Hartford Business Journal

27 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 1, 2021 2. Work from home isn't the problem, it's inspiration To facilitate the return to the office, companies are taking steps to re- imagine their spaces by adding a "resi-mercial" twist to their existing facilities. Rows of desks are being removed to make way for residential style (but commercial grade) soft seating, plush carpets and tablet-top tables. Some of the popular features include furniture with electrical and USB outlets to power your device, acoustical panels for noise control, TV screens with cloud or Wi-Fi capabilities to catch up with a working-from-home colleague, and work cafes with healthy snacks and delicious lattes. These multipurpose areas will be used for collaboration, hoteling or some impromptu social interactions that lead to the flow of creative energy where new ideas and concepts are born. 5. Taller workstation panels are making a return Companies are requesting them for the employees that will be required to work from the office most of the week. Higher panels that can be cleaned with bleach-based solutions topped with glass panels create a physical barrier that make people feel psychologically safer while providing some visual privacy. The pandemic has accelerated the arrival of the future of work and the future of the office. I believe the pre- pandemic office as we knew it will never return. Rethinking the way we design and build offices can create truly inspiring spaces. In such spaces employees can work more efficiently and in a healthier way than at home, collaborate and generate new ideas and products, and have clear and healthy boundaries between work and home. If employers want to get employees energized about returning to the office, it's going to take more than dusting off old cubicles. 3. Focus on employee well- being Mental and physical well-being of the employees is something that needs to be addressed in the "new" office even more than before. Equal access to window views and natural light, various re- charging spaces, spaces to take a private phone call or have a private conversation, ergonomic furniture, good lighting, plants, spaces that support functions performed in the office, as well as aesthetically pleasing color and finish schemes show employees they are being valued by the company. That, in turn, increases the sense of belonging and helps with productivity as well as talent retention. 4. Focus on sense of safety, security and cleanliness It's important to provide a new office that people feel safe to return to. Simple renovations like cheerful fresh paint on the walls, new carpet, and deeply-cleaned surfaces can show employees they are coming to a clean, sanitary environment. Soft furniture with curvy lines and grounded bases look safe and welcoming. For example, a sofa with a curved back and arms can visually give the user the feeling of a hug when they enter the room. Media company Shutterstock is installing something like this soon inside a project in the Empire State Building in New York City. FOCUS: OFFICE SPACE THE TOMASSO GROUP TomassoGroup.com Welcomes to One Liberty Square ● Public Relations ● Marketing ● Media Training ● Video and Radio Production Email: Ann@baldwinmedia.net New Britain, CT Since 1923 By Laura Merrill The staggered return to offices has created some unique themes that commercial interior designers, architects and space-planning experts are tracking across clients in many different industries. Here are five trends to think about: 1. Work from home is here to stay Most companies are currently planning on letting their employees have a hybrid schedule. While most of the focus work can be done from home, activities that require collaboration, generation of new ideas, and new business are better done in the office environment. The office is a place to facilitate the social aspect of work, where employees can mingle, have informal and planned social interactions not only within their own team, but also with other departments. 5 trends impacting office space design Hybrid team meeting for Infinity Group, headquartered at 20 Church St., in downtown Hartford. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Resi-mercial style office for a consulting company with space in Hartford's CityPlace office tower. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Modern higher panel desks with glass dividers. PHOTO | THREE-H – Working cafe inside accounting firm Marcum's Hartford office. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED EXPERTS CORNER Laura Merrill is the director of design for Infinity Group, a commercial design-build firm headquartered in Hartford.

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