Workplace Design and g-VISION
As designers of interior space it is critical for us to understand the business culture, vision and goals of our client’s to effectively design an office space that is not just a place to work, but a strategic component of a client’s business vision and mission. At GGA, we have leveraged over 30 years of workplace expertise to develop a comprehensive discovery, research, planning and analysis tool known as g-VISION
The g-VISION process is the strategic foundation for delivering high-quality projects. With its proven research, discovery and analysis methodology, it provides more in-depth, comprehensive and business-oriented information than typical architectural programming. As a result, GGA is better positioned to design office spaces that can attract and retain talented personnel, define your business culture and enhance your brand. In other words, we turn your office space into a strategic tool to help you achieve your business goals. At the same time, we understand the importance of being economically prudent and appropriate, efficient and flexible in the use of space to accommodate necessary change. Each design decision is weighed in full view of the economics of the specific assignment using our clients’ funds wisely and getting the most for their money.
The Strategic Workplace
In our knowledge-based economy, people are business’ most important asset. The key to gaining an edge over competition involves attracting, retaining and enabling skilled talent. Office space plays an important part in differentiating your business from your competition.
Your office space is more than just “a necessary cost of doing business”; it is a dynamic and strategic business tool that helps define your business culture and brand, attract and retain skilled employees and give those employees the support structure necessary to help them work efficiently, productively and grow your business. In today’s business environment it must be flexible, instill pride, enhance collaboration and increase communication.business.
An Evolving Business World
In terms of who is working and how they are working, the American workforce has changed significantly over the last three decades and will continue to evolve as time passes.
Not only are Americans living longer and staying in the workforce longer but also the number of women in the workforce has grown significantly, and there have been major changes in the cultural makeup of the workforce. These differences have an effect on how the office space works to accommodate these differences. Most research suggests, even in the economic conditions we live in currently, that businesses are going to continue working harder to attract and retain the best talent and skilled employees.
There have also been major developments in how professionals work. IT solutions enabled a shift from clerical work patterns to problem solving, analysis and knowledge capital. The new economy has also seen a reduction in the skills and responsibilities gap between managers and their staff, resulting in flatter organizational structures.
As the size and quality of the labor pool changes, keeping skilled workers satisfied and interested in their work becomes more important. Companies are changing human resources policies and re-examining the role their facilities play in attracting and retaining strong employees.
Changing Workplace
The way businesses and individuals are working is changing, and the workplace must change with them. One of the biggest areas of change has been technology, which has given businesses tremendous power in terms of data processing, production solutions and communications capabilities. Because of the improvements and advancements, businesses no longer need large numbers of staff to perform clerical tasks. What businesses do need, however, are well-educated and trained staff who can collaborate to quickly develop business solutions that provide an edge over the competition.
Information and communication technologies enable workers to fully connect to the office, without physically being in the office. When at work, the increase in collaborative environments emphasizes the need for informal meeting spaces to encourage planned interaction and knowledge sharing. Corporate training centers are becoming increasingly valuable avenues for more formalized knowledge-sharing while private offices and workstations are adapting to the new collaborative mantra by breaking down barriers to communication.
The Basis for Design
The key to creating the appropriate space for any client involves a substantial amount of research and observation. Through five key steps (Research, Discovery and Visioning; Qualitative Discovery; Quantitative Discovery; Sustainability Assessment; and Adjacencies) we are able to determine the best design for your needs. These steps analyze the details of your office functions, studying factors ranging from growth projections to the functional relationships of your firm’s different departments, to your mission, vision and values. This comprehensive view is the basis of providing our clients with the best and most creative solutions to its office designs.
