Thursday
Jul262018
The Open Office Isn’t Dead
Gensler San Diego. Photography by Ryan Gobuty
The workplace depends on many factors and when you have a well-designed space these pieces tend to fall far more easily into place.
Thursday
May102018
Behind the Whiteboard: Collaborative Spaces Set Teachers up for Classroom Success
Image © Gensler
Teachers spend countless hours creating an environment for students to thrive in. Students are not the only ones who benefit from a supportive school culture. As lifelong learners, teachers need spaces to develop too. The teachers at Grant Avenue School in New York recognized this, but with 464 students and a busy schedule, there was little space for opportunities to learn from each other. Fortunately, there was 500 square feet of underutilized space in an old science storage room. The room was transformed from storing books and science equipment to become an active hub where colleagues share ideas and experiences.
Wednesday
Mar282018
From Fitness to Bowling Alleys: How Commercial Office Buildings Are Differentiating Themselves Through Amenities
The shared amenity space at the Tata Innovation Center at Cornell Tech. Image © Max Touhey.
Historically, New York commercial buildings have not needed to offer amenities to stand out. The city served as the office backyard, providing food, fitness, and sub-cellar bowling alley experiences. Now, buildings are full of them. The competition amongst developers and building owners to lease space is so fierce that the need to differentiate is more important than ever. Today’s employees are sophisticated consumers who are choosing where they want to work based on specific preferences. Understanding how amenities can support their growing demands is key to unlocking a building’s differentiation strategy. In the tightly competitive commercial leasing market, how can a property stand out relative to its peers and support its tenants?
Tuesday
Mar272018
A Day in the Life of an Agile Worker
by 
Jane Stull
Jane Stull 
A mix of sit-stand stations and collaboration areas support agile working. Image © Gensler/John Ryan.
As companies seek to gain efficiencies in the workplace, provide choice for employees, and attract and retain talent, strategies involving agile working and free-address have gained traction. When our Gensler La Crosse office relocated last year, we leveraged the opportunity to support an agile workplace strategy. While there are arguments for and against agile working, here’s what I’ve experienced firsthand.
Friday
Mar022018
Using Workplace Data to Create Connected Communities
Life in a connected world produces a constant stream of data—from purchasing our morning coffee, to sending emails throughout the workday, to streaming music on our evening commutes home. This catalog of data provides a powerful tool. It codifies behavior, details how resources are (or are not) used, and supports analysis that can bring to light tacit information and trends. Activating the increasing ubiquity of workplace data opens new opportunities to add real value for employees and for the organization as a whole.
