I am an Architecture/Interior Design professional who helps clients to design their corporate work spaces. I am also a new Mom. One need that I see sorely lacking in multi-tenant buildings is base building-provided wellness/lactation room spaces. In these tough economic times, this is now more important than ever. As soon as their leave is over, new mothers are heading back into the workforce to help support the family. Also, from a budgeting standpoint these new moms are pumping at work since breast milk is free compared to the expense of formula.
Consequently, I implore as a design professional to clients and developers out there to please provide wellness rooms as part of the base building amenities. I know there is much debate on this from a facilities standpoint. How to keep the rooms clean, the loss of square footage that could be used elsewhere, the idea that you need to provide a countertop, sink, refrigerator, lounge chair etc. Really this isn’t a fancy space. At minimum just provide a small room with a countertop bar sink, a chair and that has a universal lock.
If someone is unwell, needs to cool off or pump they can go to these rooms. Keep the rooms within view of the building maintenance/security personnel. Also, an added benefit for providing these rooms as part of the base building amenities is that tenants would not need to provide this space for their employees.

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 Snow Plowing is like the Design Process….
1st Stage:
Clear a Pathway (created by the monster plow) = Design Concept (the big picture)
2nd Stage:
Make it wider (medium plows widen the path in tandem) = Design Ideas (many ideas to support the concept)
3rd Stage:
Refine the Edges (small plows/snow lifters clear the edges) = Design Solution (refined ideas/designs create the  solution)
… I am working from home in Arlington, VA during the ‘Second Blizzard’ to hit the Washington DC area!  As a work break, I’m looking outside my window and observing the activities of the various types of snow plows operating on Route 50, a major thoroughfare into The District.

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