Designed by Unispace, the new office for tech-forward financial services firm Bread Financial provides an equitable work experience for all employees, including those who are neurodivergent.
Tasked with the strategy, design, and construction of the Columbus, OH-based workplace, the architects utilized a people-centric approach, combining their own research with information gleaned from visioning sessions and a company-wide survey. A careful analysis of the results highlighted the need for a space that gave associates autonomy, while encouraging camaraderie in the office.
In the past, there was often solely a focus on tasks, yet now designers have a more holistic view, striving to create areas that foster optimal performance. “Pre-pandemic, clients would come to us and discuss headcount. And typically, we would design activity-based zones with auxiliary spaces around them,” said Albert De Plazaola, global director of strategy at Unispace.
While managers worried about lack of productivity, the consensus among strategists actually pointed to a dip in originality at the height of COVID, prompting a review of basic box structures and the ubiquitous open-plan. “We actually saw productivity spike a bit, but speed-to-market and generating new ideas quickly took a hit because there was just a lag doing that virtually,” De Plazaola noted. “Now, we are organizing workspaces by community, innovation, and problem-solving spaces.”
Research indicates that approximately 15-25% of people in the workforce are neurodiverse, and those employees are more likely to experience stress and anxiety in a crowded, noisy office. De Plazaola explained that the architects looked to the senses as a guide—sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell—to accommodate a range of sensitivities. “When we talk about distractions, not everything is created equal, especially when you’re thinking about neurodiversity. There are nuances, there are different levels of distraction for different types of workers. We try to account for that in our designs.”
Key areas keep interference at a minimum, and are equipped with connective technology to enable a seamless, steady workflow. “Employees want to have the same control in the workplace that they have at home, a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ when you come to work. No matter how somebody works best, we have given them a place to be able to do that,” said Aimee Collins, principal, design, at Unispace.
There are a number of wellness options in the office, from a quiet library to focus pods. The team at Unispace selected mobile furnishings, pieces that can be changed as often as needed. “We put in some fidget furniture, sit-stand desks, movable chairs so that people can easily make adjustments to suit them,” Collins said.
In addition to natural illumination, rooms and pods are available where staff can adjust the lighting levels, essential for individuals on the spectrum. “People that are neurodiverse can sometimes perceive the flicker that others do not. We are moving away from fluorescent lighting. A lot of the energy codes require full dimming capability, and with LED lighting you have the ability to calibrate it.”
A softer color palette has a calming effect, reminiscent of the hues found in healthcare settings which are implemented to reduce patient anxiety when undergoing treatment. “Workplace designers are taking cues from the look of medical facilities and where you never see red or orange,” De Plazaola explained.
Collins concurred that a light touch was essential when it came to choosing the hues that decorate the interior. “Certain colors and patterns can actually vibrate for people who are neurodivergent. It can be so uncomfortable that they no longer want to be in a particular room. We don’t want to keep people away, we want to draw them in.”
An enticing blend of textures is an element that staff gravitate to, because it recreates the comforts of home in the corporate setting. “Tactility is very important. I don’t think we ever actually touched fabric to ensure that it had the right feel for everyone. And as designers, that’s something we are more aware of. We are making sure textiles are softer or have a nubby texture. They have to be inviting,” Collins added.
To bring a touch of nature indoors, the designers strategically placed greenery throughout the headquarters, which cleverly doubles as privacy screening. Because some staff members have allergies, the designers weren’t able to have real foliage in the entire office and so they opted to use artificial pieces as well.
De Plazaola said they were able to optimize Bread Financial’s campus footprint, consolidating from three buildings to two. He added that less-is-more design doesn’t mean that people have to give up what they want in their workspaces. “The office has to compete with hybrid or remote work. So now you really have to amp up the workplace experience, even if you are downsizing. It doesn’t have to be more space, but it does have to be better space.”