Our brains evolved to help us solve problems related to survival in the outdoors and to keep in near-constant motion, Medina says. (NBBJ was involved in designing Amazon’s domes.) He’s an affiliate professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington and a consultant in the Seattle office of architectural firm NBBJ. Indeed, evolutionary programming in all human brains compels us to seek nooks to escape the fray at times, says John Medina, a biochemist who studies the connection between brains and architecture. For example, Custom Ink’s facilities include beanbag chairs, where workers can plop down with headphones to tune out the noise, as well as “huddle” rooms where they can find privacy, which is particularly-but not exclusively-valued by introverts. Since different types of work require varying levels of collaboration, focus and quiet reflection, ideal workplaces incorporate room for both togetherness and alone time. The noise and lack of privacy could prompt more people to work at home or tune others out with headphones. “You don’t feel connected with other human beings.”Īt the same time, business leaders and design experts are realizing the limitations of all-open layouts, with a flurry of recent studies indicating that open offices may actually discourage people from working together. “I would never want to move the pendulum back to all closed,” Smith says.
While these spaces once were made up of private offices and cubicle farms, there has been a movement in recent years toward open setups with little separation between personal workstations-a design intended to promote collaboration. “In a world where can work anywhere, what makes them want to come? You have to give your people a reason to opt in,” says Jim Truhan, director of workplace strategy at IA Interior Architects, which planned the Jamba Juice offices. For Jamba, that means bright colors everywhere mimicking the hues of the fruit smoothies it sells, and natural light in common areas where everyone can enjoy it. Start by identifying the things that are important to your organization’s core values and tie them into your physical space, says Humera Kassem, chief HR officer at Jamba Juice Co. The key is designing a place that reflects the culture of the company. An amenity that sounds ridiculous to one organization, though, might be just right for another. To be sure, skeptics may question the point of a Ferris wheel, climbing wall or designer kitchen. “They’re able to get a sense for what our story is in our space,” Smith says. The office walls hold art made by the creative staff and photos of sports teams and families at reunions wearing the T-shirts Custom Ink makes. When recruits visit, they are hit with the fresh, contemporary design of the building, says Darcy Smith, head of team development. HR leaders at online retail business Custom Ink LLC in Fairfax, Va., have seen this firsthand.
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