Around Colorado, companies and their employees have had to quickly adapt to working entirely remote. Despite the challenges and occasional technical glitches, organizations are making it work – many are even finding new ways to maximize their productivity.
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“Open office isn’t really a thing anymore. Now it’s more of a blended office. The question is, ‘What’s the right blend?’”
Martin Goldstein
April 20, 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic is forcing company leaders to re-examine nearly every aspect of their businesses, including their office spaces.
No one is sure what an eventual return to in-person work will look like, but experts agree that the current pandemic is likely to have both short-term and long-term impacts on office designs.
Popular trends such as the increasing densification of office space — implemented, in theory, to encourage collaboration (and reduce square footage) — could face a reversal. Others that have been slower to catch on, such as the adoption of anti-microbial surfaces, could see a surge in popularity.
Jon Gambrill, principal and co-managing director of architecture firm Gensler’s Denver office, emphasized that the anticipated changes will evolve as this vast work-from-home experiment continues. And the long-term effect remains the biggest unknown.
“We’re learning through this,” Gambrill said. “Every week it seems that we’re gathering more and more research.”
Denver Business Journal spoke to several local architecture and interior solutions firms to get their thoughts on the possible changes, both big and small, that may be in store for offices.
So, are we all headed for a return to the workplace with single-occupancy offices or high-walled cubicles?
April, 2020
Drawing on observations and experiences gleaned from decades of designing office environments, Martin Goldstein predicts some substantive shifts in what people can expect from the return to the workplace.
An extra 20 minutes of sleep. Daily meetings in shorts conducted via Zoom. Celebrating birthdays and long work weeks with a virtual team happy hour. These are some of our new realities during a global quarantine.
Around the world, companies and their employees have had to quickly adapt to the challenges of completely remote working. Despite the challenges and technical glitches (double-booking the office conference line, forgetting you’re on camera, etc.), organizations are staying connected and, in many cases, finding new ways to maximize their productivity.
That is not to say that any of this feels normal at this point. While we are all making do as best we can, there is a growing sense that things will not be the same after this. The big question is: will we all return to the workplace? What will corporate America learn from the “great distancing of 2020?” And how will this pandemic influence office design of tomorrow?
In addition to the basic human need for social interaction, most professionals’ work makes contact with their teams a necessity. Regardless of size or function, we still have peers and direct reports to meet with. Professional services still need to be completed. Training still needs to occur. The culture of an organization, how people collaborate and develop soft skills that will allow them to advance in their careers – all of these still largely depend on face-to-face interactions. And not all of that can be done via video conference.
Here in Colorado, it’s important to consider how the outdoor lifestyle factors into how people will use their space.
September 9, 2019
Today’s multifamily experience undoubtedly has matured over recent decades. At one point, an apartment building’s success was measured solely on its fundamentals. It was about the right checked boxes for beds and baths. There were laundry machines in the building or maybe on the floor. The finishes were kept up to date, but making sure the building performed well at a low cost remained the top priority. Today, multifamily design tells a different story – it’s all about experience.
While sustainability, amenities, finishes and technology are the big buzzwords in the industry, what they all point to is a focus on how design can enhance quality of life. Whether you’re attracting millennials looking for their first place or baby boomers looking to downsize and relocate to be closer to family, residents want a home that allows for an ease of living.
The impact on developers and their design teams can be seen at every level, from the types of amenities offered in the community to the design details of a single residence. There is no one-size-fits-all approach here. Different regions across the United States call for different considerations to attract residents.
Here in Colorado, it’s important to consider how the outdoor lifestyle factors into how people will use their space. Typically, Colorado residents come with a lot of outdoor gear that needs storing – at least a bike (or two), some downhill gear (skis or a snowboard), tents, backpacks and, on the rare occasion, even a kayak. And to round out their outdoorcentric lifestyle, many residents also own a dog. To accommodate this, many firms have started to pay closer attention to gear storage and pet accommodations. It’s common nowadays to design bike closets (both inside and outside the unit), bike repair rooms, mud room rinse areas, and dog wash rooms and dog relief pens – especially if the community is located near one of the numerous trails around the Denver metro area.
“The new pretentiousness is not being pretentious.”
Martin Goldstein
April 1, 2019
The tech industry is known for its progressive workplace design that helps attract and retain employees in today’s competitive job market. The amenity-rich, open-concept office designs tech companies seem to favor are believed to foster innovation, creativity, productivity and collaboration — qualities any company, technology or otherwise, would want to encourage in their employees.
But it is important to understand a company’s culture and how its employees work together before jumping into the design of its office space. That understanding is key to creating workspace that promotes innovation and productivity, and that is where firms like Venture Architecture come in.
The Denver-based company specializes in discovery-focused design and delivery, and its portfolio includes projects from new corporate headquarters and tenant improvement office spaces to mixed and adaptive reuse, multifamily and education.
Bisnow sat down with Venture Architecture Principal Architect Martin Goldstein to get his take on how to effectively design office space that will keep employees engaged and eager to show up for work each day.
Bisnow: How do you think about designing an office that a tech firm may be as likely to occupy as a more traditional tenant?
Goldstein: We always try to think about flexibility. We like to design spaces that have multiple purposes. If a tech company switches their approach, there has to be flexibility. We focus more on what do they need now, and what are they likely to need in the future.
“Our business is strong and we continue to explore ways to meet the needs of our employees while investing in our future.”
Andrew Rees, President & CEO, CROCS
Feb. 6, 2019
After more than a decade in Niwot, shoemaker Crocs Inc. will be relocating its corporate headquarters to Broomfield in 2020.
“Our business is strong and we continue to explore ways to meet the needs of our employees while investing in our future,” Andrew Rees, president and CEO of Crocs (Nasdaq: CROX), said in a statement provided by the company. “This is an exciting time to be at Crocs, and just like our iconic product, this best-in-class new headquarters will help our employees be comfortable in their own shoes.”
Crocs has occupied its current 98,000 square-foot headquarters at 7477 East Dry Creek Parkway in Niwot since at least 2004. The company’s new 88,000-square-foot headquarters will be just 13 miles away at 13699 Via Varra Road in Broomfield.
Shannon Sisler, Crocs’ senior vice president of global human resources, told Denver Business Journal that the company could not discuss the financial details of the company’s move due to the current earnings quiet period, but confirmed that economic incentives from the state of Colorado and the city of Broomfield played a role in Crocs’ move.
“Just like our iconic product, this best-in-class new headquarters will help our employees be comfortable in their own shoes.”
Andrew Rees,
president and chief executive officer, Crocs
February 5, 2019
Casual footwear company Crocs Inc. will relocate its corporate headquarters from Niwot to Broomfield in 2020. The move is part of the company’s strategy for long-term, sustainable growth, including employee retention and recruitment.
“Our business is strong and we continue to explore ways to meet the needs of our employees while investing in our future,” said Andrew Rees, president and chief executive officer. “This is an exciting time to be at Crocs, and just like our iconic product, this best-in-class new headquarters will help our employees be comfortable in their own shoes.”
The new headquarters will be located at Atria, 13601 Via Varra Road. It will provide the company with 88,000 square feet of office space that is more convenient and centrally located for the majority of Crocs employees, and provides easy access to the U.S. Highway 36 corridor, restaurants, shopping, trails and other amenities, which the company said will help it attract and retain key talent.
A lease for the space was negotiated with Ektin Johnson Real Estate Partners, with an initial term of 10 years and two five-year renewal options. Crocs has selected Denver-based Venture Architecture to design the workspace.
“We are grateful that Niwot has been our home for more than a decade, and are thrilled to keep and grow our global headquarters in the thriving state of Colorado,” Rees said.