Upcoming Events
Thank you for joining our Learning Lab sessions this year. Stay tuned for more to come in 2024!
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Previous Webinars
Our virtual learning series is all about staying connected and having compelling conversations about the hottest topics in our industry today. Each month we have a panel of experts, from diverse disciplines, discuss a myriad of topics that center around the workplace. Join us!
If you’re unable to attend the live webinar, still register — we’ll send you the on-demand recording of each session.
DO IT DIFFERENT. Build an Experience-First Mindset
December 12, 2023 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
Join us for a conversation with inspiring individuals who have challenged industry norms and reimagined what best in class customer experience looks like. Explore ways to challenge your team's status quo to embrace an experience-first culture.
Panelists:
Jesse Cole, Founder of Fans First Entertainment, and Owner of the Savannah Bananas
Sequoyah Hunter-Cuviet, VP of Determined by Design (indigenous interior designer, equity advocate, rethinking design practice)
Jess Kovel, Founder and Principal, of Skylab Architecture (architects of the Serena Williams Building at Nike HQ)
Moderator:
Andrea Gauss, Director, Client Solutions for Allsteel
Beyond Trends: Using Color to Foster Community
November 21, 2023 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
Color can be used to calm us in stressful situations, promote concentration and creativity, and enhance performance. Color application can also be used with intention to foster inclusiveness, belonging, and well-being.
Please join guest speaker Laura Guido - Clark and Lauren Gant for a discussion on the impact of color application in workplaces and communities.
Panelists:
Laura Guido-Clark, Founder, CEO of LOVE GOOD COLOR
Moderator:
Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE, WELL, AP, Senior Workplace Advisory Manager at Allsteel
The Impact of Inclusive Design
October 17, 2023 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
Inclusive Design considerations can foster a sense of belonging and help to support a diverse workforce. We have been introducing ways to intentionally design for inclusivity through consideration of the pillars of Physical Diversity, Neurodiversity, and Trauma informed Design.
Please join us and our panel of experts as they share perspectives and examples of the impact of Inclusive Design, including fostering a sense of well-being, increasing usability, and fostering workplace satisfaction.
Panelists:
Jennifer Graham, D.F.A (HON), FIIDA LEED AP, Managing Principal at Perkins&Will NYC
Dennis Daisey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal at SmithGroup Washington DC
Dr. Rachel Drosdick-Sigafoos, Crisis Specialist and Researcher
Moderator:
Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE, WELL, AP, Senior Workplace Advisory Manager at Allsteel
Modern Leadership - A Dynamic Perspective
September 26, 2023 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
There are new behaviors, new generations, and new forces in the workplace, so why haven't leadership spaces evolved? As leadership demographics transition, we are seeing a shift in workplace values, needs, and expectations.
Join us for a discussion with a panel of leaders with various experiences as we explore what matters to them, what challenges them, and what they need to show up as their best selves in the workplace.
Panelists:
Anna Gryskevich, Vice President, Team Lead - PDS Furniture Solutions at JLL
Natalie Flora, CCO - Managing Partner at Interior Environments
Johnny Crump, Real Estate Analyst at Kiewit
Moderator: Andrea Gauss, Director, Client Solutions for Allsteel
Gen Z's Influence in the Workplace
August 15, 2023 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
Gen Z is predicted to make up 27% of the workforce by 2025. The changes they bring will not only affect space design but how work gets done in the future.
Join Kelly Colon, Senior Workplace Advisor for Allsteel, for a deep understanding of key communication and relationship expectations of Generation Z, as well as actionable recommendations to better serve this generational community.
Moderator: Jordan Arnold, Senior Workplace Advisory Manager for Allsteel
Adapt & Innovate: Social Agility and Floorplan Exploration
July 25, 2023 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
Adapting & Innovating: We will be discussing how hospitality, socialization, and the significance of relational work is a focus of The Evolving Workplace.
Panelists:
- Holly Williamson, Regional Design Lead at NELSON Worldwide
- Sam Julka, President & Founder DORIS Research
Moderator: Andrea Gauss: Director, Client Solutions for Allsteel
Trauma Informed Design: A Pillar of Inclusive Design
May 16, 2023 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
Trauma is almost universal, with about 70% of adults in the US experiencing trauma in their lifetimes. Trauma Informed Design is a pillar of inclusive design that focuses on constructing environments that promote a sense of calm, safety, dignity, empowerment, and well-being for all occupants. The goal is to design spaces that minimize the risk of activating individuals, that allow individuals to recover and regulate if needed, and that ultimately foster inclusiveness and empowerment.
This discussion will discuss introduce Trauma Informed Design considerations to dissuade dysregulation and to allow for reregulation from common trauma responses including flight, flight, freeze, and fawn.
Panelists:
Kelly Colon, Senior Workplace Advisor for Allsteel
Jordan Arnold, Vertical Market Growth Manager for Allsteel
Lauren Gant, Senior Ergonomics and Wellness Strategist for Allsteel
Moderator: Andrea Gauss: Director, Client Solutions for Allsteel
Lessons Learned while Living out the Living Building Challenge
April 25, 2023 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
What happens when a non-profit decides to align its physical space goals to their sustainable mission statement?
Listen in as we discuss the joys and pains associated with bringing a LBC project to life. Our panelists include the client, the architect, the construction firm, and a supplier.
Panelists:
Keith Porter, The president and chief executive officer of the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.
Sally Obernolte, Associate Principal Architect for Neumann Monson Architects
Lisa Brunie-McDermott, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility for HNI Corporation
Moderator: Andrea Gauss: Director, Client Solutions for Allsteel
Unwritten Rules 3.0: Insights into Culture and Change
March 21, 2023 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
Jeff Leitner and Jan Johnson are back with a fresh look at unwritten rules in our organizations: What are they? Why are they so important? How do they work? What do they mean for workplace design? And why are they the key to change management?
Panelists:
- Jeff Leitner, Well-renowned Business Advisor
- Jan Johnson, Principal | Workplace Collective LLC
The Role of Leadership in The Evolving Workplace
February 21, 2023 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
While the playbook for resizing and redesigning offices is very much a work in progress and relations between employers and employees are strained and layoffs are mounting up, organizations have the opportunity to take action to address the tensions between employer preferences and employee expectations and set the stage for stronger organizational performance, effective teams and healthier cultures. This session will explore redefining modern leadership/management qualities and actions and why they matter.
Moderator: Jan Johnson, Principal at Workplace Collective LLC
Panelists:
- Deena Chochinov, Author, OD Consultant, Family Business Advisor
- Keith Perske, Workplace Advisor
Why isn’t our Well-Being Improving?
November 15, 2022 @ 11:00 - 12:00pm CDT
Despite a renewed focus on well-being, employees continue to report declining mental health, increasing difficulty concentrating, and their desire to work somewhere that supports their holistic health needs. Our panel of experts will discuss the importance of intentionally integrating well-being into the design of spaces, and the importance of holistic consideration of total worker health.
Moderator: Jan Johnson, VP Workplace Strategy for Allsteel
Panelists:
- Vanessa Palmer, Founder, MindCurate
- Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE, Senior Ergonomics and Wellness Strategist, HNI Workplace Furnishings
- Evan Cottingham, Director of Global Workplace Projects, Slalom
- Anna Ruth Gatlin, PhD, LEED AP, AUID, IDEC, NCIDQ Assistant Professor of Interior Design, College of Human Sciences, Auburn University
Culture and the Elephant in the Room
October 25, 2022 @ 11:00-12:00PM CDT
Recent coverage about hybrid work and the return to the office makes it clear that there is a tension between employers’ preferences and employees’ expectations about where, when and how they get their work done.
How might organizations find their way to common ground by building on all that we know about great employee experiences and organizational success?
Moderator: Jan Johnson, VP Workplace Strategy for Allsteel
Panelists:
- Sam Geraci, Interior Designer at 3North
- Krista Aquilina, Senior Manager, Workplace Design & Experience for TD Bank Group
- Elizabeth Baudler, Strategist at Gensler
- Ian Rolston, Founder and Inclusive Designer of Decanthropy
The Evolving Workplace: Change
September 27, 2022 @ 11:00-12:00pm CDT
Organizations are grappling with huge shifts in how, when and where work happens and what that means to “the office.” And if that weren’t enough, employees are expressing their preferences for autonomy and quitting when they feel their needs are not met.
How might organizations rethink what creates great employee experiences, and plan the workplace for experimentation, for iteration, for inevitable change? And to hedge their bets as space utilization—for many—remains low? Our panelists will share insights about the all-important human element and building in physical adaptability.
Moderator: Jan Johnson, VP Workplace Strategy for Allsteel
Panelists:
- Clark Pickett, Principal Design Director for IA Interior Architects
- Bryan Berthold, Global Lead Workplace Experience for Cushman + Wakefield
- Rikki Crowe, Senior Workplace Advisory Manager for Allsteel
The Evolving Workplace: Choice
August 16, 2022 @ 11:00-12:00pm CDT
In the Evolving Workplace, how, where and when we do our best work has expanded beyond the traditional boundaries of ‘the office.’
As employees decide the ‘work to be done’; how will location, amenities, technology, and equity impact their decision making? And what strategies are employers using today to enable these new choices.
Join us as this month’s panelists discuss how we as workplace providers can enrich the user experience.
Moderator: Jan Johnson, VP Workplace Strategy for Allsteel
Panelists:
- Amanda Schneider, LEED AP, Founder & President of ThinkLab
- Cary Bran, Global Head of Zoom Rooms
- Sean Oliver, Senior Product Portfolio Manager for Allsteel
- Lisa Miller, Director of Product Insights & Application for Allsteel
The Evolving Workplace: Sustainability
July 19, 2022 @ 11:00-12:00pm CDT
In the Evolving Workplace, sustainability equivalates to more than the environment – it’s also about creating connections, respecting people’s differences, and collectively making choices for a better tomorrow. Join us as this month’s panelists discuss what it means to be responsible citizens and stewards of natural resources.
Moderator: Jan Johnson, VP Workplace Strategy for Allsteel
Panelists:
- Andrea Gauss, Senior Product Strategy Manager, Allsteel
- Alycia de Mesa, Faculty at Arizona State University School of Sustainability
- Steph Leonard, Associate Director of Market Transformation & Development, USGBC
The Evolving Workplace: Well-Being
May 17, 2022 @ 11:00-12:00pm CDT
Promoting physical and mental health is on everyone's mind today. Employees have rightfully come to expect their work environment and culture to promote and support healthy and full lifestyles, regardless of where and how work is happening. Many employers believe they are offering well-being programs. Despite these good intentions, if these programs are not holistic and intentional, the benefits may be unrealized. Our panelists will discuss the elements that are most important to a holistic well-being program, how to determine whether well-being programs are successful, and why well-being is a critical consideration in the evolving workplace.
Moderator: Jan Johnson, VP Workplace Strategy for Allsteel
Panelists:
- Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE, WELL AP, Fitwel, Human Factors & Ergonomics Manager for HNI & Allsteel
- Kirsty Angerer, Development Director for Leesman
- Kaitlyn Gillis, Senior Advisor, Sustainability & Social Impact for hcma, WELL Facility
The Evolving Workplace: Culture
What role can workplace design play in promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, and authenticity—the building blocks of social cohesion and the number one predictor of team productivity and organizational success?
An organization’s unwritten rules can tell a lot about the relative health of their culture. In this session, our panel of industry experts will explore the role workplace design can play in promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, and authenticity, and offer perspective and strategies that help organizations take confident steps forward.
Moderator: Jan Johnson, VP Workplace Strategy for Allsteel
Panelists:
- Eric Anderson, Principal, DELVdesign
- Cara Weber, Partner/Co-Founder, DELVdesign
- Meghan Tooman, VP Operations, DORIS
The Evolving Workplace
The pandemic, the ‘Great Resignation’, societal changes and technology have all had a significant impact on the purpose of the office and how we might design relevant workplaces. Many organizations are actively exploring ways to address these shifts with approaches that support their employees’ effectiveness, well-being, and emerging expectations while also helping achieve the organization’s business goals. How can we make sense of the overwhelming waves of opinions, advice and pronouncements, and find our collective way forward to approaches and solutions that are grounded in science, address several issues at once, and leave us room to adjust while we learn what’s working and not working? Allsteel’s resident subject matter experts will offer perspective and strategies that help organizations to shake off analysis paralysis and take confident steps forward.
Panelists:
- Lisa Miller, Director of Product Insights and Application for Allsteel
- Lauren Gant, Senior Ergonomics and Wellness Strategist for Allsteel
- Rikki Crowe, Senior Workplace Advisory Manager for Allsteel
- Sean Oliver, Senior Product Portfolio Manager for Allsteel
Moderator: Jan Johnson, VP Workplace Strategy for Allsteel
The Future of Work: The private sector is addressing many workplace changes. The Public Sector must address exactly the same changes.
The pandemic, the ‘Great Resignation’, societal changes and technology have all had a significant impact on the Public and Private sector workplaces. Private sector organizations are actively exploring ways to address these impacts in ways that support their employees’ effectiveness and wellness while also helping achieve the organization’s business goals. As the public sector is experiencing exactly the same impacts in its workplaces, is there a reason their solutions will be that different?
Panelists:
- Eric Johnson, Senior Workplace Advisor for Allsteel
- Ann Shieder, National Federal Sales Manager for Allsteel
- Kieran Morrison, Vertical Market Segment Manager for Allsteel
- Jennifer Westveer, Business Development Manager, Public Sector for Allsteel
Moderator: Margaux Jaffa, Regional Sales Manager for Allsteel
View Webinar Recording
Inspired by What’s Ahead: 2022 National Commercial Real Estate Market Outlook
The landscape of commercial real estate continues to evolve. The need for industrial and retail space is on the rise. Hybrid work is here to stay. However, many employees are returning to the office, and companies are investing in creating spaces that give people a reason to come back. In this session, our panel of industry experts will provide a national outlook on corporate real estate and cover a property development and design case study from Chicago’s growing area, Fulton Market.
Panelists:
- Liz McCleary, Vice President, Occupier Advisory & Transaction Services, CBRE
- Geoff Euston, Senior Vice President, Tenant Representation, CBRE
- Tom Rowland, Managing Principal, Partners by Design
- Jessica Brown, Director of Leasing, Sterling Bay
- Russ Cora, Executive Vice President, Sterling Bay
Moderator: Jan Johnson, VP, Workplace Strategy at Allsteel
The Introverted/Extroverted Workspace – Part 2
People are people. Even in the office. Work is a coming together of people from different backgrounds, different ages, different ethnicities and personalities. Companies are challenged to think differently to provide new and improved solutions for a positive and productive experience. Our panel of experts, from diverse disciplines, will continue their discussion on what factors need to be considered to support people emotionally, physically and mentally in this two part series.
Panelists:
- Deena Chochinov - Family Enterprise Advisor and Management Consultant
- Jan Johnson - VP, Workplace Strategy at Allsteel | HNI
- Jeanette Kim - Senior Associate, Senior Interior Designer at Perkins & Will
- Karina Campos - Design Lead for the IBM Z AI Team
Moderator:
- Allan Chochinov - Writer, Speaker, Advocate, Founding Chair, MFA Product of Design Graduate Program School of Visual Arts
Choice Inspired: Designing for a Changing Landscape
When workplace design is purposeful and honest the result is inspiring.
Our panel of experts will discuss the evolving workplace ecosystem and address "why" we want to come back to the office. They will cover topics around distributed work and new ways of working, adaptability and fluidity, culture, as well as what they learned and common trends featured at NeoCon 2021.
Panelists:
- Adam Ames, VP Product & Marketing, Allsteel
- Andrea Gauss, Senior Product Strategy Manager, Allsteel
- Sean Oliver, Product Portfolio Manager, Allsteel
- Rikki Crowe, Senior Workplace Advisory Manager, Allsteel
Moderator: Pam Pusateri, National A&D + CRE Manager, Allsteel
Walls vs. Walls: Conventional Construction vs. Demountable Partitions
Why should you consider using demountable partitions in the workplace? Our panel of industry experts will explore the demands of today’s evolving workforce and the need to provide a safe environment for employees to return to work. Now more than ever, employers need flexible spaces that can accommodate different types of work and shift as needs change.
Panelists:
- Andy Holub, VP Preconstruction & Special Services Director, Clune Construction
- Josh Tremblay, Workplace Leader | Principal, DLR Group
- Katie Esche, Architectural Products Solutions Consultant, Allsteel
Moderator: Pam Pusateri, National A&D + CRE Manager, Allsteel
The Introverted/Extroverted Workspace – Part 1
People are people. Even in the office. Work is a coming together of people from different backgrounds, different ages, different ethnicities and personalities. Companies are challenged to think differently to provide new and improved solutions for a positive and productive experience. Our panel of experts, from diverse disciplines, will explore what factors need to be considered to support people emotionally, physically and mentally.
Panelists:
- Deena Chochinov - Family Enterprise Advisor and Management Consultant
- Jan Johnson - VP, Workplace Strategy at Allsteel | HNI
- Jeanette Kim - Senior Associate, Senior Interior Designer at Perkins & Will
- Karina Campos - Design Lead for the IBM Z AI Team
Moderator:
- Allan Chochinov - Writer, Speaker, Advocate, Founding Chair, MFA Product of Design Graduate Program School of Visual Arts
Life Sciences 2.0: Insights + Applications
Join us for a continued discussion on the Life Science industry with a panel of experts. We will explore where the industry is going from the lens of multiple audiences: CRE, A&D, general contractors, and end users.
Panelists:
- Rich Smith, LEED AP, AAIA - Practice Director, Life Science, Principal, HKS Architects
- Jessica Cochran, AIA LEED AP, Principal, JacobsWyper Architects
- Jessica Mogilka, Executive Vice President, JLL
- Pat Gallagher, President and CEO, Hereva Consultants
Hybrid Work: A Key Component of the "Next Normal"
Since early 2020, organizations have had to embrace the idea of employees working outside the office. Now, as we are able to consider plans for ‘reoccupying’ the workplace, organizations need to determine how they will support their workforce moving forward. This is where the idea of ‘Hybrid Work’ comes into play – meaning that work will be a hybrid of working in the office, working at home, and a range of options in between. We’ll discuss with our panel of experts which work processes are more effectively completed in different locations, and how organizations can manage and create spaces to support them.
Panelists:
- Laura DelaFuente, Global Director of Workplace Strategy, HP
- Grant Christofely, Senior Associate, Workplace Strategy, MMoser
- Linda Foggie, Senior Vice President, East USA Leader, Americas Head of Corporate Occupier, Turner & Townsend
- Andreas Androutsellis, Senior Workplace Advisory Manager, Allsteel
Continued Discussion on The Future of Commercial Real Estate
Join us for our continued discussion on The Future of Commercial Real Estate. We will be speaking to CBRE’s Furniture Advisory Service team about demystifying the RFP process.
Panelists:
- Julie Deignan, Director, Furniture Advisory Services, CBRE
- Kim Maziarz, Senior Furniture Advisor, CBRE
- Mathew Hollis, Director, Global Accounts, HNI Global
- Pam Pusateri, National A&D + CRE Manager, Allsteel
The Future of Commercial Real Estate
We have seen the landscape of commercial real estate change drastically this past year. Where do we envision it going in the short and long term? What do we see as the “new normal”?
We’ll explore the effect COVID-19 has had on the industry, how working from home has changed client needs, and a multitude of insights with our panelists from across the United States.
Panelists:
- Laura H. Scripture, Principal, Summit Construction Management
- Pay Wu, Executive Managing Director, Global Occupier Services - Americas East, Cushman & Wakefield
- Jasmine Amaso, Account Director Americas, JLL
- Dean Shapiro, Head of US Development, Oxford Properties
- Jill Stewart, Vice President, General Manager, HNI Global
Exploring the "New" Law Office
It’s clear the law office landscape is changing. Firms are looking for ways to lower overhead costs, including reducing the overall office footprint, and looking at ways to maximize efficiencies through design including a shift to two office sizes, universal or even shared offices. In this session we will explore the economic impacts of rising real estate costs and the trend towards universal size offices, and how this change has played a role in creating more empathetic and equitable work environment for all employees fostering diversity and inclusion goals.
Speakers:
- Dan Bassano, NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED AP, Team Lead/Sr. Project Manager, Nelson Worldwide
- Kristin Cerutti, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, WELL AP, Senior Designer/Workplace Thought Leader, Nelson Worldwide
- Sheri Thome, Regional Managing Partner, Las Vegas Office, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
- Margaux Jaffa, Regional Sales Manager, East, Allsteel
- Elaine Holub, Business Development Manager, Allsteel
Exploring the HyFlex Learning Environment
Prior to COVID, a new classroom and teaching style was emerging that has proven especially relevant in response to current events and challenges: HyFlex. The blended course design allows students to select how they attend class - either in person or remotely - on a day-to-day basis and provides physical solutions that can respond dynamically to accommodate those choices.
Workplace of the Future
Now that there is a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, and organizations are exploring new ways of working, we will offer three key principles we believe should be the foundation for new workplace strategies. Join us as we talk about the enormous role workplace design will have in realizing these much needed shifts. And how they lead to greater organizational success.
The Future of Sustainable Workplaces
We all know that sustainability is a journey, not a destination. In the workplace, we’ve made great strides forward with LEED and WELL certified spaces. We’ve incorporated recycled content, sustainable wood, and product manufacturers have set their sights on “zero” goals. While it may seem we are reaching a sustainability plateau, in truth, we are gearing up for the next climb. This session will focus on our next mountains to climb, including material transparency, embodied carbon, and circularity. Join us as we explore these topics and discuss the future of sustainable workplaces.
View Webinar Recording
Work Geometry: Thoughtful Considerations of Comfort & Application
Lounge and collaborative areas are increasing in importance and utilization. Consideration of activities, requirements, and atmosphere in the overall design can foster effectiveness and satisfaction of these spaces. In this session, we will discuss Work Geometry, a method of designing and specifying further grounded in thoughtful consideration of comfort and application. Challenges, common pitfalls, and idea starters for collaborative space will be discussed.
Responding to the Agile Workplace
Discover why the use of architectural product is on the rise. During this Learning Lab, we explore topics such as flexibility, safety in the workplace, and how architectural products can respond to the constant change in business.
A Human Centric Focus
Join us as we continue our journey of understanding acoustical performance. What it means, why it matters and how our experts from product, wellness and data scientists are collaborating to enhance space experiences.
Life Sciences - Insights + Application
Learn about what companies are under the Life Science umbrella, what Macro Trends we are seeing and watching, plus the implication in the workplace. During this session, we explore how scalability, distributed work, and adaptability create the design of the workplace.
Agility & Flexibility CEU
The word ‘agile’ is part of many terms used to define the workplace today - agile processes, agile spaces, agile teams, agile work. There are commonalities across them all – flexibility and adaptability for example – but it’s important to understand what the work ‘agile’ means to your client or organization before starting the design process. This course outlines key definitions, and defines specific organizational, spatial, and work setting components that need to be considered when designing an ‘agile’ workspace.
View Webinar Recording
Designing For New Realities: Post Pandemic Workplace Considerations
During this 1 hour session, we will cover:
- Materiality: Is ‘Cleanability’ the New ‘Sustainability?’
- Social Distancing: Social Collaborative
- Remote Work: WFH and Integrating at Work
- International Discussion with Pam Keefe, Vice President of HNI International
Professional Services CEU
Professional Services looks at this evolving client type as industry changes, new ways of working, and new opportunities are playing out in workplace design. The presentation will be a good primer for those who are interested in the breadth of what we’re seeing and the shifts that might be coming.
View Webinar Recording
Ready For What’s Ahead: Collaborating to Evolve the Workspace
During this 1 hour session, we will continue the conversation from our first hot topic over post pandemic workplace considerations and where the workplace is moving to.
Join us as Allsteel’s leadership present the next volume of content to help our partners and business community navigate an evolving post pandemic environment. Topics will include information and ideas on User Experience, Spatial Effectiveness and Distributed Work.
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Interaction + Collaboration CEU
Collaboration is a vital part of work in the 21st century; yet our understanding of the actual activities in which workers engage and how best to design for them so that spaces don’t sit empty or frustrate their users is lacking. This course will briefly make the case for planning effective spaces, then review a series of considerations that cover “planning”, “provisioning” and “using” elements. We’ll test our theories with real examples, and share tools to apply in practice.
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Work Geometry
With lounge and collaborative areas becoming an established requirement in the office landscape, furniture options that target this space are abundant. However, many products force users into postures that are overly reclined, close to the ground, or mismatched with supporting tables, making these areas incompatible with normal work activities. This discussion will introduce Work Geometry, a method of designing and specifying furniture grounded in thoughtful consideration of comfort, postures, fit, and application. Careful consideration of these elements can foster effectiveness of lounge areas and promote functional, productive, and enjoyable environments.
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Power to the People CEU
Power to the People shares four complementary perspectives on people: what motivates us, what engages us, the science behind performance, and what drives our behavior in social settings - including the office. The more we understand how we tick, how interdependent we are, and why we crave agency and belonging, the more we can contribute to the success of the people our workplace strategies and designs are meant to enable.
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A Conversation About Wellness
Allsteel’s Wellness Team talks about the intersection of healthy people, places and products. We think wellness is important. Why is it important to you? As a developer/owner, A&D Professional, CRE Professional, Project Manager, Product Specialist, or employee/occupant, we will look to you to drive the discussion. This is the first of a series of conversations with thought leaders in wellness positioned as a panel.
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Working Well: Strategies and Context CEU
Part 1: Allsteel | Gunlocke Wellness Series
Wellness programs have been growing in popularity, in part, due to the significant impacts they can have on workplace health, satisfaction and ultimately the bottom line. Traditionally, wellness programs focus on individual considerations, however, the built environment can also foster mental and physical wellness. This course will cover the essential elements of wellness programs and will give the designer considerations that can foster wellness or well-being in the office. We will discuss strategies to design an environment that holistically considers the health and well-being of occupants. We will also introduce wellness standards for consideration.
View Webinar Recording
A Conversation About the Benefits of Wellness
Part 2: Allsteel | Gunlocke Wellness Series
Our panel of experts from the building and design communities will shed light on the end-user benefits of considering wellness throughout the design process of a new space. They’ll address why their organizations pursued wellness features and share challenges and successes along the way.
Panelists:
- Jennifer Walton, Principal/Project Director, H.Hendy Associates
- Clint Dusenbery, Facilities Manager, Secura Insurance
- Hugh Peltz, Head of Corporate Services, Procurement and Property Service, Citizens Bank
The Case for Wellness CEU
Part 3: Allsteel | Gunlocke Wellness Series
Wellbeing is no longer a want, it’s a need in office environments. Employers are experiencing major financial setbacks related to health and wellness of their employees. Stakeholders are searching for answers of how to effectively implement these programs into their buildings. This course will discuss how wellness effects employers, what are the wellness factors that affect space and how are programs such as the Well Building Standard making changes in this area.
How to Build a Healthy Building
Part 4: Allsteel | Gunlocke Wellness Series
We’ll explore the practices necessary to create healthy buildings and spaces. Our panelists will share experiences from their own projects, including obstacles they’ve faced and the creative solutions they’ve implemented to achieve their clients’ wellness goals. Panelists will include sustainability experts and general contractors.
Panelists:
- Patty Lloyd, LEED AP-BD&C, WELL AP, Director of Sustainability, Leopardo Companies, Inc.
- Cara Kennedy, LEED AP-BD&C, WELL AP, Fitwel, Project Manager - Sustainability, Project & Development Series, JLL
- Jennifer McGrory, AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP, Fitwel, Senior Associate Project Manager, Perkins + Will
- Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE, WELL AP, Fitwel, Human Factors & Ergonomics Manager, HNI & Allsteel | Gunlocke
Workplace Analytics & Social Distancing
Part 1: Ready for What's Ahead E-Book Series
For many of us, the return to work has been gradual with some degree of social distancing in effect. We at Allsteel | Gunlocke, and on behalf of our customers, design and dealer partners, have been thinking about how analytics and insights from real-time data can help us plan, design and implement people-centered workplaces.
Our team wanted to see how ‘ready’ a typical organization is to implement social distancing. We partnered with global consulting firm Buro Happold who has more than a decade of experience researching the behavior of people within the workplace, how they use spaces, and what makes them productive. Together, we are learning ways to use this data to empower organizations so they can better utilize their workplaces, increase collaboration, and improve productivity and well-being.
We look forward sharing our learnings and the potential impacts to future planning during this session.
Key Takeaways:
- Orientation matters. A simple reconfiguration of furniture elements can increase utilization from 52% to 100%.
- A single, large community table can accommodate more socially distanced people than individual tables.
- Architectural elements can support higher utilization without construction trades, inconvenience, disruption, etc.
Panelists:
- Lisa Miller, Director, Product Applications & Insights, HNI & Allsteel | Gunlocke
- James Amos, Product Development Lead, Buro Happold
Psychological Safety: Considering the User Experience in Uncertain Times
Part 2: Ready for What's Ahead E-Book Series
As we navigate the evolving realities of the work environment and develop strategies to support both safety and worker effectiveness, focusing on user experience is vital. In this course, we will discuss psychological safety and what it necessary to holistically and inclusively support employees. We will share what we have learned about social cohesion, wellness, and perceived risk and examine how these concepts may ease some difficulties introduced by our current climate. By cultivating an atmosphere of safety and a sense of belonging, we have an opportunity to refocus on what matters, to reassess and improve.
Panelists:
- Jan Johnson, VP of Design and Workplace Resources, Allsteel | Gunlocke
- Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE, WELL AP, Fitwel, Human Factors & Ergonomics Manager, HNI & Allsteel | Gunlocke
Distributed Work
Part 3: Ready for What's Ahead E-Book Series
Remote work became the new reality for millions of office workers earlier this year. Many organizations realized that the sky did NOT fall, and that a large percentage of their workers want to be able to work remotely at least part time even after COVID is no longer forcing the issue.
We’ll share how organizations might approach what we and others are calling Distributed Work – what has worked for them during the last 4 – 6 months, how to determine who participates and why, how it’s structured, and how to capitalize on what other organizations have learned as they’ve supported remote work for many years.
Panelists:
- Jan Johnson, VP of Design and Workplace Resources, Allsteel | Gunlocke
- Eric Johnson, Senior Workplace Advisory Manager, Allsteel | Gunlocke
Sustainability and Wellness in the Built Environment
Part 5: Allsteel | Gunlocke Wellness Series
Our panelists will discuss the intersection of sustainability and wellness in building design and construction. We’ll explore the reasons why organizations would pursue certifications like LEED, WELL, and Fitwel, and discuss their experiences working with clients who have pursued these certifications. Our panelists will share the challenges they’ve faced and their best practices for how we can all implement wellness considerations and healthy materials in our buildings.
Panelists:
- Dave Hubka, Director of Program Development, Rivion Consulting
- Rachelle Schoessler Lynn, Director of Workplace, Gensler
- Melissa Gutierrez-Sullivan, VP, Sustainability and Wellness Services, Cushman & Wakefield
- Courtney Moline, Sustainability Manager, HNI & Allsteel | Gunlocke
The Science Behind Wellness
Part 6: Allsteel | Gunlocke Wellness Series
Wellness is not just about adding bananas in the breakroom, handing out fitness trackers, and calling it a day. Behind every aspect of wellness is a vast array of research, data, and metrics to help companies and people be more aware of their overall wellness. Our panel of experts will discuss the most important data and metrics available today and how we all can continue to use this information to support wellness in the built environment.
Panelists:
- Dr. Whitney Austin Gray, WELL Faculty, WELL AP, LEED AP, Senior Vice President, International WELL Building Institute
- Dr. Beth Livingston, PHD, Faculty Director, Kathleen Dore – Henry B. Tippie Women’s Leadership Program, Assistant Professor, Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa
- Molly Dunlap, Project Architect & Sustainability Specialist, Eppstein Uhen Architects
- Lisa Prober, WELL AP, Business Development Manager, Allsteel | Gunlocke
Virtualizing Serendipitous Socialization
Our panelists will be leading a two part visioning workshop to prompt group discussion around cultivating culture and serendipitous connections in a remote world. We’ll first explore the health benefits of socialization, how important it is to use all of our senses when connecting with people and some digital resources that have made virtual connections stronger. Then, our panelists will invite everyone to join small, virtual breakout groups using collaborative technology to brainstorm some thoughts together around how to create opportunities for serendipitous socialization no matter where people work.
Panelists:
- Erin Meyers, NCIDQ, LEED Green Associate, Senior Designer, IA Interior Architects
- Valerie Jardon, RID, IIDA, NCIDQ, Fitwel Ambassador, Senior Strategist, IA Interior Architects
- Pamela Royer Pusateri, National Manager, A&D + CRE, Allsteel | Gunlocke
Ideas for future Learning Labs?
Let us know by contacting us below.