Rapid Response: Healthy offices and the myth of remote-work productivity, w/Diane Hoskins (Gensler)

Office Evolution

Diane Hoskins, co-CEO of Gensler, discusses the transformative moment for office spaces as businesses navigate the post-pandemic landscape. She highlights the need for a strategic approach to workspace design, emphasizing the importance of balancing remote work with in-office collaboration. According to Diane, only 12% of employees prefer working from home full-time, with many seeking a hybrid model that combines office presence with remote flexibility 1.

This moment, this pause of non-normal right, is going to be a great opportunity to rethink how we reenter the workplace.

--- Diane Hoskins

This shift presents an opportunity to redesign work environments to better support both collaborative and individual work 2 3.

   

Space Safety

Ensuring safety in office spaces during and after the pandemic requires innovative strategies and technology. Diane explains how Gensler uses simulation tools like Graph and Rerun to model social distancing and occupancy scenarios, helping clients safely reenter their workspaces 4. These tools enable organizations to anticipate and manage the flow of people, ensuring a safe environment.

These technologies are helping us to deliver strategies that are going to allow them to find that pathway toward reentry of their space in the safest scenario possible.

--- Diane Hoskins

The focus is on creating intelligent spaces that integrate touchless technologies and monitor density, enhancing both safety and efficiency 5.

   

Future Spaces

The future of workspace design is set to be revolutionized by new health and safety priorities. Diane emphasizes the importance of touchless environments and improved air circulation, which are becoming standard in the post-pandemic world 6. She argues that the traditional efficiency models are outdated for today's knowledge work, which requires a blend of collaboration and focused tasks.

We're not going to go backwards. We're learning really important information about health, safety.

--- Diane Hoskins

This evolution in design is not just about safety but also about enhancing the overall experience of space, making workplaces more adaptable and responsive to the needs of their users 7.