Why It’s Time to Redesign the Way We Think About Office Space – LANA BORTOLOT

If your office still has a fax machine or projector, stop reading right now, because you won’t like what you’re about to hear: Your office, like your equipment, is probably obsolete.

“I think the whole definition of what an office is needs to be rethought,” says Frank Mruk, associate dean for the School of Architecture and Design at the New York Institute of Technology in Manhattan. “The office may be ready for extinction–it’s just a place to meet. We don’t need computers anymore; we can work anyplace, at any time. Why do we have to meet in a building?”

Indeed. For graphic designer Jill Bluming, the idea of an office is more remote than the global clients she works with via Skype, Google Docs and Dropbox. Her eight-person creative boutique, The Creative Type, is completely virtual, with on-demand copywriters, designers and illustrators working from wherever they have a connection. “We are driven not by structure but by flexibility,” she says.

Bluming utilizes a web-based reservation service when she needs a conference room for client meetings, paying by the hour. “The only reason I’d get an office is to use a conference room,” she says. “But [without it] we have such low overhead, we can be much more competitive in our business.”

People not ready to throw the office over find alternatives in workspaces that are shared with not only their own colleagues but, depending on the setup, other like-minded entrepreneurs or industry peers. Such is the case for New York architect Martin Kapell, who once worked in a 120-person firm. When he formed his own studio, he turned to WeWork, a scalable shared workspace. His initial consideration was affordability, but now he sees other benefits.

“I’m 63 and working in a space where the average age seems to be under 30, and it’s good for me,” he says. “We meet new people–it feels like we’re all working in the same office. In a way, I don’t feel that different from anyone else here.”

And that’s just what WeWork strives for, according to chief experience officer Noah Brodsky, who says the company took a lesson from social media. “Like Facebook users who share their life with other people–that has spilled over into the workspace,” he points out. The company has 16 buildings in six cities, with plans to expand this year.

WeWork taps into a cooperative approach among people and even industries. Says Elizabeth Danze, associate dean for undergraduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture, “I think there’s more collaboration than ever and more recognition of interdisciplinary work … the ability to work in teams around a table or screen is important and won’t go away.”

To that end, she says, architects spend more time creating spaces where people can interact–and that’s not always indoors. Outdoor green space at the office, whether a rooftop respite or an employee community garden, is an amenity that gives employees breathing room and creates a holistic, feel-good experience. “It’s trying to address the whole person in the office–addressing their whole lives,” Danze says.

A variation of that concept is at work in Chicago, where architect Foster Dale is readapting a former car dealership for a small company. The office will include an exercise room, a shower and bike storage. The plan also calls for a floor-to-ceiling movable glass wall that allows employees to work al fresco as weather permits. “Here, the indoor room shares the outdoor experience, and the transition from outside to inside isn’t so formal anymore,” Dale says.

Other offices are designed with flexibility in mind, enabling employees to move about, from personal workspace to testing room to collaborative meeting area. But breaking down barriers doesn’t suit all. “The Physical Environment of the Office: Contemporary and Emerging Issues,” a study co-authored by Matthew C. Davis of the University of Leeds in the U.K., suggests that the open office can impede productivity, with employees’ attention and creativity declining and their stress levels rising.

“Some people can move from portal to portal and be productive, but that’s a skill–and some people have it and others don’t,” says Seattle architect Jonathan Rader, noting that his job as a designer involves “cultural problem-solving” as much as solving for space. “I try to pull out from a company some of their cultural things–work habits, what they like and don’t like–because that will determine how well they will work in the new space.”

While some firms want to keep traditional layouts for privacy and prestige, others–particularly tech and media companies–choose open floor plans (with some phone booths for privacy). Rader looks for ways to create environments for clients with hybrid needs, such as a law firm representing startups, which opted for an open space that resembles the offices of its clients. “There are lots of ways to solve the problem and not to be too dogmatic,” he says.

That flexibility is also behind the philosophy of Portland, Ore.-based HeartWork, which makes a colorful line of modern office furniture. “We saw changes in how people use space. Clients want to use furniture in different ways, with different spaces that support the different ways people are working,” says founder and designer Karen John. “No one wants to go to an anonymous gray office anymore. They want design to reflect their culture.”

To read the complete article, please click HERE

 

National Receives GEI Seal of Endorsement for Essay, Fold, and Whimsy

National Receives GEI Seal of Endorsement for Essay, Fold, and Whimsy

 

Three National products have earned the Global Educator Institute (GEI) Seal of Endorsement, placing them as among the best teaching products available today. The Essay seating collection, Fold flip/nest table, and Whimsy impromptu seating all received this endorsement based on success in these main categories: Educational Impact, Effectiveness, Design, Durability, Functionality, and Value. The products were tested in classrooms in five school systems. At the end of the six-week evaluation process, teachers provided detailed feedback via GEI’s comprehensive rubric. The GEI endorsement reflects real-world success and places National’s products among the best-designed, most effective products for learning and the learning environment.

To view the official press release, please click HERE

 

To read the complete article from National, please click HERE

Project Spotlight – Health Enhancements Systems, Midland MI

Health Enhancement Systems in Midland, MI  creates “employee wellness competitions that span the globe and engage and inspire — with fun themes, challenging goals, and built-in social connections that dramatically increase participation and success.”  We were honored to help them realize their vision of a perfect office space, and are so truly happy with how this project turned out.  We invite you to tour the NEW Health Enhancement Systems!!

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Thank you to Health Enhancement Systems for being an amazing company to work with and a true asset to our community!!

MOTAWI Tileworks-Woman Owned Small Business 2016 Award Winner

nawal-headshot-2014-web300Earlier this year Nawal Motawi, founder and owner of Motawi Tileworks in Ann Arbor Michigan was selected as the recipient of the Woman Owned Small Business Award presented by the Michigan Small Business Development Center.  “Nawal Motawi founded Motawi Tileworks more than 20 years ago. A University of Michigan art school graduate with a restless spirit and an interest in applied arts, Nawal moved to Detroit to learn tilemaking at Detroit’s storied Pewabic Pottery. She returned to Ann Arbor after a few years and began making her own tiles in a garage studio and selling them from a stand she rented at the local farmers’ market.

Today, Nawal is still designing and making tiles in Ann Arbor. Her companies, Motawi Tileworks and Rovin Ceramics, employ more than 30 people. Her company utilizes Toyota-Style Production and practices an intentional workplace culture.

Recently, Motawi tiles have been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and Dwell Magazine.” – motawi.com

Motawi Tileworks produces art based tile as well as installation tile.  The craftsmanship and mission of this company truly shows through the quality of their work.  We are so proud to have this woman owned small business represent the State of Michigan and set such a great example for other small business owners!   Just take a look at just some of the examples of their work below.  All pictures are credited to motawi.com.  To take a video tour of their factory, click here!

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Say Yes to Carpet Tiles. Just YES!

A stylish and versatile alternative to standard carpet rolls, carpet tiles can meet the needs of a variety of commercial and residential spaces.  Carpet tiles now come in many different sizes and styles and are perfect for high traffic areas.  These tiles can even be installed over existing surfaces such as wood and tile with ease.  If you come to a crossroad between rolled carpet and carpet squares, here are some things that you should consider:

Photo via Interface
Photo via Interface

Ease of Maintenance

Carpet tiles are extremely easy to maintain in your business, just vacuum regularly as you would with any standard rolled carpet.  A big difference is that if one tile or area get soiled, you can just take those squares out and replace them with new tiles.  Buying extra carpet tiles when purchasing can save you the large expense of replacing a whole area of carpet should it become damaged.

 

 

 

 

Photo via Interface
Photo via Interface

Types of Carpet Offered

You can now find and equivalent carpet in a tile that you can find in most rolled carpet options.  The main difference is the backing.  Carpet tiles are backed with heavy vinyl or fiberglass to provide stability and to protect against moisture.  The backing is also offered in styles that have adhesive backing for ease of installation or floating tiles that are secured underneath to each other leaving no residue on your existing floors.

Design Away!

With the selection of carpet tiles that are now offered, who says you can’t go wild?  Carpet tiles allow you to mix and match colors and styles to show your personality.  Fit together different styles, shapes and sizes to make your carpet your own.  Just check out some of these creative design styles!

Homeminimalis.com
Homeminimalis.com
Via Pintrist
Via Pinterist

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Via Pinterest
Via Pinterest

 

Office Filing System DO's, Do It Right The First Time

Your office is growing and changing, but is your filing system keeping up with your business’ momentum?  An effective office needs an effective way to manage the flow of information.  If a digital age, it’s becoming harder to manage all of the documents needed in hard copy.  Although we would love to banish the dreaded hard copy altogether, that’s just not a realistic option for most businesses.  Here are some filing system DO’s that will help your office run more efficiently.

 

Via spinologic.org
Via spinologic.org

DO:  Decide on a filing system that works for your business.  You can choose an infinite number of options but the most common are:

  1.  Alphabetical – You can do this by client name, company name, or project name.  Just make sure that all files are under the same category for easy retrieval.
  2. Numerical or Chronological – Giving each order or job a specific number can be your best option when working with multiple people or companies.  Dates can also be an effective filing tool when used effectively.
  3. Subject or Category – This can be tricky and can be the most confusing, but if you have a system that works for you, it could be the most effective way for your company.

 

DO:  Color Code.  Being able to look for information and see company documents broken up by color helps your brain process what you are seeing. When you know that invoices are yellow on contracts are green, it will help you retrieve information quickly and efficiently.

DO:  Avoid Saving EVERYTHING!  Not every piece of paper from a particular job or project needs to be saved.  Save important documents in hard copy, especially papers with signatures or vital information.  When in doubt, scanning information is a great space saving tool to keep all the useless clutter to a minimum.

DO:  Separate completed work from active work.  Designate a place for files that are inactive, unused or outdated.  Keeping these files might be a necessity for your business and an allocated area for this information will streamline your system.