Generational differences. Hybrid work. Aging offices. AI. This eclectic mix of factors has vast implications for how successful individuals and companies are at work. And because these influences are not fully understood, the design of offices must adapt to stay competitive.

Whether developing a strategic real estate plan, renewing an existing workplace, or building a new headquarters, our approach to design, what we call "The Office, On Purpose," positions your business and work environment for what's next, whatever that may be.

Design Perspectives for Corporate Office

The workplace landscape is constantly changing with up to 50% of companies reporting a significant organizational redesign in the past two years. Prioritizing longevity solutions—from easier to implement ideas like the reconfigurable furniture and wireless lighting used in BlackRock's headquarters, to more complex ones like movable infrastructure walls and designing around a building’s inhabitants rather than its systems—ensures relevance for the next few years, or decades.

Call it a ripple effect. When a workplace connects employees to a company’s values, they are more motivated and engaged. Incorporating design elements that allow employees to see the impact and meaning of their work through artifacts, materiality and experiences fosters a sense of loyalty and meaning. For example, at the Warner Bros. Discovery Second Century project, we infused the workplace with subtle references and bold colors that connect employees to the company's location, work and mission.

Intentional office design can make employees happier at work, and happy employees achieve greater productivity. Infusing moments of delight through a variety of environments, connection to nature, access to daylight and views, and opportunities for social connection draws employees into the office, creating an experience they can’t get at home. To put this theory to the test, we created the Delight Factor, a quantitative measurement that scores a building based on how it makes people feel to provide a holistic view of your investment, including its compounded interest from enhanced employee performance.

Work and Ideas

All Work and Ideas

Warner Bros. Discovery Second Century Project

Orchids, Dandelions, Tulips: When It Comes to the Workplace, Which Flower Are You?

Met Park at Amazon's Arlington Headquarters

Confidential Company Headquarters

What Makes a Workplace Irresistible? Three Design Strategies to Attract and Elevate Talent

LinkedIn Headquarters

The Delight Factor: A New Metric That Quantifies the Competitive Strength of Your Workplace

BlackRock Headquarters

Haste Makes Waste: The Sustainable Practice of ‘Do It Once, Do It Right’ in Corporate Workplaces

Tencent Global Headquarters

NBBJ New York Office

The 40% Office: How to Optimize Your Workplace for Today’s Behaviors and Business Needs

Starbucks Headquarters

Samsung Headquarters, San Jose, CaliforniaArchitects - NBBJ

Samsung America Headquarters

Harvard Business Review: How LinkedIn Redesigned Its HQ for Hybrid Work

"Southern California life sciences company" **Confidential Client**

Southern California Life Sciences Company Headquarters

Article

Think Covid Shapes the Future Office? Think Again.

New Enterprise Associates

Article

How Space Impacts Creativity in the Hybrid Workplace

F5 Networks Customer Experience Center

BARK

View of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Seattle Campus.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Article

Four Strategies to Reduce Stress as People Come Back to the Office

Corporate Office Leaders

Robert Mankin, AIA, LEED AP

Managing Partner | Board Member| Firmwide Corporate Practice Leader

Ryan Mullenix, AIA

Partner | Firmwide Corporate Practice Leader

Jonathan Bahe, AIA

Principal I Corporate Market Leader

Layne Braunstein

Leader, Creative, Experience Design

Kelly Griffin, LEED AP

Principal | Workplace Strategy Director

John Savo, AIA

Principal | Corporate Market Leader

Andrea Vanecko, IIDA

Design Principal | Corporate Market Leader

Emily Webster

Leader, Creative, Experience Design

Featured Project

Google Seattle Office

Serendipity and discovery in the workplace often lead to the best ideas. Google’s South Lake Union office incorporates quiet oases, exciting amenities and dynamic public spaces to provide Googlers with opportunities for diverse work modes, personal choice and chance encounters.

View project