Search Results for: change

How the 21st Century office was born in post war Europe

How the 21st Century office was born in post war Europe

by • Features, Workplace design

Central Beheer Building There was a curious addition to a 2016 report on the Top 10 Technologies Driving the Digital Workplace from tech researchers Gartner. It wasn’t a technology at all but rather a slightly obscure office design concept that originated in Hamburg in the late 1950s, but which tells us a lot about how we work in the 21st Century office, according to Gartner. Its history lies with the German consulting firm Quickborner. Led by the brothers Eberhard and Wolfgang Schnelle, the firm applied the egalitarian principles of the post war world and rejection of the scientific management theories that had created the familiar factory-like rows of desks that had come to dominate open plan offices to create something more in tune with the new age.

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Creativity, thinking and expertise in the workplace should be safeguarded from AI

Creativity, thinking and expertise in the workplace should be safeguarded from AI

by • AI, News

Workplace professionals and general managers should proceed with caution if they want to use AI to improve efficiency and human capital in the workplace, and should take steps to ensure creativity and critical thinking are preserved, new research from the University of Bath School of Management suggests. The research team identified two types of knowledge which appeared partially compatible with AI – encoded knowledge, which encompasses rules, procedures, policies, and datasets; and embedded knowledge – essentially digitalised processes and routines. (more…)

Applying a bit of know-how to the issue of sustainable office design

Applying a bit of know-how to the issue of sustainable office design

by • Comment, Environment, Workplace design

Sustainable office design is a constantly evolving, complex, and, at times, contested subject and the perfect subject for a get togetherSustainable office design is a constantly evolving, complex, and, at times, contested subject. It has shifted from a narrow focus to a broader, holistic framework embracing environmental, social, and economic issues – and now further to include governance. Collaboration is critically important – combining knowledge can ensure that environmental goals align with social metrics leading to more comprehensive, high-performance, and adaptable, human-centric spaces. Now in its fourth year, the Sustainable Design Forum returns on 23 April at Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, London. Hosted by the SDC – the Sustainable Design Collective, the day is not a trade show or conference. It is specifically focussed on collaboration and knowledge sharing to provide an opportunity for all members of the workplace and hospitality design community to build connections and understanding. (more…)

Reality or perception – which do you prefer for managing your workplace?

Reality or perception – which do you prefer for managing your workplace?

by • Comment, Facilities management, Property, Workplace design

In 2026, workplace strategy is sophisticated. We talk about hybrid maturity, behavioural analytics, ESG metrics, portfolio optimisation and experience design. The language has evolved. The dashboards are more advanced. The conversations are happening at board level. And yet, many organisations are still making fundamental property decisions based on instinct. They believe the amount of space is not suitable for their requirements or the wrong type of space. They listen to their teams’ demands for changes to their space without the facts to say no. They feel occupancy is higher or lower than it really is. (more…)

Greater use of AI linked to more collaborative work patterns, survey claims

Greater use of AI linked to more collaborative work patterns, survey claims

by • AI, News, Workplace design

Employees who make frequent use of AI tools are spending less time working alone and more time collaborating and learning with colleaguesEmployees who make frequent use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools are spending less time working alone and more time collaborating and learning with colleagues, according to a new global workplace survey from the Gensler Research Institute. The Global Workplace Survey 2026, based on responses from more than 16,000 office workers across 16 countries, suggests that as routine tasks become automated, work is shifting towards more human-centred activities, including mentoring, problem solving and teamwork. (more…)

Parliamentary group warns misuse of NDAs undermines workplace trust

Parliamentary group warns misuse of NDAs undermines workplace trust

by • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

While NDAs can serve a legitimate purpose, their use to mask harassment or discrimination risks undermining accountability and eroding trust within organisations.A cross-party group of parliamentarians, business leaders and experts has warned that non-disclosure agreements are “good for no-one” when used to conceal harmful behaviour in the workplace rather than address it. The warning followed a roundtable held in Parliament on 18 March, hosted by the Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing. Participants agreed that while NDAs can serve a legitimate purpose, their use to mask harassment or discrimination risks undermining accountability and eroding trust within organisations. (more…)

Workplace as a third space: why good coffee and good WiFi still matter

Workplace as a third space: why good coffee and good WiFi still matter

by • Company news, Flexible working, Workplace

What do people want from their workplace? Good coffee and reliable WiFi are far more important than yoo might thinkThe office is no longer just a default location. Hybrid work has made it one option among many. At home, people have their own desk, their own music, their own kitchen. If the workplace is going to tempt them out, it needs something more than a chair and a meeting room. Fast WiFi and genuinely good coffee can change more about people’s experiences than you might expect. People might not talk about them much, but they notice when they are missing. Both influence how the day flows. When the internet is quick and the coffee is worth getting up for, the office starts to feel different. It becomes somewhere you do not just have to be, but somewhere you don’t mind spending time. (more…)

Half of SMEs using AI with limited impact on headcount (so far)

Half of SMEs using AI with limited impact on headcount (so far)

by • AI, News

More than half of UK firms are now using AI according to new research from the British Chambers of Commerce, marking a sharp increase in adoption but with little immediate effect on workforce sizeMore than half of UK firms are now using artificial intelligence, according to new research from the British Chambers of Commerce, marking a sharp increase in adoption but with little immediate effect on workforce size. The survey, carried out in partnership with Atos, suggests that 54 percent of businesses are actively using AI. This represents a notable rise from previous BCC findings, which showed adoption at 35 percent in 2025, 25 percent in 2024 and 23 percent in 2023. (more…)

Refined, height and future-proof flexibility in office lighting

Refined, height and future-proof flexibility in office lighting

by • Company news, Workplace design

On Wimbledon’s high street, a new multi-level installation needed office lighting that looked refined on day one and could adapt gracefully for years to come. The client asked for high visual comfort, minimal visible containment to keep ceilings feeling taller, and an infrastructure that would let floors be subdivided later without tearing into the fabric. At 247 Wimbledon The Broadway, a new multi-level office required lighting that is elegant today and adaptable tomorrow. Zumtobel’s scheme combines TECTON track with suspended LIGHT FIELDS III and ONDARIA pendants to preserve clean ceiling lines and high visual comfort, while VIVO II provides precise vertical illumination. LITECOM integrates daylight and presence control, enabling easy future reconfiguration and energy-efficient operation. (more…)

AI users report stronger workplace connections, according to Gensler survey

AI users report stronger workplace connections, according to Gensler survey

by • AI, News, Technology, Workplace

New research from Gensler suggests that employees who make the greatest use of artificial intelligence tools are also among the most connected to their colleagues, challenging assumptions that increased use of technology leads to more isolated ways of working.New research from Gensler suggests that employees who make the greatest use of artificial intelligence tools are also among the most connected to their colleagues, challenging assumptions that increased use of technology leads to more isolated ways of working. The firm’s 2026 Global Workplace Survey gathered responses from more than 16,400 office workers across 16 countries. Around 30 percent of respondents were identified as “AI power users”, defined as people who regularly use AI tools in both their work and personal lives. (more…)

Real estate sector showing resilience in spite of global volatility

Real estate sector showing resilience in spite of global volatility

by • News, Property

Improving market fundamentals and a rise in available capital are helping the global real estate sector as a new cycle begins

Improving market fundamentals and a rise in available capital are helping the global real estate sector as a new cycle begins. Inflation and interest rates are becoming more stable. Property values also appear to be recovering from recent lows, and investment activity is returning in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. However, uncertainty linked to deglobalisation, geopolitical tensions and difficult economic conditions still poses a significant challenge for investors. This is according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate Global Outlook 2026 report from PwC and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). (more…)

Rebuilding belonging: how offices can overcome loneliness  

Rebuilding belonging: how offices can overcome loneliness  

by • Comment, Flexible working, Wellbeing

In the coming weeks it will be six years since the UK entered lockdown and working life changed overnight. While much has stabilised, the impact of the pandemic still shapes how people experience work, particularly when it comes to connection and belonging. Loneliness is widely recognised as a growing societal issue and government data shows that around a quarter of adults in Great Britain report feeling lonely at least some of the time, rising significantly among younger age groups. Hybrid working has not created this challenge but it has highlighted that for many people the workplace was a consistent source of social interaction. (more…)

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