward work pulls the future workforce away from the sectors that make us a 24/7 world? What if those workers want flexibility, too? We would survive if every restaurant in the world closed at 5; we might even rediscover the power of cooking and enjoying dinner together as a family. What if you went into labor at midnight and there was no one to help? We would adapt and evolve. In the end, it's not clear if we should Beware of the Rift, but we should Be Aware of the Shift.

Eddie Portis, AIA, NCARB, CDT, LEED AP BD+C is a Workplace Practice Leader and Partner at Little. He can be reached at eddie.portis@littleonline.com.

By Bruce Barteldt

THE PATH FORWARD

If we’ve learned anything in the last few years, we know deeply that our ability to cope, let alone to thrive, is directly related to our ability to adapt. The pandemic illustrated this fact with brilliant and sometimes sobering clarity, although this principle has presided over our reality since our earliest beginnings. At the root of ‘The Great Customization’ is learning to cope with the amount of adaptation necessary to keep up with the accelerating pace of change and technological advancements that could disrupt everything.

Some will trumpet their fears or nervously fidget with yesterday’s tech, appearing almost hysterical. Watch them closely, but only to make sure you’re not looking in a mirror. Because, plainly stated: these organizations are the losers. Their inability to adapt is preceded by countless others, leading back to our emergence from the primordial soup.

The blur of today’s reality only appears fuzzy because changes are zooming past us. Some are large and impactful and others imperceivable to the inattentive mind. For the blur to come into focus, one must attempt to move as fast as the changes around us. A critical element of integrating this notion is to become accustomed to and eventually mastering Fluid Dynamics. An organization that can quickly adapt is keen to act swiftly and even take measured risks (‘fail quickly and then adjust’). Are the post-pandemic shifts that have called into question our until recently ‘state-of-the-art, high-performance workplace’ the cause of a company’s workplace strategy demise? Or is it the company’s inability to reflect the fluid

dynamics of our era— to run along with the changes, rather than run away or remain stuck? In essence, the Great Customization requires people and companies to adapt.

The motives behind why we consistently went to our physical office in the past have changed— the hybrid world is here to stay. We all have argued, “it’s better to collaborate with people in-person,” and there are good points to be found in the hyperbole. But, there’s something more companies can do to entice people to return, something so compelling and deeply woven into your physical environment that it can’t be felt from home or on a Zoom call— project a stronger brand purpose for your company. Embolden Your Brand, seek a work setting that radiates a vibe and causes behaviors that align with your ethos. Adapt to the changes your workforce really wants— not just flexibility, but to be inspired by the settings they’re immersed within.

The notions of Fluid Dynamics and Emboldening Your Brand are not mutually exclusive; they’re intermingled and should be considered simultaneously. Transformation is in the air: for your people, your company and its customers, and the world at-large. Let’s roll-up our sleeves, be open-minded and lean into the challenges ahead.

Bruce Barteldt, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is Chief Innovation Officer and Partner at Little. He can be reached at bruce.barteldt@littleonline.com.