Redefining Workplace with HGA

The COVID-19 pandemic has incited a sudden and dramatic social experiment — forcing millions globally to work from home. To understand how this is affecting employees now and how it might redefine the workplace in the future, HGA surveyed over 3,500 professionals across generations, from a wide range of industries, and working in various roles.

Following clues in the qualitative and quantitative data, our team of researchers and workplace strategists formed five core insights into people’s experiences, motivations, and behaviors, and translated them into key considerations for the future workplace.

Kara Freihoefer, Director of Research, and Amin Mojtahedi, Design Strategist, will dig deeper into the results to discuss what we’ve learned and how we believe workplace will transform as a result.

As many companies stretch into the 8th month of remote work with no clear end in sight, it becomes evident that one of the important ingredients to having success as a team is engagement. While organizations were able to rely on the capital they had built when they were working in the same location as teams, projects, and work changes engagement is something that needs to be actively nurtured to be maintained.

HGA’s Social Anthropologist, Adaheid Mestad, joins the podcast today to provide listeners with tools to increase culture, community, and engagement in their organizations and within their teams.

As our designers strategize with our workplace clients on when and how to reopen their offices, one of the key questions we are asked is, "How is HGA approaching reopening the office?"

In this episode, Reopening the Office, we share how we leverage our research and interdisciplinary skillsets for reopening offices. We also share insights learned from being our own client. Host Melissa Pesci speaks with Sarah Berseth, Office Director of our Minneapolis office and Mechanical Engineer, and Robin Lang, our Director of Human Resources.

How might working in a global pandemic impact our productivity, job satisfaction, and overall well-being? Researchers have long associated happiness and well-being with productivity. Positive Psychology research – the science of human thriving – can inform us as more workplaces re-open and we begin to create a new normal. Joining us for this episode are Ariane Laxo, National Director of Sustainability, and Haley Nelson, Sr. Interior Designer.

As millions of people across the world suddenly shifted to working from home, technology and systems had to adapt overnight. While companies work to understand how the workplace will change as a result of COVID-19, technology will inevitably play a huge role in this transformation. Joining us to talk about new technology emerging during the pandemic are Nik Janik and Remington Barrett, Systems Integration Specialists at HGA, and Project Manager, Brad Kult. 

Maintaining a safe and healthy work environment is more important now than ever. Using clear, consistent signage based on proven research can support public safety and promote a healthy workplace. It’s also a quick, affordable solution to help instill confidence and comfort for employees and visitors. Perry Stephney, a Senior Project Manager, and Paula Storsteen, a Design Principal, will join us to talk about how they approached a temporary signage solution for our offices and important things to keep in mind.

Within a building, the air and light are two factors that are currently being met with more scrutiny as designers look for ways to slow the spread of airborne, highly contagious disease. At HGA our Corporate-focused engineers are able to work with their Healthcare colleagues to identify the ways in which typical building systems can be modified or supplemented to promote healthier environment for all. Chrysanthi Stockwell, a Senior Lighting Designer, and Kevin Lynn, a Senior Mechanical Designer, discuss the challenges and opportunities that Corporate buildings often present as well as what you can do right now.

Episode 1 - Mindful Materials for Infection Control. COVID-19 will have a long-term effect on how designers make decisions about specifying finishes and interrupting the disease transmission chain. This may include good hand hygiene, physical barriers, isolation techniques, touchless systems, and cleaning strategies. Our colleagues in the practice of healthcare have always prioritized infection control in their designs and are an invaluable resource to the rest of the design industry as we collectively aim to protect the health of our occupants. Heather Bachman, a Senior Interior Designer and Medical Planner, will help educate our listeners on priorities and the research behind materials selection.