Archinect - News

Gensler survey reveals the ways Gen Z workers are being drawn back to the office

2023-06-23T18:03:00-04:00

Remote work is second nature for Generation Z, many of whom graduated college and started careers during the pandemic. And yet, many are now transitioning to in-person work as they look for more workplace connections, learning opportunities and socialization with coworkers. That means figuring out what kind of workspace environment will keep Gen Z workers interested, is becoming a higher priority.

According to the 2023 Global Workplace Survey Comparison by Gensler, there has been a sudden split, spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic, in the workplace preferences for Gen Z workers compared to older generations.

To start, the findings reveal that Gen Z workers place more value on learning and socializing at work, along with flexibility. Essentially this means that younger workers value having a variety of experiences in the workplace. These experiences include having both private and collaborative spaces, made possible by open, changeable layouts, access to more amenities, and having more in-person, social interactions.

The survey has found that younger workers are being drawn towards offices and away from remote work due to the accessibility of leadership and continued education that could help drive career growth. Some companies looking to adapt to meet these evo...

Lloyd's has dropped plans to reimagine its Richard Rogers-designed office in a potential portent to its future

2022-01-31T17:20:00-05:00

As a follow up to the recent surprising news that insurance giant Lloyd’s of London may be considering a potential exit from the award-winning Lime Street headquarters designed for them by late architect Richard Rogers in the late 1970s (opened in 1986), The Architect’s Journal UK is now reporting that the company has also paused previously announced plans to overhaul a major portion of the building in what could be a sign about the future status of its lifelong tenant.

The all-important Underwriting Room within Lloyd’s was supposed to be the subject of the planned fixes, although now plans are being revisited, according to a spokesperson for the company. Lloyd’s is saying it has made the decision to step back from the project its CEO said would be a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for architects in order to “ensure our vision for the future of this space is in line with the market’s needs and fit for purpose.”

Rogers’ original design of the Lloyd’s building included the multistor...

Lloyd's of London is mulling an exit from Richard Rogers' award-winning headquarters building

2022-01-24T20:31:00-05:00

Lloyd's of London (SOLYD.UL) is considering whether to remain in its flagship City of London headquarters and may make a decision this year, the commercial insurance market said on Tuesday.

The news comes just over a month after the death of its Pritzker-winning architect in London at the age of 88. A Lloyd’s spokesperson pointed to the shifts in workplace culture brought on by the Coronavirus as significant factors behind the potential change.

The insurance giant's headquarters is one of several listed buildings in the Lime Street vicinity and was bought in 2013 by a Chinese insurance company, which holds the current lease until 2031 with a clause that can be broken in 2026, according to a real estate publication called React.

Interior view of the Lloyd's building. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user Lloyd's of London (CC BY 2.5)

"As we adapt to new structures and flexible ways of working, we are continuing to carefully think about the future requirements for the spaces and services our marketplace needs," the company said in an email to Reuters. "Like many other organisations, we are considering a range of options around our workspace strategy and the future l...

Clive Wilkinson says he regrets the role he played in the Googleplex's design

2022-01-24T17:35:00-05:00

For more than three decades, Clive Wilkinson has been among the most sought-after office designers in the world. He has planned spaces for the likes of Microsoft, Disney, Intuit and other companies seeking unorthodox approaches to work life. But he now has regrets about what is perhaps his most famous work: Googleplex, the tech giant's posh headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

Wilkinson’s statements offer a rebuke to the Silicon Valley culture he played a role in pioneering and now deems to be "fundamentally unhealthy." The $1 billion office complex in Mountain View, California designed by STUDIOS Architecture with interiors by Wilkinson is serviced by a secretive $250 million transportation network and is famous for its plush employee perks that Wilkinson now says he regrets.

"This notion that you can provide everything that would support a worker's life on campus might appear to be extremely generous and supportive," he told NPR’s Bobby Allyn. "But it also has a whole range of potentially negative impacts. Work-life balance cannot be achieved by spending all your life on a work campus. It's not real. It's not really engaging with the world in the way most people do. It also drains the immediate neighborhoods of being able to have a commercial reality."

Relisten to Archinect's 2016 podcast interview with Clive Wilkinson

Wilkinson also stated that he do...

Are you tracking employee activity? Experts say transparency is key

2021-01-22T13:11:00-05:00

Maintaining a corporate surveillance program that operates only in the shadows might nab the occasional miscreant, but it does little to promote positive conduct or to deter inappropriate use of corporate assets when employees are working from home. A more balanced approach should include clear communications with employees explaining the reasons for, and existence of, corporate monitoring programs.

In a recent Harvard Business Review essay, two experts outline the need for transparency in corporations that monitor employee behavior, writing:

"Being transparent about how you’re monitoring employees should be consistent with a transparent culture and a relationship of trust. Helpfully, this also aligns with the underlying legal framework in the U.S., which is premised on concepts of legitimate interest and notice, and is strengthened further when employees provide their consent to be monitored."

Designing for neurodiversity in the workplace

2020-08-05T15:10:00-04:00

A new report from global architecture firm HOK highlights a growing awareness regarding "neurodiversity" in the workforce and offers design strategies for creating workplaces that cater to and facilitate the spatial needs of neurodiverse individuals.

According to the report, "'Neurodiversity' refers to the natural range of variation in human neurocognition. It’s an umbrella term for people who aren’t neurotypical, and includes such conditions as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia (a neurologically based physical disorder) and Tourette syndrome, among others. Approximately 15-20 percent of people are 'neurodivergent.'"

The firm's report argues that adapting workplaces to the the needs of neurodiverse communities not only helps individuals thrive in the workplace, but that "accommodating the different wiring of neurodiverse people can provide a huge competitive advantage" for businesses due to the fact that, according ...

Architects share their biggest challenges transitioning to WFH

2020-03-24T13:20:00-04:00

The recent move to Work From Home (WFH) has been a radical change for many professionals. Archinect reached out to its global community to learn how things have been going for architects and designers across the industry. We'll be providing focused insights from our findings. For this piece we're going to look at some of the core challenges many have expressed regarding this shift.

From our results, the main challenges appear to be:

Impacts on culture, collaboration, and feelings of loneliness
Guiding younger staff and mentorship opportunities in the virtual setting
Leadership stepping up and providing clear direction to staff
Technological limitations
Environmental conditions, distractions, and impact on focus/productivity.

Naturally, there are many challenges that go beyond those listed here, but these make up the core of feedback we've uncovered from practicing professional. Let's dive into each one of these and see what our colleagues have to say.

Culture, Collaboration, and Loneline...

Dealing with micromanagers in architecture

2020-03-09T16:09:00-04:00

I remember in one of my earlier jobs after college, I had a supervisor who had a tendency to continuously check in with me after he had assigned me something to work on. On top of that, he wanted to control how I went about doing the work. It made me overwhelmingly stressed out, and my performance showed it. In fact, everyone who worked under this person ended up underperforming.

Contrast that with another supervisor I had at the same firm. She'd give me clear direction on something to work on, some pointers on how to go about it, and then leave me alone. We'd have milestone meetings, but these occurred far less frequent than me being asked every 45 minutes, "how's it going?" or "how much longer do you think it'll be?" or "oh no, you should do it this way instead, it's faster."

The result of being given more space, more autonomy, and more freedom was an exponential increase in the quality of my work, my productivity, and my peace of mind in the workplace. But, micromanagers are inev...

Remote work by the numbers

2020-03-04T12:26:00-05:00

In a comprehensive summary of recent studies and statistics, FlexJobs, the tech company that connects job seekers with remote work opportunities, has laid out the hard numbers regarding remote work trends in our culture today. Everything from productivity, employee morale, reduced stress, to talent retention have been impacted by the rise of remote work.

Previously on Archinect: "Exploring Remote Work and 'Radical Flexibility' in Architecture With Diana Nicklaus." Saam Architecture team photo. Courtesy of Saam Architecture

Archinect recently spoke with Diana Nicklaus, founder and principal at Saam Architecture, a practice that offers employees radical flexibility through remote work, unlimited vacation, and unrestrained mobility. However many believe this model cannot work in architecture. In response to that, Diana said:

"I would challenge that assumption for many reasons. So many other team-based professions have incorporated remote models successfully, and there are great lessons ...

MBB Architects offer employees travel grants to broaden cultural perspectives

2020-02-17T12:36:00-05:00

In an effort to expand cultural competency, Murphy Burnham & Buttrick (MBB) Architects has instituted its own private travel grant. Established in 2016, the Harold Buttrick Travel Grant offers one employee five days of paid leave and paid travel-related expenses to "[broaden] his or her understanding of architecture through a research project."

In a field so influenced by culture, it's not uncommon for students of architecture to take advantage of their institutional travel opportunities. Be it a study abroad program or even a fellowship opportunity for a recent graduate, these trips undoubtedly inform the cultural compass of the travelers who set out on them. Yet, when one enters the workforce, these opportunities become less of a reality.

"Offering this grant helps MBB expand our perspective and professionalism in ways that can only be achieved through experiencing architecture as it’s practiced in worlds other than our own. The research is brought back to the firm and shared wit...

This YouTuber outlines what it's like to work at an architecture firm

2020-02-10T12:00:00-05:00

In What is it Like to Work At An Architecture Firm? YouTuber "Mooch" of Pigeonhead Architecture outlines what it's like to work as an architect. Using animated illustrations, Mooch covers all of the typical phases of a project: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documentation, and Construction Administration.

This is followed by an overview of the various types of firms and how firm size can influence work flow. Looking at small, medium, and large firms, Mooch articulates that practices often fall into three categories: "efficiency based" firms that work on projects like parking garages, retail stores, and warehouses; "experience-type" firms who design schools, museums, or hospitals; and "expertise-type" firms like Zaha Hadid Architects, BIG, and Gehry Partners.

Check out the video below:

Rookie Tip: Don't try to "prove yourself." Try to be effective.

2020-02-05T18:06:00-05:00

Often times, early in our careers, we ruminate over questions tied to a desire to prove our worth to an employer. “I need to show them that they made the right choice in hiring me,” or “I can’t ask too many questions or they’ll think I’m stupid.” Whatever it is, when we focus so much on ourselves we end up inadvertently doing a worse job because we are preoccupied with our insecurity rather than with performing well.

Instead, we would do better to realize that our goal is to make the lives of those around us easier. Do not worry about getting recognition, let the person directly above you have all of the recognition, make them look good, make their life exponentially easier than it was before you arrived. This should be the primary focus.

Go the effective extra mile

Consider this example: I used to always try to anticipate what my supervisor may not have thought of for a meeting, it could have been something small like tracing paper, an extra pen, a print out of an email. Anything t...

How to deal with "boring" assignments

2020-01-14T14:19:00-05:00

If I have to do one more portable project, I'm going to lose my mind!

This was part of a story an early mentor of mine told me. It was the end of my first year right out of school and we were meeting for my performance review. I had just finished working on my third masterplan for a local school district and expressed how I wanted to do other projects, but was afraid I'd get stuck doing another masterplan.

She told me how, earlier in her career, there was a season where she felt stuck doing portable layouts. One day, during a pin-up with the design principal, she couldn't take it anymore and snapped (for lack of a better word), hence the quote above. She said the principal was very understanding, explaining how the firm had a lot of portable projects, and she was doing a good job, so they had her continue working on them. But, because she spoke up, and the leadership saw that it was time for her to move on, she soon transitioned to something new.

Don't mistake boredom with practice...

In some cases, it's good to be wrong

2020-01-10T11:47:00-05:00

Navigating the design process can be a thorny undertaking. We go back and forth with colleagues on ideas, seeking to find the best solution for the design problem at hand. It is a standard phenomenon, to challenge our colleagues and push one another to achieve something great. And with passionate creativity also comes deep seated convictions. Particularly for those more junior and intermediate members of the team, defending an idea is great, but sometimes it's not. Identifying the balance between letting go of an idea and advocating for something one believes is crucial to the success of a project is nuanced and tricky to navigate.

Judging what's right vs. who's right

One approach to disagreements is focusing on what is right instead of who is right. The design team's primary objective is providing the best solution for the client and all parties should be working with that final result in mind. Campaigning a personal agenda is not in the best interests of the group.

Let's go a bit...

Dealing with passive-aggression in the workplace

2019-10-29T14:15:00-04:00

Collaborative conceptions

Pride attaches undue importance to the superiority of one's status in the eyes of others; and shame is fear of humiliation at one's inferior status in the estimation of others. When one sets one's heart on being highly esteemed, and achieves such rating, then he or she is automatically involved in fear of losing status.

- Lao Tzu

Architecture is a field filled with intellectuals and we often find ourselves in deep discussions about design, philosophies, and methodologies. More trickily, in the workplace, in the heat of collaboration, we present our ideas and often must defend or support them. This practice is fruitful and heightens the quality of the team, as everyone participates in this collective creativity.

But sometimes you'll encounter that team member who has to have the last word, who must always end up on top. When you present your ideas to the team, they seek to find fault in it, subtly showing how it can't work, even if your suggestions are favo...

Don't send that heated email

2019-10-14T17:45:00-04:00

Abraham Lincoln's Disappointment

In the summer of 1863 after three days of brutal warfare, the Battle of Gettysburg culminated with the retreat of Robert E. Lee's army, something, that at the time, President Lincoln was not happy about. While the battle was seen as a triumph for the Union Army, Lincoln saw an important missed opportunity. So much so, that he prepared a letter to General George Meade. In an excerpt from the letter, Lincoln writes:

"Again, my dear general, I do not believe you appreciate the magnitude of the misfortune involved in Lee's escape. He was within your easy grasp, and to have closed upon him would, in connection with our other late successes, have ended the war. As it is, the war will be prolonged indefinitely."

He goes on:

"Your golden opportunity is gone, and I am distressed immeasurably because of it."

Lincoln wasn't happy and he wanted to be sure his General knew about it.

The Snap Response in Architecture

We've all been in a situation where a coworker,...

How can mindfulness make you a better designer?

2019-10-01T17:00:00-04:00

As designers, we often are presented with an overwhelming amount of data to accompany a design problem. There are the client desires, the code constraints, zoning, the desires of the design team, materials, structural systems, and the list goes on. Sometimes, we can feel bombarded or crippled from receiving too much info. Where do I start? We might think to ourselves.

Nadia Surtees, a design researcher at IDEO makes a case for taking a mindfulness approach in our design thinking. "Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, one of the fathers of modern mindfulness, describes the practice as 'paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally,'" she writes. She goes on to list 5 ways she and her colleagues at IDEO go about using mindfulness to tackle tough projects:

"Adopt a beginner's mindset." According to Surtees, a beginner's mindset means "starting fresh, assuming nothing, and living the question." It can be tempting to assume we have the answer to something or to draw on our prev...

In the workplace, when you don't know, say so

2019-09-30T16:40:00-04:00

Have you ever been in a meeting where a certain topic or term is brought up that everyone understands but you? The urge to try and play along might build up, pretending you know what everyone else does. You may even make it through the meeting unscathed, having avoided being asked anything regarding the subject. A near miss, you think; that was a close one.

What's the fear here though? Of being found out? That the discovery of you becoming the intellectual minority on this one topic will in some way diminish your status? Why so? There is a quote I love from Bruce Lee that says, "A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer." Having the courage to say, "I don't know," is an invaluable asset that will propel you to heights those too full of ego only hope to reach.

Your personal growth is your own, unattached from the thoughts and opinions of others. If someone thinks you are some kind of fool for asking a "silly question" then that's on th...

What to do when you get bored at work

2019-09-28T12:00:00-04:00

Most of us have experienced those periods where we come in to the office, sit-down, and continue our work on the same type of wall detail for the fourth month in a row. Consistency and repetition is a crucial part of growth in any craft, but after a while, our dynamic and creative minds can become weary. We start to lose interest in our work, maybe even grow to dislike it, and slowly lose our enthusiasm for what we're doing.

So what should you do if you've been pigeon-holed into one task for an extended period of time? As simple as it might sound, the best is to speak up to your project manager or principal about it. Sometimes leadership will unknowingly give you the same kind of work over and over again because they know that you will do a good job at it. And almost all employers will be happy to hear that you want to take on a larger role and obtain more responsibility. With that in mind, here are three things to consider:

Acknowledge your current responsibility. When communicatin...

Hiring for "cultural fit" isn't always a good thing

2019-09-24T18:42:00-04:00

For most growing firms the search for new talent is both exciting and frustrating. Who do you pick? And how do you accurately and sufficiently measure their potential? Undoubtedly, there are many approaches, one of which is seeking for the right cultural fit. That's become a loaded term nowadays, but culture is also one of the top factors in recruiting top talent.

For the employee, a good culture might mean free food, ping-pong, and nap rooms, but there's much more to it. Wall Street Journal's Sue Shellenbarger shares something crucial that Patty McCord, the former chief talent officer at Netflix and now, HR consultant said.

From Archinect's Lexicon, a "Serendipity Machine" is a space (often workplace) that has been designed to maximize chance encounters towards beneficial, ideally innovative, results

It's not vacation

In remembering a recent executive who "kept employees happy by serving up the latest craft beers," McCord responded with, "Well that sounds like a fun vacation. I'd ...

8 things leaders do that make employees quit

2019-09-10T19:37:00-04:00

Employee retention is a big issue in today's job market and many firms have had to deal with the undesirable reality of losing valued team members. While the reasons someone might leave a job are wide and complex, there are some factors that leaders can address themselves to counteract employee departure. In a recent essay, Jon Christiansen, Ph.D., lists 8 mistakes he says leaders do that make employees quit and presents ways to avoid them:

"Mistake 1: Setting inconsistent goals or expectations."

Christiansen explains that "when employees are forced to choose between tasks in order to meet competing expectations, the result is a team of stressed out people without clear priorities." For example, let's say a junior designer has to choose between finishing a set of drawings on time for a project and doing adequate research for a presentation. They know that there's no way they can be late with the drawings, but they also realize that if they don't do the right amount of research they...

Can filler words like "uh" and "um" be useful?

2019-08-26T19:30:00-04:00

One thing most of us can't avoid in architecture is having to verbally communicate our creative ideas to another person, that may be a client, a coworker, or even a contractor. Whoever it may be, communication is a powerful tool we must all hone in our careers. We've all heard since our youth that we should not say things like "um, uh, like, etc." too much when speak. We learn that it reduces our credibility and authority, and, according to research, this is true.

"Used sparingly, there's nothing wrong with filler words. When you use them excessively, however, they can detract from your confidence and credibility," writes Harvard University Communications Professor Allison Shapira. In a recent piece for the Harvard Business Review, Shapira illustrates some areas where she feels these common filler words can be useful and offers some alternatives to help strengthen the implementation of them.

"To be diplomatic." Sometimes we need to use less assertive language when speaking to those...