GRADO HANDS-ON: 2024SS Office Makeover through Two-Dimensional Matrix Configuration for Sustainable Wellness

The lobby space, centered around open collaboration, utilizes a natural circular centripetal feeling to make the space more cohesive; simultaneously accommodating multiple people for relaxation. A lobby space focused on open communication requires a centripetal force that brings communicators together. Balancing openness and privacy in the lobby communication space is achieved through the flexible combination of modular sofas; high-back sofas ensure privacy during communication. Different furniture arrangements create different usage scenarios, satisfying both open and private needs in this space. In a lobby space focused on relaxation and leisure, opposing sofas provide small-scale collaborative areas; a C-shaped sofa accommodates more people for relaxation, creating a sense of enclosure. The lobby space, being the first impression when external visitors enter the company, can leave a positive first impression with its relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

A small-scale negotiation-focused office space utilizes a compact negotiation area with single-seater sofas to create a relaxed atmosphere; the work area maintains a serious tone. This compact office space can also serve as a negotiation area with a relaxed atmosphere, combining both negotiation and relaxation functions. The space offers a casual atmosphere, combining both negotiation and relaxation; a combination of sofas and lounge chairs form an area for relaxation and negotiation, providing varied functionalities and adding sophistication to the space.??

The power of spaces is incredible, and the lobby reception area is the first showcase of a company's corporate culture and image. Though subtle, a place's influence continuously impacts and shapes individuals. We advocate for integrating furniture and spaces into corporate culture, allowing the space to "speak" and convey the company's culture to the outside world, attracting and retaining outstanding employees. Focused office spaces emphasize creativity, creating a private and confidential work environment through the use of hard-mounted walls or furniture screens. This setup helps concentrate attention and focus, contributes to efficient decision-making, and fosters the emergence and development of inspiration and creativity.

The lobby space, balancing collaboration and solitude, includes a bar table area designated for solitude; round tables with four chairs facilitate comfortable breaks and discussions. Even in public areas, providing spaces for solitary moments is crucial for employees, and a more humane lobby space significantly enhances employees' overall office experience. Centered around segmented collaboration, the lobby space accommodates casual rest and interaction; wide aisles ensure segmentation, suitable for formal discussions. Distinguishing between formal and informal collaboration is key, and having detailed and clear functional zones enhances efficiency.??

Greg Dooley reports that 2024 top office design trends include the resurgence of traditional office desks to accommodate varied workstyles, the integration of modular collaboration spaces for enhanced teamwork and adaptability, and the introduction of barista-style reception areas to create inviting social hubs and foster positive employee interactions.? These trends collectively reflect a shift towards creating functional, employee-centric work environments that cater to diverse needs while promoting productivity, collaboration, and a harmonious workplace atmosphere.

Portable "coffee" stations help to bring people closer together. The natural aroma of coffee naturally exudes a warm and cozy feeling, allowing people to relax and making it easier for them to connect. By setting up a lounge area in the office with the aroma of coffee, the distance between employees also gradually narrows. In a versatile "coffee shop," the office lounge space not only requires comfortable sofas and aromatic coffee but also needs to fully support various types of work styles. When in a leisure space, people's physical and mental state will be very comfortable and pleasant, leading to a significant improvement in creative thinking and work efficiency. Changing the fixed form and communication mode of office space can promote a transformation of the office mode.

According to Flex Plus Strategy, 31% of full-time employees in the United States work outside the office. More and more employees choose to work in coffee shops, where the warm wooden floors, relaxed music, and comfortable seating are the environments people long for. In such a relaxed and convenient atmosphere, one can release work pressure and increase happiness. Moreover, coffee shops also have a unique charm that brings people together. Therefore, adding leisure areas to limited office space to give employees the feeling of a "coffee shop" will make the office more attractive.??

The millennial generation values both collaboration and independence. Open office setups do provide employees with opportunities for communication, but at the same time, we are faced with a problem: employees also need independent workspaces. A new study by the Oxford Economic Research Institute surveyed over 1200 senior managers and 53% of regular employees, who claimed that working in external noise led to lower satisfaction and reduced efficiency. According to research by Dr. Gloria Mark of the University of California, Irvine, when distracted with current tasks, we need an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to refocus. Every 3 minutes, office employees' work may be interrupted or disturbed. Therefore, working in excessively open spaces makes it harder for employees to concentrate, resulting in low work efficiency.

Balancing office space involves accommodating the different work behavior characteristics and sets of thought processes required by different professions in terms of open and private spaces. Transitioning from an open space to a semi-enclosed space, and then gradually to a closed space, creates an environment that considers open communication and closed contemplation based on employees' different work patterns, helping employees concentrate on their work. This approach not only enhances employees' work efficiency but also provides better protection for their privacy. The transition from closed to open not only brings colleagues closer, making work communication more convenient and facilitating learning and collaboration, but also significantly improves work efficiency by creating a relaxed and free atmosphere, helping to eliminate employees' negative mindset.??

Maimai Data Research Institute's survey shows that 61.47% of urban professionals often feel lonely. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has put forward the concept of the "loneliness epidemic,". The absorption into loneliness can significantly stifle employees' efficiency and creativity. A tiny height difference of 15 cm between office workstations can be a barrier between employees.

GRADO conducted spatial needs analysis, built two-dimensional matrix models for different professions and obtained corresponding workstation solutions. For employees in planning, marketing, and other departments, open workstations are the preferred choice, with nearby designated leisure discussion areas and brainstorming zones, enabling efficient and flexible work. For sales personnel, there is a need for highly mobile spaces while maintaining a certain level of privacy. For finance personnel, privacy is the focus, and enclosed workstations are their best partners. For design-oriented employees, recharging areas that stimulate creativity and independent creative zones are the top choices. There are storage spaces for team collaboration, providing basic privacy while sitting, and larger storage areas, suitable for independent focused work and employees dealing with large amounts of data. Selecting a 122cm enclosed partition height provides adequate acoustic and visual privacy. Fixed storage space with side cabinets that can also serve as additional workbenches while ensuring a significant level of acoustic and visual privacy is suitable for independent employees dealing with large amounts of data.??

In addition to diet and sleep, good sitting posture is also very important. Research commissioned by the English Public Health Institute shows that office employees should stand for at least 2 hours a day, with an ideal standing time of 4 hours. The study also shows that compared to those who sit for long periods, individuals who sit the longest have twice the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. There is an unconscious belief that employees who sit at their desks for extended periods are good employees; however, this is a mistaken notion. Prolonged sitting can cause significant harm to employees' physical health, leading to a decline in work efficiency and motivation. Moreover, maintaining the same office posture for an extended period also prevents one from concentrating. Companies should encourage employees to frequently change their posture during work and provide a variety of office workstations to choose from.

From the soft and comfortable sofas in the relaxation area to the casual chairs and bar stools in the discussion area, adjustable standing desks, height-adjustable and flexible spaces facilitate natural changes in sitting posture throughout the day. Work is uninterrupted, while the body avoids many potential aches and pains. Guiding employees to work in a healthy manner through scientific methods eliminates concerns about concentration.

The Sit-or-Stand Workstation, composed of adjustable desks, meets the high-intensity and long-term work requirements. It allows employees to find the most suitable sitting posture while also achieving a transition between sitting and standing postures, thus meeting the goal of working in a healthy manner. Fixed-height workstations are the most common office arrangements in companies and are also where employees spend the most time. They tend to cause fatigue and reduce employees' efficiency. Working at flexible workstations near the floor or in a reclining position relaxes the brain and makes it easier to generate creative ideas. Every discussion in a relaxed and lively space can generate more novel ideas.

Mental illness is an important factor causing physical illness. 450 million people worldwide suffer from mental health problems. For every 10 employees, one has bad habits. Over 35% of managers feel that they do not have formal resources to help their employees. Forty percent of employees take leave due to mental illnesses, for up to 10 days. In a recent Harvard Business Review study, approximately 50% of millennials (born between 1982 and 2000) in the United States have resigned for mental health reasons. Ipsos research also shows that over two-thirds of young employees suffer from mental health issues. Employees focus on their physical health condition but often neglect their mental health. According to forecasts, global mental illnesses will become the main cause of physical illnesses in the next 20 years. Companies need to provide employees with a relaxing space to alleviate work fatigue before they can fully engage in work.??