As the workplace changes, how we design for it should change too.

Written By Derek DeGroot, Aspen Group Project Architect

The way people approach work has changed and evolved, from a very professional and orderly workplace in the 80’s, to today’s technology-driven, but people-focused approach. As work has evolved, so has the design of the workplace. How does the design of a space reflect the work that is being done there? Maybe even closer to home – could the design of a church administration office affect the work of the staff and ultimately the ministries of the church?
 
Gensler, creator of the U.S. Workplace Survey, conducted a survey on workplace `environments. The results indicate that an organization can benefit greatly by viewing the workplace as an investment that impacts the organization’s real asset - its people. Of those surveyed, 90% indicated that better workplace design and layout result in better overall employee performance, and when asked to rate the importance of workplace design, 89% of respondents rated “important” to “very important”.

As we talk to churches about their administrative space, we have found that just like in mainstream business, it’s no longer just about process, but about the church’s “brand” and about the individuals that pursue the church’s mission every day.  As we look at how the administrative space affects those working there on a daily basis, it’s important to consider how the design contributes not just to efficiency, but to creativeness and collaboration.  Of course, space is expensive to build and costly to change.  But perhaps there is room in many churches for people to take a more active role in the nuts and bolts of office space without redesigning the entire layout.  Tom Kelley, author of The Ten Faces of Innovation, calls this role the Set Designer. A couple simple suggestions would be to try lifting an overly restrictive rule on space, or create a dedicated brainstorming area with everything from whiteboards and oversized post-its to comfortable seating.  You may be surprised how far small changes go toward creating a better workplace. With a design that fosters collaboration, but also embraces individualism, we can create spaces that are innovative and enhance the ministries of the church.

Several of these principles were employed in our new office in Frankfort.  We'd love to have you stop by for a visit!
 
You can find the entire study on the evolution of Workplace Design here: http://www.gensler.com/uploads/documents/Design+Performance_Index_10_22_2008.pdf