As architects and designers, we create inviting and engaging guest-centric spaces for all types of environments. We deliver both experiential and energized settings that resonate with the unique individuals who work, shop, dine, stay, and serve in these spaces, while always staying true to the foundation of the brand, its culture.

At the onset of COVID-19 and as the required work-from-home and social distancing guidelines went into effect, dialogue as to how companies were planning their successful return to the office escalated. The majority of the discussion focused on stripping out amenities, elements, and services that would mitigate the risk of germs and keep employees safe, but there has been very little dialogue surrounding how to keep company culture alive and thriving, without a home base or office which previously serviced as the cultural heart of a company.  So, while all the unknowns continue to circle overhead, how can corporations, enterprises, and large and small businesses ensure that they are keeping their cultures safe?

While reconfiguring floor plans and other critical changes to the physical office environment must continue to be a priority, protecting a company’s culture during this historical time can have a long-term impact long beyond a vaccine.

We recommend a combination of approachable tactics and thoughtful design enhancements for building a stronger, culture-centric workplace post-COVID-19:

ESTABLISH A TEAMMATE TASK FORCE

Create a task force to nurture and energize your existing culture within this new environment. Assess communications and encourage positive messaging outside of revenue and heavy discussions. Empower employees to be part of new initiatives going forward and identify key stakeholders, beyond the executive team, that can lead new initiatives, collect honest feedback, and encourage firmwide participation. Remember to focus on the personal experience of the employee in all communications. Consistent, thoughtful, and cohesive brand messaging is key.

STRATEGIZE SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS

Giving employees the tools, transparency, and sense of control to transition back into the office when the time is right is paramount. The key to success lies in providing constant communication to minimize anxiety. Consider assembling a “welcome back kit,” consisting of sanitizers, masks, quick visual guides pertaining to office layout changes, lists of new protocols for quick reference, and more. Infuse your brand, mission, and values in the kit to tie back to your unique culture.

REPLACE RITUALS

Due to new workplace protocols and behavioral changes that will need to be initiated, keep in mind all legacy cultural traditions that may need to be revised or temporarily cancelled. In their place, identify new rituals that can comply with social distancing, ones that the company can rally around.  Survey your staff for recommendations and communicate that in the pursuit of safety, you will need to alter some traditions.  Perhaps the weekly Friday happy hour can be replaced with a virtually-curated cocktail-making class, and taking the elevator can be replaced with taking the stairs.

 

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DIFFERENTIATE AMENITIES

Where existing amenities might be temporarily halted, provide employees with differentiated opportunities to keep them engaged, while also promoting a healthy lifestyle and safe protocols. Should the company or building fitness center be off-limits, employers could give workers credit for streaming fitness apps or online classes. Make it a team building exercise by including friendly competitions with goal setting and rewards. Encourage fitness clubs that don’t require the gym. Motivate employees to go outside and partake daily walking excursions, running clubs after work hours, and meditation sessions. Inspiring team members to stay active will minimize the disappointment and frustrations surrounding closed amenities.

EMBRACE WELL BUILDING STANDARDS

Employers should look for quick wins that benefit psychological and physical wellbeing of their employees. Look for inspiration from WELL Building Standards by creating work environments that prioritize mental and physical health, and happiness. Incorporate more biophilic elements such as living plants that can serve as barriers between work stations and provide critical air filtration and oxygen. When possible, consider holding meetings in an outdoor venue for a change in scenery. This will not only decrease anxiety, but also promote better health.

 

 

LEAD WITH BRAND

During this time of uncertainty, it is more important than ever to leverage your brand assets to encourage teammate creativity and collaboration in a new way.  Consider providing custom, branded Zoom backgrounds for all to use when communicating with each other and clients. There are endless ways to leverage branded environmental graphics throughout a space. Look to add new graphic wraps that reflect your brand and mission at key areas of the office. These can promote safety and show that employees are valued and critical to success. Get creative with wayfinding to highlight new traffic flows and give team members a visual of what a safe distance looks like. A life-size map of the reconfigured floor plan can be displayed to easily locate colleagues and new sanitizing stations. Finally, in a time when so many things are being stripped away from company culture to keep employees safe, brighten up the office by adding a brag wall featuring accomplishments, recognition, and more.

 

 

All in all, while it’s necessary to protect the physical environment, your culture is the backbone of your company, and it’s equally as important to keep it safe. In the midst of the chaos, the one consistent thing you can do for your employees is give them a culture to come back to. Bigger investments in the office will take time, concentrating on culture is a short-term solution that will lead to long-term benefits.