The Way We Work: Personal Comfort and Control

Many people spend the majority of their time at the office or workplace. You’ve already seen how we applied the comforts of a community-centered space and a variety of working options to our new office design, creating a place people want to be.

It was equally important for employees to have agency and control over their own personal spaces. We know that a productive working environment isn’t one-size-fits-all, so we incorporated a range of options that allow individuals to work in ways that are most comfortable and effective for them.

Before moving in, we sent out an employee survey asking detailed questions about what people liked and disliked about our previous workspace. Questions ranged from personal desk preferences to meeting spaces and temperature control to wall colors and furniture. We gathered the data and identified aspects that mattered most to our team.

Here are a few examples of how we addressed these priorities:

Comfort and Personalization at Desks. When you sit at a desk for most of the day, comfort and wellness are paramount. Employees wanted a comfortable chair, the option to stand or sit, and some privacy to their personal space. We selected three options of office chairs, and asked employees test them out before making a final decision, going with the majority preference. We made sure every employee has their own sit/stand desk, and we chose desk partitions that provided privacy without feeling like a cubicle farm. We also encouraged employees to personalize their space with photos, lamps, plants, and elements that help them feel comfortable.

Noise and Temperature Control. Noise is the number-one complaint in an office setting, followed closely by temperature. Some people work best in quiet, while others can concentrate perfectly fine with background noise. Employees have the choice to work in a quiet rooms or huddle spaces, and we also installed sound masking in all open office areas. This system provides a low-level, specially engineered background sound that helps reduce distractions from nearby conversations. Conference rooms were equipped with acoustic panels to minimize echoes and outside noise.

Temperature required a similarly thoughtful approach. While we worked to establish a comfortable overall temperature for the office, the first few months took some fine tuning. We adjusted air vents that were blowing directly on employees; made gradual temperature adjustments; and implemented additional solutions where needed for specific rooms. Employees were encouraged to bring blankets or fans to remain comfortable based on their individual preferences.

SEE MORE: TMP Office at McEwen Northside

Lighting. Throughout the office, dimmable lighting lets employees adjust what’s most comfortable for them, depending on the room. Overhead lights are all dimmable, but conference rooms feature lamps, wall fixtures, and overhead fixtures as well, giving choice and variety in lighting. Because we work in an office surrounded with large, glass windows, natural light is almost always a choice as well.

These design decisions were thoughtful, intentional aspects in making our office as comfortable as possible for employees. We’re always open to ideas and thoughts from our staff on how to improve as we change and grow.

SEE MORE: The Way We Work: Inspired by Nature