The open workplan format is facing no small amount of scrutiny lately as a creativity killer. Among the most recent sources of controversy is the publication of new book, “QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” whose author, Susan Cain, posits that the open workplan may be stifling creativity. Fortunately, advocates have Paul Wheeler to defend the cause (or at least to define it properly). On Monday morning, BBC Radio’s Vanessa Feltz dedicated a portion of her program to an interview with Susan Firth, occupational psychologist, who challenges the open work model, citing the noise, interruptions, and spotty concentration associated with large, partionless spaces. All of these, she says, contribute significantly to reduced productivity and raised stress. The interview raises a critical question: Is the open workplace concept merely a perceived good, passing, unchallenged, from one real estate executive to another because it is cost efficient? Enter HOK’s ... read more+comments

Wikipedia defines telecommuting as “a work arrangement in which employees enjoy flexibility in working location and hours. In other words, the daily commute to a central place of work is replaced by telecommunication links. Many work from home, while others, occasionally also referred to as nomad workers or web commuters utilize mobile telecommunications technology to work from coffee shops or other locations.” Many organizations spend a lot of time developing methodologies for telecommuting – a lot of what I hear about telecommuting is about how to go about “getting it done”. Establishing policies, procedures, technology, etc. This all comes from the organization’s perspective, but how does this relate to you? I personally have left a standard 9-5 office environment and now am telecommuting at least once a week. I realized quite quickly that I needed to change some behaviors to be effective and it helped me to establish some ground rules ... read more+comments

I came across this article from the Harvard Business Review blog, in which blogger (and CEO of The Energy Project) Tony Schwartz describes a list of 12 items that his “dream employer” would provide.  His list includes some seemingly obvious (though often-overlooked) items such as paying employees living wage, offering two-way performance reviews, fair and respectful treatment of employees by upper management, among others.  Hopefully all of your employees do at least these!  Item #3 on his list is where we here at HOK come into the picture: “Design working environments that are safe, comfortable, and appealing to work in. In offices, include a range of physical spaces that allow for privacy, collaboration, and simply hanging out.”  We’ve been seeing this trend of mixing space types with many of our clients, including Deltek who just moved into their new office space, complete with a game room, community whiteboards, and more.   One of my ... read more+comments

Competition.  We all know that word, whether in terms of projects we’re trying to win or our favorite basketball team.  And we can probably agree that a healthy amount of competition can be a good thing – drives us forward, causes us to focus, challenges us, and introduces us to new ideas.  Well, how about when one of your biggest competitors (ahem...SOM) wins a competition to design a new “Silicon Valley” in New York City?  How does THAT make you feel?  In late 2011, Cornell University and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology - with SOM and Field Operations (designed the High Line in NYC) - won a competition run by NYC’s administrative office under Michael Bloomberg to repurpose a portion of Roosevelt Island.  The winning proposal included 2.5 million square feet total, with technology focused on NYC-centric industries such as medicine, finance, and advertising, and endowments for start-up companies.  What is particularly ... read more+comments

In recognition of the global environment that we all work in, I would like to take pause and recognize an upcoming milestone - January 23rd marks the next Chinese New Year: 2012, the year of the Water Dragon! I ran across a Feng Shui forecast predicting the following: “In Eastern symbology, the Dragon is considered a benevolent creature that brings about luck. The Dragon, even though it was the largest, fastest and most powerful animal of creation, it arrived fourth to the call of the Jade Emperor because it stopped along the way to make rain for the farmers and to help the Rabbit cross the river that all animals had to cross to arrive at the palace. Dragon years are expected to be full of benevolence and grace.  This year is going to be a transformational life-changing year! Generally, there are more goodies in store for you in the year ... read more+comments

Change.  Transformation.  Evolution. Integration.  Adaptation.  Performance. The sands are shifting.  Every client we work with has something going on in their organization that will change their future landscape/workscape.  New IT systems, tools, changing processes, organizational structures and performance measures are all constantly in play – sometimes a symphony…sometimes more jazz free style. Strangely, when you add workplace change to that ensemble, things can get really messy.  The physical, visible manifestations of the past/present – that often represent personal and individual sense of stability in  the chaos - can send otherwise sensible and professional people into panic. A dear friend of mine (Dave Lathrop at Steelcase) can be quoted as saying “workplace change boils every dysfunction of the organization to the surface” (I’ve attached an article from him).  I believe he is right.  With everything else in flux, it would seem that the sacred cow is workplace.  I think that there is a huge opportunity ... read more+comments

Just a quick video to make you smile today: Steve Hargis inspires corporate real estate folks as part CoreNet's Corporate Real Estate 2020 initiative: ... read more+comments

The cube is dead!  Long live the cube!  Just read an interesting article in Interiors & Sources: The Cubicle, Deconstructed, quoting one of HOK's own, Pam Light, Director of Interiors in Los Angeles.  The article quickly moves through the history of the open plan office, highlighting some of the successes (better space efficiency!) and failures (can't find anyone in a maze of high-paneled cubicles!), and then addresses some of the major concerns users typically have:

• Visual privacy
• Noise or acoustical privacy
• Hierarchy
• Flexibility

Designers and furniture manufacturers are amply aware of these concerns and have been addressing them through thoughtful space planning and design and manufacture of products that offset the issues.  Check out the article for some tips and product ideas. ... read more+comments

This week marks the 5th birthday of the iphone! As I thought about this, I started to reflect on the impact that this one device has made…many people could not function well without it. I count myself in the group – I totally drink the Apple Kool Aid (full disclosure)! So why is it that I have become so completely dependent? There has been a growing trend over the last 10 years called “convergence”, where many aspects of the world are coming together in ways that they never have before. For example, social media sites networking together so that you can pull a news story from one location and share on Face book - or vice versa. Grocery stores use cards to track what you purchase to give you specialized coupons intended to get you to try new products, as well as monitor your spending habits and sell that information back ... read more+comments

Ok, not exactly sex, but it caught your attention, right?!  Ran across a great article on CNN.com: How Hollywood Lies about the Workplace?  I agree with all their points! 1. All the beautiful people.  Obviously I am beautiful all the time (HA!), but all of my colleagues and clients...gasp...are not. P.S. who wants to wear 4" stilettos that cost $600 to work anyway?! 2. Executives work? Neh.  Pretty sure every executive I've ever met has a pretty darned grueling schedule.  And those that don't, well, they tend not to last 3. Your outfit? Anything goes. We to this day discuss an intern who worked at our company 2005 and dressed quite fashionably but quite inappropriately for the office. And trust me, if you're not dressed professionally, HR will be sending you home or walking you to the store to help you pick something more appropriate for the office. Not sweats and flip flops. 4. Work ... read more+comments