AUGUST 2020 | www.stiptonstudio.com

A W AY F O R W A R D

S . T I PTO N S T U D I O

O F F I C E D E S I G N P O S T - C O V I D

A CO N V E RSAT I O N

A WAY FORWARD

We are in the midst of a massive, unplanned

global work experiment. The world has changed.

The office has and will change. This presentation

has been created to help us better understand

trends and new best practices in office design as

it applies to workplace safety and maintaining

a healthy and happy workforce.

OFFICE DESIGN POST-COVID

POST-COVID RETURN TO OFFICE SURVEY

75%80% 64% 51%

Of employees still feel like they can

be productive and focused while at

home despite challenges

Of end users want to continue to work from home in some

capacity after lockdown ends

Of end users say they’re facing

challenges while working from home

(i.e. inadequate workspaces, caregiver

duties, and poor connectivity)

Of employees have felt that working from

home has affected their ability to

maintain a healthy work-life balance

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED WORKING FROM HOME? UNDERSTANDING YOUR EMPLOYEES:

Slide information from https://www.forbes.com/sites/gilpress/2020/07/15/the-future-of-work-post-covid-19/#301760854bafIBM COVID-19 trilemma tradoffs https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/report/covid-19-trilemmahttps://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/insights/covid-19/the-future-of-workplacehttps://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/brags/news-releases

LASTING IMPACT OF COVIDWHERE, WHEN AND HOW WORK GETS DONE MOVING FORWARD

P R E -COV I D

D U R I N G -COV I D

P O S T - COV I D ( 2 0 2 1 )

CORPORATE OFFICE

REGIONAL OFFICES

WORK FROM HOME

CORPORATE OFFICE

REGIONAL OFFICES

WORK FROM HOME

COWORKING

Slide information from Corenet Global: https://www.corenetglobal.org/files/FileDownloads/hackathonresults/final-report-overview-executive-summary-2020.pdfhttps://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/work-at-home-after-covid-19-our-forecast; https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/wp-content/uploads/edd/2020/05/Global-Work-from-Home-Experience-Survey-Report-FINAL.pdf

WORK FROM HOME

CORPORATE / REGIONAL OFFICES

ALTERNATE OFFICE

OPTIONS

“The desire to provide physical distancing will result in a

reduction of density in the workplace, but we will likely

see an increase in remote working as well. So, while the

square footage per work point will likely increase; the

square footage per employee might stay the same

because there is likely to be fewer of them in the office

at any given time.”

-CoreNet Global Hackathon

EFFECTIVE WORKCertain tasks require access to special tools, unique

equipment, individual work areas, or specialized equipment

that are simply unavailable remotely for unique solo work.

MENTORING, COACHING, AND INFORMAL

COLLABORATIONClose physical proximity enhances learning and collaboration

as ideas are exchanged and informal conversations are

shared, or simply overheard. This kind of collaboration is

currently impossible in a WFH situation where almost all

collaboration is structured and scheduled.

WFH LIMITATIONSFor some individuals, home settings have unavoidable

distractions with small children, pets, shared spaces, or simply

non-ergonomic workspace or limited connectivity. All these

undermine productivity.

COMPANY CULTUREThe ability of management to more effectively create and

promote an organization’s unique culture is significantly

amplified by person-to-person interaction only available in

the office.

THE VALUE OF THE CORPORATE OFFICE SPACE:

WHAT COMPANIES WANT TO KNOW

HOW DO WE EMPOWER OUR EMPLOYEES TO DO THEIR

BEST WORK? HOW DOES OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES?

WHAT HAS WORKED? WHAT HASN’T?

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR OFFICE SPACE?

DOES OUR OFFICE FULFILL OUR ORIGINAL GOALS AND NEEDS?

HOW FLEXIBLE ARE WE?

HOW HAS THIS EXPERIMENT CHANGED

OUR CULTURE?

HOW DOES OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT SUPPORT OUR

EMPLOYEES?

QUESTIONS TO ASK IN ORDER TO DESIGN MORE EFFECTIVE WORKSPACES

RETURNING TO THE WORKPLACE

Implementation of new standard protocols

STAYING HEALTHY, STAYING SAFE

Develop a plan

GETTING BACK TO THE OFFICE

Be ready to enact evolving solutions

FLEXIBILITY FOR CHANGING NEEDS

Let us help

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

SOLUTIONS WILL LIKELY INCLUDE A COMBINATION OF SHORT-TERM FIXES AIMED AT BOOSTING WORKER CONFIDENCE AND LONGER-TERM DESIGN UPGRADES AND MODIFICATIONS THAT PUT SAFETY AT THE HEART OF WORKPLACE PLANNING.

STAYING HEALTHY, STAYING SAFE

Local Government Officials have set ordinance for reopening business and services. Use these as a baseline

and build your plan from there.

Sources: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/opentexas.aspxhttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

EXAMPLES OF NEW STANDARD PROTOCOLS

What’s the single most important aspect of re-entry strategy? It’s the physical and mental well being of the individual employee.

1. Changing employee schedules to reduce the number of employees

in one building or workspace at a time. This may include staggered days or weeks.

2. Setting rules for preparing, sharing and storing food in the office.

Reduce the number of dedicated satellite coffee/food stations to prevent congregation and create single points of access for decontamination.

3. Limiting in-person meetings and/or using technology to

accommodate social distancing.

4. Adhering to 6’ spacing and ensuring groups of people are 10 or less.

5. Encouraging staff/employees to self screen prior to coming into the

office. Alternately, providing nurses on staff at screening stations.

6. Providing mitigating factors throughout the office to prevent/slow the

spread of infectious agents (e.g. provide hand sanitizer, mandatehandwashing upon entering the office, providing directional signageand requiring masks upon arrival)

RETURNING TO THE OFFICE

Phasing based on analytical research and does not incorporate the State of Texas mandates for business occupancy

DEVELOP A PLAN

PHASE 1: OPEN FOR 25-30% OF STAFF?

PHASE 2: OPEN FOR 50% OF STAFF?

PHASE 3: “FUTURE STATE” WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE BUSINESS?

PRE-COVID EXAMPLE POST-COVID EXAMPLE

WORKSTATIONS

PRIVATE OFFICES

MEETING SPACE

ANCILLARY

WORKSTATIONS

PRIVATE OFFICES

MEETING SPACE

ANCILLARY

APPROX. 80 EMPLOYEESAPPROX. 160 EMPLOYEES

BE READY TO ENACT EVOLVING SOLUTIONS

FLEXIBILITY FOR CHANGING NEEDS

Your clients’ workforce is their greatest asset. Be prepared to be nimble in the face of changing

circumstances and employee needs.

Infection prevention recommendations have evolved significantly and will likely continue to do so.

Many epidemiologists are predicting that COVID19 will ebb and flow via “waves” until a vaccine is produced or we reach herd immunity. A plan that is flexible will allow for transition

to earlier phases should such a wave be encountered.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

"The goal is for companies to think practically

about how to keep employees socially distant

from one another by using signage, blocking

off spaces where they would normally

congregate and by removing high-touch items.

It marks a fundamental shift in how employees

would normally interact in an office setting.”

Sharon Perley Masling,

a director of workplace culture consulting at

the law firm Morgan Lewis.

TRENDING SOLUTIONS

Antimicrobial finishes, washable and bleach

cleanable surfaces/materials

Materials/Surfaces LED lights with UV technology to kill bacteria directly and within HVAC

system, upgraded filters and mechanical systems and re-routed airflow

Healthcare-Level Safety

Telecommunication upgrades, occupancy awareness

sensors, and automation for reserving conference

rooms, self-cleaning door handles

Smart Technology

Products available to help encourage directional flow in

and out of workspaces

Wayfinding

Proximity readers or using cell phones to allow touchless

entry at elevators, conference rooms and restrooms, and

touch-free technology for light sensors, faucets, etc.

Touch-freePortable screens, transparent shields or other barriers to

separate employees, workstation panels, etc.

Furniture Solutions

DESIGN SERVICES

Occupancy planning: Rethinking density to

prioritize social distancing

REIMAGINING THE WORKSPACE1 Providing furniture plans to show less density

and more separation between workstations

RECONFIGURING EXISTING FURNITURE2

Providing floor plans to show how existing

layouts can be reconfigured to meet a

company’s unique needs and goals.

TEST FITS3 Let us be a resource. We can help guide you

to the latest products and trends.

CONSULTANT SERVICES4

PRODUCT SOLUTIONSDEMOUNTABLE WALLS

TRANSPARENT SHIELDS

PORTABLE SCREENS

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

VENDORS AND SOLUTIONS

• SKG

• FMG

• ROCKFORD BUSINESS INTERIORS

• CBI

• WORKPLACE RESOURCE

HELPFUL ARTICLES/SOURCES

• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-guidance-reopen-office-buildings/

• https://skgtexas.com/covid-19-update/site-planning-approach-and-strategy/

• https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/opentexas.aspx

• https://www.dmagazine.com/commercial-real-estate/2020/04/understanding-the-

new-market-in-commercial-real-estate/

• Slide information from Corenet Global:

https://www.corenetglobal.org/files/FileDownloads/hackathonresults/final-report-

overview-executive-summary-2020.pdf

• https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/why-the-office-is-here-to-stay

Q U ES T I O N S ?

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