
As we experiment with hybrid schedules and new ways of working, the immediate focus is no longer on keeping staff healthy. Architects are looking for solutions that foster greater connection, authenticity, and happiness in the workplace. Layout and design can help staff feel more motivated, yet industry leaders are taking a holistic approach so that they can provide opportunities that enhance the experiences at the office.
Our definitions of happiness at work have certainly changed. “I think there’s a lot that comes into play in terms of people’s happiness now. Before the pandemic, if you had temperature control, coffee, and clean bathrooms, that was perfectly fine. That’s no longer suitable,” said Melissa Strickland, associate principal at HLW.

Photo courtesy of Veronica Bean
Workers are not as worried about the virus as more of their colleagues are vaccinated, but they still want the feeling of security that they have at home. They are no longer solely concerned about their physical safety, but they want a sense of emotional security that can be difficult to replicate in the workplace.
“We have to make sure that people understand the ways in which we are providing for their emotional safety, whether it’s the orientation of the furniture, or detailing a set of protocols that we have put into place. Making people feel safe rather than just meeting project requirements, that’s the next step. A certain level of emotional security will be woven into the new designs that we create,” noted Michelle Beganskas, senior manager of workplace strategy at Ted Moudis Associates.

Samantha McCormack, creative director at TPG Architecture, agreed that keeping staff informed of changes is critical, and said that updates coming from top management help to reduce stress of staff members. “As teams explore different interventions, from furniture modifications to less time at the work site, I think communication of leadership to their employees is going to be important. There should be conversations about why certain decisions were made, and the thought behind upgrades. By listening to employees and addressing any concerns, you can lessen the anxiety about coming back to the office.”

Even though people have adapted to working from home and consider themselves more productive there, interacting with one another is a key component that has been missed during this period of isolation. “Not being able to get together to share ideas, laugh, and socialize has been difficult. Having a physical place where we can connect and be creative adds to our happiness at work,” noted Jodi Williams, global lead of workplace strategy at CallisonRTKL.
Having a range of spaces for different tasks and different personalities will make workers happier, and allow for the flexibility needed as our work lives continue to shift. “Some people like to reset in a social setting, while others reset in an independent setting or a combination of the two. It’s important that we provide a variety of spaces for everyone,” Beganskas said.

Workplace strategists agree that if employees are given options of where to work, they are more productive. McCormack explained that the move away from open spaces will continue, with an emphasis on smaller communities — providing choice that people want. “We are looking at breaking down the open plan into more discreet neighborhoods, making sure they have amenities and components to make them almost like small offices within the office.”
By design, areas can go from collaborative to quiet as one moves through the space, so that all types of work are supported with minimal disruption to each group. “When you come off of the elevator your louder zone is there, so that employees can mix between floors. As you get further away from those main circulation points, it becomes more private,” Strickland noted.

For Beganskas, while implementing designated areas is beneficial, evoking certain feelings can be achieved via design, making a lasting impact. “What you experience in the office is even more important than what the workplace looks like. There are things we can do to build off of happy memories that people have. Creating a feeling of openness is a big thing in office spaces. By bringing expansiveness into a space, we can tap into a person’s sense of freedom, and that’s powerful,” she said.

Strickland noted that extra space increases contentment, and aids in making virtual meetings equitable for all participants. “We have started implementing more space, which makes interiors a bit more comfortable. We used to have corridors that were five-feet long, and now we’re doing nine-foot corridors. We designed conference rooms with minimum dimensions around a table. We are making them much airier, they’re no longer these static places. They can easily be reconfigured based on how many people are there in person and how many are remoting in.”

Photo courtesy of CallisonRTKL
Endless studies have confirmed that our connection to nature is crucial to happiness and wellbeing, so for Williams, it’s not surprising that biophilic elements are standard in most workplaces. “Biophilia is essential, and there’s a much larger buy-in now. Instead of adding a green wall because it is cool, we are adding one because we need to,” she said.
Whether there is more square footage or less in our post-pandemic office spaces, how they are envisioned can contribute to overall satisfaction. “As designers, we can plan these little pockets of space that make people happy,” Beganskas added.
