Future of Work: Skyscrapers and the post-COVID reimagining of the workplace
06/09/2024
By Peter Workman
For nearly a century, skyscrapers have stood as towering symbols of human ambition. Their soaring heights and imposing presence have become synonymous with corporate power and economic prosperity. The Chrysler Building in New York City, the quintessential example of this architectural marvel, has long been admired for its beautiful design and innovative construction. It carries the distinctive aesthetic flavour and grand ambitions of the year of its construction, 1930.
Furthermore, the books and media of that era contain an assumption, implicit or explicit, that our progress would be forever upward – grander and taller buildings, journeys further into space. But it has not worked out that way, with ever-increasing height, size and distance for elite small fractions of the population. Rather, the most significant technological innovations of recent years (such as the internet, the smartphone and AI) have been more universal, arguably horizontal rather than vertical, transforming the lives of ordinary people. So it would be consistent to find that our working spaces are not always and inevitably getting bigger, as we might once have anticipated.
The COVID-19 pandemic has initiated, or greatly accelerated, a re-evaluation and transformation of traditional ways of working. In this Future of Work series of articles, we have been considering various manifestations of this. These include the rise of remote and hybrid working, and the growing focus on employee wellbeing (a theme to which we will be returning). It is a sign of how much the world has changed that, in 2024, the skyscrapers that were at the cutting edge of innovation less than 100 years ago are now seen as the embodiment of “the traditional”. Indeed the skyscraper may be a feature of the landscape – the physical landscape, and the landscape of working practices that it serves – which is being superseded.
The skyscraper, with its hierarchical floor plans and centralised offices, was designed for a time when in-person collaboration and face-to-face interactions were viewed as essential. But the pandemic and our response to it have shown that many tasks can be accomplished remotely. Hybrid working arrangements which combine in-person and remote work have become common. This in turn raises questions about the future of the physical workplace. Are skyscrapers, with their vast, open-plan offices and communal spaces, still the most effective way to organise work in the corporate world? Or is it time to reimagine the workplace as a more adaptable, personalised space, that better supports the needs of a hybrid workforce?
Many factors are likely to influence the direction that our working spaces take.
First, the optimal working space is likely to vary significantly by sector. Some activities require privacy and silence; these have always been well served by a corridor of rooms where the door can be shut. This was my own experience of law firms in the City of London, many of which resisted the general shift towards open plan working in the early 2000s. By contrast, I saw other kinds of white collar organisations (such as clients involved in creative industries) actively embracing open-plan working, with its encouragement of a collaborative working culture. However, in our new post-COVID era of hybrid working, in which workers are not always in the office each day, privacy and silence can be achieved by positioning “quiet rooms” among the open plan working areas and communal spaces. We are increasingly seeing this model being adopted already.
Secondly, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are likely to play a role. Companies are increasingly prioritising sustainability and social responsibility, leading to a demand for more eco-friendly and inclusive work environments. Among newly built or refurbished office spaces we see a proliferation of features such as green roofs, energy-efficient lighting, and accessible facilities. We are also seeing a greater focus on wellbeing, as already noted, with greater attention being paid to the physical and mental health of the workforce. That can manifest itself in a number of ways – gyms, more attractive offices, more plants and sunlight, designated social areas and even meditation rooms.
Thirdly, geography will be an important consideration. In densely populated urban areas, maximising space efficiency may be a priority. In suburban and rural locations, a focus on creating a comfortable and inspiring environment may be more important.
Current and future innovations
The ambitious “Line” project in Saudi Arabia offers a glimpse into one possible future of the workplace, and urban development more generally, which returns us to a mid-C20th style grand vision as to design and size, but combined with features which align with the more holistic C21st zeitgeist. This proposed 170-kilometer linear city, with a height of 500 meters, involves a radically different approach to urban planning, with a focus on sustainability, connectivity, and quality of life. While The Line’s feasibility and potential impact remain to be seen, it represents a bold attempt to reimagine the traditional city and its associated workspaces.
In a less dramatic but more widespread development, many companies have already responded to the challenges of the pandemic by experimenting with new workplace designs. For example, several of the tech giants’ headquarters feature a wide variety of intentionally designed spaces seeking to enable healthy and productive work, including open-plan areas, private offices, and outdoor workspaces. They have also invested heavily in technology to support remote work and collaboration. In a further example, the WeWork co-working chain now offers private offices, meeting rooms, and event spaces. Its focus on community and flexibility has made it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes, across different sectors.
It is possible that, over the next 50 to 100 years, the traditional skyscraper will be replaced by entirely new workplace models. One possibility is the rise of more “smart cities” like The Line, where technology is used to create sustainable, efficient, and interconnected urban environments. Here workspaces could be integrated into residential buildings, public spaces, or even virtual environments. Another possibility is the development of “biophilic” workspaces, which incorporate natural elements such as plants, sunlight, and fresh air, all of which have been shown to improve employee productivity, creativity, and wellbeing.
The future of work will be shaped by the interplay of technological advances, economic trends, cultural shifts, and available space. While the skyscraper may no longer be the dominant symbol of the modern workplace, it remains a testament to human ingenuity and ambition. However, as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the post-COVID era, it is likely that we will continue to reimagine our physical working spaces, in line with how such spaces are now being used by forward-thinking companies seeking the best results.
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