City Update 2022
Throughout the year, our teams put their heads together to share industry activity, trends, culture, trade secrets, and more.
Throughout the year, our teams put their heads together to share industry activity, trends, culture, trade secrets, and more.
How has the pandemic shifted business, real estate, and workplace culture?
This is what we’re seeing in industry activity across the globe.
increased workplace strategy
vacancy rates
companies with phased re-entry
unemployment rates down since the start of the pandemic
landlord improvements
What’s happening at ONE Global Design culture-wise?
Some firms are 100% remote whereas others are adopting a hybrid solution.
tp bennett celebrated a grand 100 years of business and Acquilano celebrated 35 years.
Firms like Hendrick and Partners By Design and Design Collective have paired up and completed successful projects together.
What patterns have we seen amongst our clients?
Commonalities we’ve noticed across the globe include:
Increased interest in diversity, equality, and inclusion
Hospitality design can help clients attract staff back to the office
Adopted digital solutions
Hybrid workstyle
Increased flex space
Sustainable solutions
Teamwork makes the dream work
At the end of the day, we come together to create spaces that will enhance the lives and productivity of our clients. Thanks for joining our city update series.
LATEST NEWS
Covid-Friendly & Practical Luxuries in Multi-Family Properties
During a Virtual ONE Global Design Summit — where our teams share trade secrets and put heads together in brainstorming sessions — Casie Idle, Vice President of Business Development at ID & Design International (IDDI), shared trends that IDDI is seeing in the multi-family sector nationwide.
How do you raise the bar in multi-family properties? Blend functionality, adaptability, convenience, imagination, and add a little bit of spice.
During a Virtual ONE Global Design Summit — where our independently-owned firms share trade secrets and put heads together in brainstorming sessions — Casie Idle, Vice President of Business Development at ID & Design International (IDDI), shared nationwide developer trends in the multi-family sector.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of amenity spaces within luxury and economy multi-family properties. IDDI has found that prospective tenants are looking for properties where they can live, work, relax, and play.
Developers want to create new, livable communal areas within their buildings, such as flexible coworking spaces complete with pods, desks, and conference rooms, larger fitness centers with a plethora of equipment, onsite grocery and convenience shops with keyless entry, demo kitchens, beauty salons, dog washes, smart home technology, outdoor fitness areas like basketball courts and wrestling rings, and rooftops designed for open-air, safe social gatherings.
Precautions set by the pandemic have introduced an increased need for amenities and convenience within the multi-family market. Lifestyle changes invite thoughtful redesign with tenants and developers in mind, combining functional needs with preeminent design.
ONE Global Design relentlessly exceeds expectations through an iconoclastic eye for design. Our teams are dedicated and diverse professionals whose commitment to functional elegance challenges tradition and elevates design standards worldwide. Partners who specialize in multi-family include DSP Design, Design Collective, Figure3, LEMAYMICHAUD, Meyer, NoackLittle, ProgressiveAE, and tpbennett.
Want to learn more? Reach out to the team at IDDI.
LATEST NEWS
JPC Architects and Design Republic Collaborate on PitchBook’s NYC Office
As one of the largest networks of design talent in the world, ONE Global Design makes it possible for clients to execute their projects around the globe, no matter where they begin — like expanding from Seattle to New York City, for example.
As one of the largest networks of design talent in the world, ONE Global Design makes it possible for clients to execute their projects around the globe, no matter where they begin — like expanding from Seattle to New York City, for example.
PitchBook’s mission is to help people make informed business decisions that lead to game-changing results. When JPC Architects was asked to design PitchBook's New York office, the goal was to create an environment that followed the very same philosophy that fuels PitchBook: fostering innovation.
The PitchBook team had recently completed their Seattle office with JPC Architects and were very interested working with JPC again and bringing the successful elements of that office design to the Flatiron district Headquarters in NYC. Aligning the vision, JPC took elements of the Seattle office while remaining true to the integrity and creative features of the 1920s Manhattan building that would house the new office.
The collaborative and multi-use office takes full advantage of the exposed concrete floors, columns, and historic beam work. There is an industrial feel with a central, 3-story unfinished-steel stair anchoring the space with exposed metal and eye-catching welding work. One of the most unique features is a stainless steel slide provided by Goric Playgrounds that safely allows the PitchBook team to have some fun together sparking creativity. Great care and thought went into the design and construction of the NYC office; every element was designed with a purpose.
Early on in the project, JPC reached out to Design Republic, a trusted ONE Global partner firm located in New York City to represent the design team on the ground and to provide important local expertise for the project. Design Republic frequently visited the site during construction, coordinated vendors and approvals, and worked to manage expectations. They were instrumental in the success of this collaborative project; PitchBook is an excellent example of how ONE Global Partners work together on behalf of our clients.
LATEST NEWS
Comcast’s Culture-Driven Interior Design Transformation Story
Comcast — a world leader in telecommunications, innovation, and technology — garners one of the most diverse, agile, and forward-thinking creative workforces in the world, as one would expect.
Comcast — a world leader in the fast-changing businesses of media, entertainment and technology — garners one of the most diverse, agile, and forward-thinking creative workforces in the world.
To create a new workplace more reflective of its vibrant and dynamic culture, Comcast set out to build a new home for its 1,000+ Central Division employees that would enhance productivity, enable increased "speed to market", and excite current and future employees from the moment they walk in the door each day — whether it's day 1 or 100.
Comcast partnered with ONE Global Design's Hendrick Inc. and Design Republic to develop an intuitive workplace strategy for its 245,000-square-foot Atlanta-based Division headquarters. The design team kicked things off with a comprehensive work style assessment to gain insight into the Division’s culture, systems, and working styles. This assessment included extensive tours of the workplace, executive visioning sessions to gauge future possibilities, employee surveys to dig deep into the inner workings of the company, 59 distinct questionnaires, focus group discussions to analyze the "why" behind many employee perceptions and requests, full-day observations detailing how employees used their space, and in-depth space analysis of existing locations. The key findings of Hendrick and Design Republic's thorough analyses concluded that employees desired an open-concept workspace to reduce hierarchal attitudes, increase transparency, and open up possibilities for increased collaboration and innovation between departments, leaders, and the general population.
The result of these insights produced a neighborhood-like environment that balances open office space with private collaboration environments and innovation areas — as well as 20,000-square-feet of hospitality, recreation, and amenities to make the workplace feel more like a central space for living, working, and playing. This audacious concept resulted in flexible work spaces for different work styles, ample opportunities for spontaneous collaboration, increased stimulation of creativity and innovation, as well as increased transparency and camaraderie among all employees — regardless of their status in the company. It has been transformative project for Comcast, creating a fun, inspiring yet functional environment where employees can successfully manage the extremely fast changes in Comcast’s business environment.
LATEST NEWS
LEMAYMICHAUD joins ONE Global Design network
Leading international architecture and interior design practice LEMAYMICHAUD, has announced its partnership with ONE Global Design, an international network of independent, principal-owned architecture and design firms.
Leading international architecture and interior design practice LEMAYMICHAUD, has announced its partnership with ONE Global Design, an international network of independent, principal-owned architecture and design firms.
“We are honoured to join such an influential organization. With offices in Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec City, we believe our vast experience of the Canadian market, with all the particularities of the Quebec market, will allow us to bring something interesting and different to the table.”
—Alexi Lemay, Senior Partner at LEMAYMICHAUD
“We are delighted to invite LEMAYMICHAUD to join our group of elite member firms. Our current membership has identified the expansion into this region of Canada is an important region for our alliance’ growth and is very enthusiastic about the invitation extended to the practice for membership. We are very impressed with the firm’s project experience and reputation as well as their professional leadership and team and feel this addition will complement our group incredibly well. There are many collaborative project opportunities that exist between Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa and our other represented cities for our clients in Canada, USA, Mexico, India and Singapore and bringing on LEMAYMICHAUD will add to our impressive list of independent design and architecture firms globally.”
—Suzanne Nicholson, Executive Director of ONE Global Design
ABOUT LEMAYMICHAUD
Founded in 1979, LEMAYMICHAUD is a major player on the architectural, interior design and branding scenes in Quebec. Its team of 125 skilled professionals has worked on many projects across Canada, allowing partners and clients to “build their dreams”. Loyal clients such as Maison Simons, Group Germain Hotels, Strøm Spa Nordique and Deloitte have helped the company earn a solid reputation both in Canada and internationally. The firm now has offices in Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa.
ABOUT ONE GLOBAL DESIGN
Comprised of 22 firms in 42 locations across US, Canada, Europe, India, and Singapore the ONE Global Design network allows corporate clients to seamlessly work with a firm that is familiar with their brand, vision and company culture in partnership with a local best-in-class firm that understands and is embedded in the community where the project is located. Every project is led by a principal team that knows the client’s business. This unique model, created in response to requests from corporate clients, offers a global perspective with a local, personal touch.
LATEST News
Interior Design Magazine 2020 Top 100 Rising Giants
FIVE of our partner firms were listed in Interior Design Magazine 2020 Top 100 Rising Giants list. Big congrats to Figure3, Design Republic, Hendrick, Meyer, and Wolcott!
FIVE of our partner firms were listed in Interior Design Magazine 2020 Top 100 Rising Giants list. Big congrats to Figure3, Design Republic, Hendrick, Meyer, and Wolcott!
Read more about the evolving market and see the full rising giants list at www.interiordesign.net.
LATEST NEWS
The Only Constant Is Change: Interview
ONE Global Design discusses fundamental questions surrounding how to safely re-enter the physical workplace.
How do we get back to work? After surveying dozens of companies and picking the brains of our executives, principals, designers and other industry leaders, we discuss fundamental questions surrounding how to safely re-enter the physical workplace.
Want to participate in the Work From Home Survey?
TRANSCRIPT
Jennifer Treter, Hendrick (00.03):
We're here to talk about something that's very personal to everyone and very much at the front of everybody's mind. We do know surrounding this. It's fair to say that the only constant is change. And I think we all have a love, hate relationship with change. When things are good, we may wish we would things wouldn't change. The statement also seems to be very commonly used. It was, we find ourselves in moments of struggle, looking for a brighter future, for sure. And so now we find ourselves saying “this too shall pass”. And in the end, we're looking for comfort that a stronger and brighter future will happen. As the COVID-19 pandemic began to unfold, we saw firsthand the impacts on our communities. We also saw it was a place to plug in or one global design collective expertise and provide constructive insight into the future of work from a very human centric perspective.
HOW TO APPROACH RE-ENTERING THE OFFICE?
Rex Miller, MindShift (01:06):
And so today I'm here primarily because of my work on this transition. How do we get back to work? And my concern on how much effort is going to the mechanical side of it, and how little we're really focusing on the emotional side of what's going to take place over the next few months.
HOW TO APPROACH SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE?
Melissa Malburg, Progressive AE (01:30):
I mean, I think a big component is just communication, clear, consistent, frequent communication. This is like a perfect opportunity for change management, change communication one-on-one. If people don't understand why, why from what's the business case for us as our organization to come back? What value is it? How am I contributing to the organization by being in the office? Instead of being at home. I think that's a big deal. I think helping them understand the thought process of the planning and the purpose that went into re-entry hopefully there's planning and purpose in the re-entry through each office. Cause it looks different for everyone that the existing context of your, of your workspace is going to dictate how you can re-enter it safely. So that planning needs to be very careful and then being very transparent to your employees about how you did, how you did that, planning, how you're cleaning and how you're keeping them safe.
But I think it has to be balanced by people's perception of safety. So there has to be literal technical safety but I have to feel good about being there. If it feels very clinical and very sterile and very you know, everything's plexiglass and vinyl people, aren't going to feel good there. And it's going to send the message that we actually don't really think you're safe in here, but we want you here anyways. I think at that point, performance is going to go down. All of the value of being back in the office is going to go away because just our psychological sense of safety and comfort is, is gone. So balancing how people perceive safety and how they actually are safe and communicating that to them, I think is going to be really, really important as people start to venture back.
WHAT IS THE BUSINESS VALUE OF THE OFFICE RIGHT NOW?
Elizabeth Baudler, Hendrick (03:15):
And as we found in the survey, that flexibility piece, that autonomy, people greatly want to keep that in their lives in some way shape or form. And the strongest answer that came from that was if my culture support this.
HOW CAN WE MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS ABOUT RE-ENTRY?
Rex Miller, MindShift (03:35):
I think one nudge in the decisions we make is to pull out your mission, vision, values, and have it right next to your spreadsheet or your logistical plan. And ask, ‘does this decision support what we believe?’ And having leaders — this was an equal opportunity disaster. Nobody has been left untouched by this. So, for the very first time leaders have experienced the same kinds of loss that everybody else, which hopefully opens them up to walk the talk. Because quite frankly, one of the biggest nudges is if the leaders are transparent, authentic, visible, accessible, and look like humans and talk like humans.
WHAT WILL REMAIN AFTER WE SETTLE INTO NEW ROUTINES?
Mike O’Neill, Haworth (04:27):
I think we'll all go back in with more empathy for others and really with a realization of how fragile we are and how, and how fragile everything we take for granted is and how everything hangs together almost it's a miracle. And I think in the past leaders were promoted actually the less empathy you have, the more likely you will get promoted as a leader. And because you can't have too much empathy, if you have to make hard decisions. And I kind of wonder if that criteria will be shifting in the future.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE OFFICE?
Chris Blackadder, Forge (05:12):
The office is not a single place anymore. We work between the physical and the virtual our behaviors demand where we go and how we do our work. Now it's if you Venn diagram, physical, virtual and behavioral leadership sits in the middle, but the behavioral bit is balancing where and what we're doing. So, it's a choice we all have now to what we do. Like I said earlier about the autonomy going up. Balancing the immediate, I think we're in a, you know, re-entry reopening moment that will turn into a recovery moment. And if we look three to five years out, we've got to understand where we might be and what will change. In the immediate term, managing communications plan for all staff is critical and it's continually informing stakeholders during the process. Through strips, tactical communications, they're very clear and resonate with all are important.
The training plans that go along with that will be key in terms of how new habits and behaviors affect all the people, how working will work, I guess, in the new environment how different work areas will function and then some real reasons for that, whether they're business or not for the new environment and how it works. We've been working hard on orientation plans for clients that are, that are very specific to that client with the protocols and what the new office looks like for individuals and groups in that orientation plan and defining acceptable and unacceptable behaviors and actions in the workplace. They're key to everyone coming back safely and being productive again. And I think they're the two things, safety and productivity of the key to what we're, we're trying to do on re-entry.
WHAT IS THE BUSINESS VALUE OF THE OFFICE RIGHT NOW?
Mike O’Neill, Haworth (07:10):
It's entirely possible that the, the trend of densifying spaces is dead. And I think that just, just for common sense purposes, but I think that companies will need to examine just, just what is the purpose of our real estate? Just why are people coming in there? And so, I think being able to connect the investment that you're making to downstream costs, like I had said in my introduction, like things like employee replacement costs and your annual operating costs, how effectively are we really managing and deploying? The spend on compensation is starting to think of that as obviously it's the single largest annual amount that a company invests every year. I think there's a real opportunity there to better maybe for the first time, really understand because the people side has come, has been now elevated. And it's so obvious that this is all about the people. So, can we start to make the connection for the first time between the silo of real estate and facilities and the former silo of the workforce and put them together for the first time and start to make meaningful connections between the decisions we make about workplace? Like, why are we building this? What is going on there? And then some of these, some of these other effects.
LATEST NEWS
Featured on Design Milk: Neurodiversity and how buildings impact people
Did you catch ONE Global Design on @designmilk’s IGTV series “The Brave New World”?
Did you catch ONE Global Design on @designmilk’s IGTV series “The Brave New World”?
Julian Sharpe of @tpbennettllp and Jennifer Treter of @hendrickincdesign had a discussion on creating environments to support neurodiversity. They shared insights on how spaces can allow different types of people to feel more comfortable and perform better.
LATEST NEWS
Project Highlight: Flight Centre
Flight Centre’s CEO goal was to evolve the business and their workspace culture from its dark, siloed and uninspiring corporate office into one that was spacious and bright, and captured their culture of fun, community and world travel.
Flight Centre’s CEO goal was to evolve the business and their workspace culture from its dark, siloed and uninspiring corporate office into one that was spacious and bright, and captured their culture of fun, community and world travel. Figure3 had already begun work on Flight Centre’s Toronto office when it was decided they wanted Figure3 to work on their Vancouver office as well. The result was one which they are very proud of and excited to work in.
Flight Centre was interested in Figure3’s Connection Point process, one in which looks below the surface, that helps the firm to consciously and intentionally design in a way that connects people to place. Through the workshops conducted with their teams, a number of critical observations were uncovered about what they wanted in their new office space, including creating a stimulating and inspiring space that reflected their company culture where collaboration was encouraged, connections could be fostered, and success could be celebrated together.
Figure3 designed a space that breathed new vibrancy and balance into Flight Centre’s culture of fun and healthy social connection. The new space offers a forward-thinking work experience that affords the opportunities their staff had been looking for to do their jobs well, while enjoying themselves in an inspiring space.
“Figure3 did a great job designing an inspiring place for our staff to work in. Coming from a more traditional office environment where each team of 6 to 10 people had their own office, to this open, shared space concept made some of our staff a little nervous. Figure3 managed to find the right balance of work areas and escape areas etc. to make the transition painless and even enjoyable. One of the many highlights is the large open kitchen area where staff are encouraged to gather and get away from their desks throughout the day and where Friday afternoon trivia and ping pong can get a little fierce. We are constantly reminded how nice the space is whenever staff from our other offices across the country and around the world, as well as guests and business partners, see it for the first time.”
—John van Tuinen | VP Property & Procurement | Flight Centre Travel Group