During this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we find ourselves “designing for new realities” within the workplace. Together with our clients, design partners and dealer community, it is important that we are continually learning and sharing ideas and concepts that will allow us ALL to be successful in this new reality.
Design has always required a keen imagination and range of technical know-how to introduce individualized and appropriate solutions to clients. When Allsteel and Gunlocke put out a competition, the challenge being to create compelling product application rendering(s) and supporting narrative that showcases product solutions
and demonstrates workforce reenter considerations such as social distancing practices and redistribution of existing social collaborative spaces, dozens of submissions quickly began pouring in of post-COVID workplace solutions using CET software.
Stephanie Ekberg of Henricksen was awarded first place with her re-examination of an office space that demonstrated key concepts and product solutions to support customers in their return to work strategies. The previous space was being occupied at 100% capacity for close to 50 employees. Using a mix of Allsteel, Gunlocke and ancillary products from the HNI family of brands, Ekberg created a three-phase reentry plan and looked at office space occupancy.
Phase 1 involved reviewing the existing floor plan to determine where density could be lowered to allow social-distancing criteria to be established and creating accompanying protocols to limit the occupancy of shared spaces. Phase 2 then incorporated products, including the Allsteel Park Collection planters and customized Allsteel Recharge stations with individual seating, to create physical barriers. During this phase, management would be encouraged to update their existing protocols to account for real-world use of the space. Phase 3 established future plans for continuing to evaluate office needs, including updating cleaning standards and protocols, and installing additional barriers as needed and switching out seating options for chairs and lounge furniture that would allow for varying postures to increase the distance between individuals.
However, what was originally a perfect solution for the client became an issue only a few months later when the novel coronavirus began spreading across the United States. Ekberg admitted, “It was actually weighing very heavy on my conscious. I kept asking myself how can I help them make this a better solution, yet still solve for the facility problems that they have, because those are still there. So looking at this space in connection with COVID, I thought we needed to think outside of the box.”
Using presentations and research from the Allsteel team about the post-COVID workplace, Ekberg began to reevaluate her client's space. “Working with and listening to [the Allsteel] webinars was very inspirational. When Dr. Lauren Gant was talking about how do we make people feel safe, I started to say, 'I think we can do this for our client by maintaining the same headcount, if not more, and think outside just furniture to propose other ideas to them.”
Although she admits that infection disease protocol is outside of her scope of expertise, Ekberg proposed additional research to her client that would supplement the furniture changes she was suggesting.
“I think our first tendency was to say we have to put up screens everywhere," Ekberg continued. "Well, what are those screens? And do they really have to be there? And what does social distancing actually mean? I think there's varying levels of degrees to [COVID planning]. You have to take into consideration that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that we can do to make sure that people do not get sick. However, we can help, and we can facilitate safer practices."
For more information on the post-COVID workplace, please check out our insights & blog articles:
Designing for New Realities
COVID-19 Adds Another Dimension to Technology in the Workplace
Poka-Yoke: Mistake-Proof Your Space
Post-COVID: The New Normal
Psychological Safety: Safe, Supported, and Seen