Minneapolis-based architecture and design firm Nelson Worldwide welcomed ​​two regional leaders: Micah Hall as Southeast regional practice leader of hospitality and Kirt Neal as regional industrial practice leader of the Pacific Northwest and Greater Western region.

Read more with Business of Home here.

NELSON Worldwide’s Evolving Workforce Expectations study explores employees’ sentiments about returning to the office, and the impact COVID-19 has had on work environments and employee engagement. As part of our Evolving Workforce Expectations blog series, we’re taking a closer look at each of the key themes that stemmed from our research: communicate, activate, control, and support. Follow along to learn more about each theme and how your brand can pull off a successful re-entry strategy.

As today’s workforce evolves amid the current global pandemic, we predict the role of the physical office will do the same. Leveraging data from our recent study, we’ve identified three themes that will redefine workplace environments of today and the future. Examining this idea from macro to micro level, these themes start by looking at overall real estate strategy, new roles, and finally, dynamic design solutions that can help get employees excited to return to the office.  Below, we’re taking a deep dive into each of these themes and exploring how to activate them in the workplace:

Portfolio Strategy 

As many businesses reevaluate their real estate portfolio, there are many strategies employers and developers must consider to adjust to new working styles and health and wellness concerns. Actions include:

• Consider the location of an office and understanding the value in urban vs. suburban, the access to transportation and parking, the connection to the brand, and geographical opportunities that are available.
• Reevaluate real estate usage while considering new opportunities for consumers/users to interact with the space. For example, is the current space client facing? Is there optimal collaboration space? Is there enough back-of-house space?
• Put people at the center of the decision. If a new location or space can’t recruit and retain top talent or loyal customers is it worth it? On the other hand, have new consumer/employee behaviors impacted how a current space/location will be used?
• Don’t double the footprint if you don’t have to. When assessing real estate, it is more important than ever to question the amount of space or the model needed to support staff and business while keeping flexibility and capital planning in mind.

45% of respondents listed “location and neighborhood of office” as the aspect that they most appreciated about their company’s physical workplace.

Habitat for Humanity | NELSON Worldwide

Redefined Role  

As companies start to plan their re-entry, brands and businesses must understand their unique priority of functions to better redefine their space. In most organizations, there are various teams that perform different tasks and use different space types for work. From research-based roles, to client facing roles, the purpose of each space must be redefined. There are various roles and activities that should be considered along the way:

• Customer-Facing Role: As COVID-19 restrictions ease, more people are open to in-person meetings. In many cases, there are employees that will opt to utilize the office for customer-facing meetings rather than virtual meetings.
• Dependent Workers: Fostering a safe and engaging environment for employees that must be onsite (i.e. R&D, IT, etc.) should not be forgotten, especially as other employees are introduced to the space.
• Cultural Immersion Opportunities: A strong culture is crucial for any business, so for employees that are opening to in-person interactions, the office environment should become a touchpoint of your brand/culture for existing employees and new employees to connect (safely, of course).

54% of respondents selected “a sense of teamwork and sociability” as the thing they miss the most about being in the office.

Pandora | NELSON Worldwide

Dynamic Design

If so few employees want to come in the office, how can you utilize design to get employees excited about the office again? By using human-centric design solutions to support the workforce today and the future, organizations can create environments that not only provide safety, but drive and support innovation. This approach may include:

• Developing dynamic space types that can be a COVID-safe hub for brand/culture events or a space for hosting formal, client-based meetings.
• Taking inspiration from other industries to create fluid environments that provide more convenience-based amenities or micro-experiences (i.e. in-house food concepts, outdoor experiences).
• Presenting a partnership model by tapping into co-working spaces or even a hotel brand that has empty private suites for employees to use as a Zoom studio or podcast suite.

Hilton has announced that its 18th brand will be called Tempo, described as an “approachable lifestyle brand curated to serve a growing segment of modern achievers.” NELSON Worldwide was in charge of the design development of the project. Read more here.

In 2021, VISUAL MERCHANDISING is following three distinct trends: immersive experiences, interrupting traffic patterns and connecting with the customer. When Men’s Warehouse approached Nelson Worldwide (Minneapolis) to reimagine the store, that’s exactly what they wanted to achieve.

“We were tasked with reinventing the way Men’s Warehouse is presented to shoppers,” explains Meredith Seeds, Director of Interior Design at Nelson Worldwide. “Previously, the product had been hard to shop with so many options, and the customer journey through the space was difficult to navigate. To create a store that offers intuitive and seamless shopping, we took a strategic approach: replanning and rethinking categories and creating spaces in which shoppers could celebrate moments that matter, like a suit fitting for their wedding.” Read more here.

NELSON Worldwide is pleased to announce the addition of Sean McCorry as Vice President, National Business Leader in the Retail Practice. Sean will lead the firm’s retail efforts nationwide, bringing over 25 years of experience managing global retail concepts and delivering premium brand concepts with a return on investment. Sean’s addition highlights the firm’s continued commitment to creating transformative environments and providing unparalleled client service.

The American Library Association (ALA) recently tapped NELSON Worldwide to design its new Chicago space that would excite and motivate staff. Read more here.

Architecture, design and strategy firm Nelson Worldwide has announced Blaik Ritchie as the firm’s vice president and mixed-use business leader. With more than three decades of industry experience, Ritchie will work on the operational side of the firm’s mixed-use practice, assisting various Nelson offices in streamlining project management and planning. Read more here.

KFC got its start in Corbin, Kentucky. The Harland Sanders Café & Museum in the location of that original restaurant has been redesigned to better celebrate the chain’s founder. 

The word “iconic” gets tossed around a lot in the restaurant industry. Every chain with more than a couple of decades of history will talk about its iconic logo or its iconic mascot. There’s nothing wrong with this, as some legends are local, but it’s mostly marketing. There simply are not that many true icons among chain restaurants.

Read more with Restaurant Development + Design here.