Design Forecast 2016

Gensler Design Forecast 2016
Technology
It’s all about worker
engagement
Technology companies will seek to
translate values of social responsibility and
personal empowerment into their workplaces
and policies. Look for resilience
strategies—sustainability, transit, and
housing; community engagement through
programs and spaces; and leadership with
wellness and other personal/social issues.
A fully interdependent, regenerative
relationship between workplace, employees,
and the community may shift “what
success looks like” to have much broader
measures. Tech companies will be much
more interested in how people work and in
creating work settings that support their
diverse processes. The Internet of Things
and smarter building systems will lead to a
user-centric approach to the tech workplace.
Highly adaptive settings and seamless
support of mobility will allow for greater
customization by teams and individuals.
As “new tech” matures, its spaces will
promote rich emotional connections and
full engagement. This focus on the user
experience will spur multifunctional and
culturally unique work settings incorporating
local references in their materials, fabrication,
and products.
Microsoft Building 17, Redmond, WA
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