Archinect - News

Are ‘work resorts’ an answer to rising office vacancy rates?

2024-09-17T07:00:00-04:00

In an Archinect feature article published last month, we unpacked the residual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on office design. As our recent business survey found, a decline in demand for new office space post-pandemic is one of several factors currently feeding a turbulent economic landscape for architects, alongside headline forces such as interest rates and inflation.

As our feature article noted, 20% of U.S. workers are believed to be currently working on either a remote or hybrid work schedule. Meanwhile, industry studies posit that 50% of large international firms expect to reduce their existing office space over the next three years, while U.S. office vacancy rates sit at 20% and approximately 2 billion square feet of U.S. office space is underutilized.

Related on Archinect: The Pandemic Is History, but for Architects, Its Impact on Office Design Remains. Image: Aaron Thompson

Amid the warning signs for architects specializing in the design and delivery of new office space, ...

Moody’s declares pre-1980s office buildings ‘obsolete’ due to conversion costs

2023-04-07T15:18:00-04:00

A new report from Moody’s Analytics is further dampening CRE prospects for the near future after declaring all office structures built before 1980 to be “obsolete” in terms of their abilities to lure back tenants in the face of an ongoing national downtown decline.

Speaking to MarketWatch recently, the ratings agency’s Nick Villa said buildings built before that date are obsolete because “generally speaking, if there were no significant renovations to the building, the amount of capital required to bring it 'current' and compete in today's market would be costlier.”

Cities like New York and Oklahoma City that maintain a higher share of these buildings may therefore face further economic difficulties as interest rates continue to climb and lending standards tighten.

Previously on Archinect: Zoom Town to Boom Town: North American business districts are going to evolve instead of dying off completely

The end of the pandemic has ushered in a new era of office design, with many new const...

Office buildings are deploying the power of scents to lure workers back

2022-09-15T14:29:00-04:00

There’s been a surge of demand from real estate owners for pleasant fragrances to make the air a little fresher and the workplace a little more comforting and energizing [...] “Here in New York City, for example, real estate companies are interested in scenting the building itself, as opposed to just the individual tenant spaces [...] There are lots of vacant office spaces these days. So what can the real estate companies do to attract tenants?”

So-called "scent profiles" have been documented to improve productivity, avoid a phenomenon known as olfactory fatigue, and achieve a psychological familiarity helpful to marketers when developing brand recognition. This is one of many approaches companies are attempting to use in order to lure workers back into the city's emptying central business districts.

Marriott, the nation’s second-largest hotel chain, has for two decades incorporated scents into all 30 of its Bonvoy properties, and (despite the HR headaches caused by allergy risks) there is now a growing interest among heavyweight commercial clients like SHVO and CBRE looking to improve indoor air quality in the wake of the pandemic.

Allison Lobay, global account manager of Air Aroma, shared with the Commercial Observer: "Some scents are associated with improved productivity. In the office, citrus fragrances are used to energize...

How does asynchronous work intersect with architectural practice?

2022-04-15T11:47:00-04:00

While speculation over what a long-term “post-pandemic workplace” may look like is often distilled into conversations about remote and hybrid working, the topic of asynchronous working garners relatively less attention. This comes despite the fact that many of the touted benefits of remote working, whether it be more accessible childcare options, fewer travel constraints, or personal appointments and commitments, would be more accurately described as benefits of an asynchronous workplace, rather than a remote or hybrid one.

As a BBC article on the subject from 2021 points out, remote working and asynchronous working are separate, standalone structures. While remote and hybrid working arrangements are simply a matter of location, asynchronous working is a matter of time, where each individual worker can structure their workday free of a typical 9–5 arrangement, rather than all employees of a company working the same synchronized hours.

Related on Archinect: An architect’s advice ...

An architect’s advice on boosting creativity in hybrid workplaces

2022-04-06T09:00:00-04:00

In a new thought piece, NBBJ architect Ryan Mullenix presents the findings of NBBJ and the University of Washington’s research into how hybrid workspaces impact creativity. Coincidentally launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the research sought to establish the key behavioral and spatial elements which can enable creative workers, including architects, to maintain a creative flair away from their traditional workplace.

The research’s findings may prove useful for creatives long after the pandemic, with evidence including Archinect’s own survey finding that hybrid work options have become a permanent fixture in architectural employment. For example, there are currently 41 open positions on Archinect’s job board offering purely remote working.

According to architect Mullenix, a key finding from research participants was that “control” remains an important part of workplace setting...

Retaining architectural staff begins with effective onboarding

2022-02-08T13:57:00-05:00

November 2021 saw 4.5 million Americans resign from their jobs; a peak month of the so-called “Great Resignation” and the largest figure since 2000. As with the broader economy, architecture firms face an ongoing battle to attract and retain staff, a battle which existed before the pandemic and has only gathered further steam throughout the past two years, as we recently explored in a feature article on the topic.

As an anticipated optimism and economic activity returns to the US design and construction sector throughout 2022, the need for architecture to attract and retain staff will only magnify. "Since demand for design projects has been healthy over the last year, recruiting architectural staff to keep up with project workloads has been a growing concern for firms," warned AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker last month. "Architecture is one of the few industries where payrolls have already surpassed their pre-pandemic high, so meeting future staffing needs is a challenge that most ...

New approaches to housing offer new career moves for designers

2022-01-31T10:15:00-05:00

Last month, we reported on two stories that demonstrate the range of architectural start-ups emerging to address a lack of housing in the USA and further afield.

One example came from established leaders in the industry, with Bjarke Ingels unveiling details of Nabr, his “people-first housing company” which promises to “put more people on a path to owning a high-quality, environmentally friendly home in the city.” Boasting partnerships with Google, NASA, Apple, Lego, and Tesla, Nabr is an example top-down innovation, with global corporations injecting capital into novel approaches for the future of living; funding which has already allowed Nabr to amass $1 trillion in projects under planning.

December also saw an example of bottom-up support for innovation in housing, with the announcement that UK-based start-up HOKO Design had raised $590,000 in a crowdfunding campaign. Founded in 2...

Survey finds AEC firms positive about growth in 2022, expect hybrid working to continue

2022-01-19T14:55:00-05:00

AEC firms are positive about industry growth in 2022 and expect to continue employing a hybrid workforce, according to a survey by Openasset. The AEC Industry Outlook Survey of 500 architecture, engineering, and construction professionals found that 78% believe their firm will experience positive growth in 2022.

46% of respondents said their firm would employ a hybrid workforce in 2022. Almost 25% expect their company to operate with a fully remote workforce, while 19% see a full return to the office for all staff. Maintaining a hybrid workforce was the largest challenge anticipated by respondents, with 54% identifying the shift as a challenge for 2022.

Other challenges highlighted by respondents included employee retention (mentioned by 42%), meeting tight deadlines (mentioned by 49%), and winning new business (mentioned by 42%).

The survey by Openasset is the latest insight into the AEC land...

Expert tips for architecture offices creating hybrid work structures

2021-11-16T16:26:00-05:00

At the end of September, we released the results of our survey of the architectural community’s plans to return to the office after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, only 29% of respondents said that their firms required all staff to return to in-studio working, with 15% still required to work remotely. An additional 39% of respondents were being offered a choice of working remotely, returning to the office, or operating on a hybrid model between the office and their home.

Of the respondents who had been offered the choice between working from the office, the home, or a hybrid model, over half had chosen the hybrid model. As the pandemic wanes, there is evidence that this embrace of either a fully or partially remote approach to work will remain over the long term. Over on our jobs board, for example, there are currently 34 active job openings for remote candidates, ranging from 3D designers to project architects to HR specialists.

Archinect Survey Results: Did the Architectur...

Amidst post-pandemic transience, architects are shaping remote communities

2021-10-13T18:02:00-04:00

As is frequently discussed on Archinect, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the already-bourgeoning trend of companies offering remote working options to employees. In our recent survey of the architectural community’s plans to return to offices after the pandemic, only 29% of respondents said that their firm had required all staff to return to in-studio working. Architects are not the only profession likely to see long-term shifts in attitudes regarding office employment. In May of this year, USA Today reported on a survey which found that 30% of working professionals would quit their job if forced to return to the office after the pandemic.

The forced experiment in remote working witnessed by millions of people over the past 18 months may also have consequences far beyond the workplace. With the common link between personal identity and workplace occupation severed during t...

17 remote architecture and design positions currently listed on Archinect Jobs

2021-09-16T15:40:00-04:00

As firms prepare for the last quarter of the year, many are already preparing for 2022. Some offices are back to in-person work settings while others are continuing with a hybrid approach, and some have completely transitioned to remote setups. This week, we highlight 11 firms and 17 remote job positions currently listed on the Archinect Job Board.

If you're curious about maintaining a virtual work-life balance or prepping for a virtual job interview, don't forget to check out our Archinect Tips section!

TreeHouse by LEVER Architecture.

LEVER Architecture seeks a Mid-Level Interior Designer

Firm Details: "LEVER Architecture is a mid-sized architecture firm based in Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles, CA. The firm brings international experience and design excellence to a diverse range of building types including institutional, creative office, and multi-family housing, as well as being nationally recognized for technical innovation with mass timber."

Job Description/Experience: "We a...

Architect Kenneth Gruskin envisions new business opportunity for designers as the world becomes increasingly virtual

2021-07-13T17:07:00-04:00

Kenneth Gruskin, owner and principal of architecture and marketing firm Gruskin Group, has envisioned a new avenue for firms as businesses increasingly shift to virtual spaces.

With remote work the new normal, Gruskin sees an opportunity for architects to play a role in how new virtual environments and overall representation of companies are designed and communicated. Specifically, his idea entails the personalization of video conferencing calls with customized, animated backgrounds.

“And, along with everything else, it’s a way for us to stay involved with companies that are shedding their physical footprint,” Gruskin said to ROI-NJ. “It’s just a good way to stay in touch with clients … that might not be the big Facebook and Amazon companies that are still buying up real estate.”

The demand for companies to embrace these prefabricated backgrounds is to maintain professionalism and communicate a brand identity during virtual meetings, which is difficult to coordinate and fully expre...

Employees want healthier, more sustainable offices after COVID, says survey

2021-07-06T12:14:00-04:00

Following almost two years of work-from-home orders, businesses and governments are seeking to bring employees back to traditional workplaces. While working from home will continue to form part of many businesses’ employment structures in the long term, a separate question lingers over what the office of the future may look like.

A new report by NEXT Energy Technologies titled “The Case for Office Space: How Buildings Need to Change to Suit a Climate-Conscious, COVID-Weary Workforce” suggests that many employees will only accept office environments that respond to the needs of human health and the climate crisis. NEXT’s findings, available to download here, were the result of a survey carried out among over 450 remote employees and more than 150 senior managers across business verticals, which expose areas of significant alignment and divergence over how future offices should be designed and operated.

“Employees will not settle for the offices they once had; they want healthier...

Haptic Architects' team wins 2021 Davidson Prize with biophilic home design

2021-06-10T19:18:00-04:00

A multidisciplinary team led by Haptic Architects has won the £10,000 first prize in the inaugural Davidson Prize, a competition calling for new ideas that rethink the design of the contemporary home.

Titled HomeForest, the winning proposal comes from a diverse team. In addition to those representing Haptic Architects, the team includes poet Lionheart, interdisciplinary designer Yaoyao Meng, digital designers Squint/Opera, and musicians Coda to Coda. As stated on the competition’s website, multi-disciplinary creative teams are actively encouraged, however, each must include an architect registered with the Architecture Review Board (ARB) or the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI).

The theme of the inaugural competition is titled “Home/Work – A New Future”. It is based on the way the Covid-19 pandemic has blurred the boundaries between living and work spaces. While remote working has become commonplace and even preferred, the theme highlights the fact that homes are...

Would you work in a floating, remote workspace?

2021-04-06T18:03:00-04:00

Trends involving remote workspaces have heightened since 2020. While businesses worldwide learned to adjust and create remote working spaces that work best for them, architectural designer and graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, Agnieszka Białek, proposes a workspace alternative that may invite polarizing responses. Her project, Enclaves on Vistula River, was influenced by the altered work environments due to Covid-19 and the transition to remote work.

Image render courtesy of Agnieszka Białek / Monolight Studio

Commenting on the potential for home remote workplace fatigue, Białek explains on her project website the proposed concept "becomes a comfortable place for online meetings or relaxing in the new reality of reduced touch. The design provides protection of personal space and privacy for potential users. In times of social distancing, the workspace "creates a unique comfort zone and sense of security." She claims each remote work module can be booked hourly for use d...