Promote employee emotional connections, happiness, and performance, while reducing turnover with the latest Science of Design trends for financial institution corporate structures.
Trends to Create a High-Performing Workplace
01
Hybrid Workplaces
Your main office building is the hub for connection, innovation, and company culture across your branches. Create a balance between in-person and virtual meetings with hybrid-specific amenities that draw employees to your financial headquarters.
Design Methods
- “Zoom Rooms” for virtual meetings
- Touchdown spaces for remote workers
- Hot-desking and hoteling options
- Technology for hybrid collaboration
02
Open Collaboration Zones
Create a mix of functional spaces to stimulate collaboration, spontaneous idea-making, and facilitate employee interactions, while accommodating varied working preferences and reducing construction costs.
Design Methods
- Centralized meeting areas
- Common meeting areas
- Lower dividers between workers
- Open-plan kitchens
- Conference rooms
- Project rooms
- Huddle spaces
- Community tables
- Lounges and coffee bars
03
Flexible & Adjustable Spaces
Easily adapt to office fluctuations, hybrid employee schedules, and staff preferences with the option to reconfigure layouts, create collaborative zones, or design semi-private nooks for privacy.
Design Methods
- Moveable walls and acoustic dividers
- Multi-use furnishings
- Hot-desking and shared desks
- Movable partitions between workstations
- Private phone booths and huddle pods
- Quiet zones
04
Modular Furniture
Adapt furniture to fluctuating workstations to create workspaces that scale to your employees’ needs for focus zones, collaborative spots, or relaxation areas.
Design Methods
- Movable partitions
- Modular seating
- Height adjustable desks
- Workstation pods
- Seating variations (hi-top tables, couches, and chairs)
05
Technology Integration
Make technology and data connectivity, including contactless options, easily accessible so employees can be productive, safe, and feel valued whether in the office, a branch, or working remotely.
Design Methods
- Zoom rooms
- Augmented and virtual reality rooms
- Contactless technology
- Building automation and security
- Mobile apps
- Audio/voice technology
- Digital marketing boards
06
Biophilic Design
Connect to the natural world by creating a vibrant, nature-inspired workplace by using natural plantings and other elements to bring the outside in.
Design Methods
- Maximize natural light
- Incorporate greenery (live walls, green roofs, courtyards, plants and water walls)
- Implement organic patterns and natural materials onto furniture or wall coverings
- Display nature-inspired artwork
07
Sustainability & Eco-Friendly
Demonstrate your eco-friendly values and reduce your carbon footprint by incorporating environmental protections while benefiting from energy savings, positive brand image, and employee engagement.
Design Methods
- Operational energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions
- Sustainable building materials
- Responsible waste disposal and recycling programs
- Low-emission paints and adhesives
- Furniture and flooring with non-toxic materials
- Motion-activated lighting and water faucets
- Solar panel and electricity storage technologies
- Green roofs or living walls
- Bottle fillers on water fountains
- Bike racks and electric vehicle charging stations
- Solar site lighting
08
Mental Health & Well-Being
Foster happiness, reduce stress, and improve daily experiences with design elements that positively impact human health following WELLTM design and build standards.
Design Methods
- Focus or quiet spaces
- Natural light and greenery
- Ergonomic furnishings
- Active amenities like gyms or walking trails
- Work-life balance policies
- Community-focused collaborative spaces
- Noise cancellation elements
- Air quality enhancements
- Outdoor workspaces
09
Brand Values
Create office designs and layouts that express your brand values like creativity, collaboration, and employee health.
Design Methods
- Historic or cultural display elements of the company
- Overall office layout and furniture placement
- Distinctive furnishings, lighting, and colors
- Technology, signage, and custom wallcoverings
10
Lighting & Color Psychology
Influence the emotions, behaviors, moods, alertness, and productivity of employees with the right lighting, paint colors, and furniture fabric shades.
Design Methods
- Skylights and large windows
- Diffused/indirect lighting
- Natural-looking artificial lighting
- Non-reflective surfaces
- Selective paint colors based on emotion desired within spaces