bkm’s Post-COVIDPLAYBOOK

Edition III

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACE

READY TO GET BACK TO THE OFFICE?Post COVID-19 Workplace Design Considerations to help keep you and your employees safe

WELLBEING AT WORK

We’ve been designing workspaces to support the cognitive, physical and

emotional wellbeing of workers. Now safety is at the forefront and is foundational

to your staff’s overall wellbeing, and key to a successful return to the office space.

As we enter back into the workplace, providing space that still supports the

dynamics of wellbeing, while keeping your workplace safe, is paramount.

Your space needs to adapt and provide resilient business continuity.

We can help you provide safer space and help you shape behaviors.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Enact safety guidelines

Enable safe behaviors and cleanliness protocols

Create physical and psychological safety

Support effective and safe human interactions

• Open Plan

• High Density

• Shared Spaces

• High Mobility

• Communal Spaces

• Residential Aesthetic

WE CAN HELP.

These characteristics created a competitive advantage for organizations

– a means to foster new work styles, build culture and attract talent.

While many organizations prepared for employee safety in other ways,

the workplace was not designed to mitigate the spread of disease.

NOW: TODAY’S WORKPLACE CHALLENGES

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACETHE POST-COVID WORKPLACE

AV & TECHNOLOGY

Does the technology of

your space allow you to

meet effectively with both

in-office teams & remote

workers? bkm’s AV

division can help.

PROTOCOL BOOK

Let us work with you to

create a protocol book to

give to your employees as

they return to the office.

OUTLINES:

• CDC guidelines

• New Social Behaviors &

safer ways to interact

with each other and the

space

• A place to identify your

company’s personal

position

SPACE ASSESSMENT & DESIGN

Let us assess your

space and suggest how

it can be tailored to

support appropriate and

safer interaction.

HOME OFFICE

Are you planning to

assist any of your users

with their home-offices

furniture needs? We

have solutions.

CONTACT US FOR ANY ONE OF THESE SERVICES.

CLEANING

We can do a deep clean

of your office furniture &

upholstery (panels &

chairs) prior to employees

returning to the office, and

help you implement

sanitization stations.

SIGNAGE & GRAPHICS

We can help you to

create signage and

graphics to implement

throughout your space

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPROPOSED ADDITIONS TO CURRENT LAYOUTS

Design Principles based on Guiding Principles

RETHINK TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY

Include video

conferencing technology

wherever possible to

promote remote work.

FOSTER COMMUNITY IN SAFE WAYS

Social and collaboration

spaces grow to

accommodate less

people in order to

maintain safer

distances.

ALLOW FOR SAFER INDIVIDUAL WORKSPACES

Individual owned spaces that

maintain safer distances between

colleagues will grow. Cocooning,

micro-environments and cubicles

need to be rethought.

ENABLE WORKING FROM HOME

To reduce density at the

workplace the home office can

play an integral part in the

ecosystem of spaces. Here,

employees need to be supported

with the right equipment.

CREATE DISTANCE & FRIENDLY BARRIERS

Provide boundary between

employees for both, privacy

and health – the panel

makes a comeback.

Consider visual cues to

delineate personal space.

IMPLEMENT NEW BEHAVIORAL CODEX

Establish new protocols for

interactions between colleagues,

& cleaning shared surfaces. This

will affect daily routines and

corporate culture.

BIOPHILIA

To deal with the lack of

physical proximity and an

increased use of technology,

biophilia gains importance to

support wellbeing.

SMART CHOICE OF MATERIALS

Making use of cleanable

materials and antimicrobial

options in shared spaces.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Enact safety guidelines

Enable safer behaviors and cleanliness protocols

Create physical and psychological safety

Support effective and safer human interactions

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACETHE POST-COVID WORKPLACE

SHORT-TERM

Retrofit spaces for what

we know now.

NOW NEAR FARLONG-TERM

Reinvent spaces as science and

technology progress.

In what ways will our experiences

today – that you capture in the now

and apply in the near – make you

better in the future? How will this

experience be transformative

toward an even better tomorrow?

MEDIUM-TERM

Reconfigure spaces to adapt to

what we are still learning as we

understand science and data.

We know that the future is uncertain in the midst of a pandemic, but as people start to come back to the office space, it is evident that things need to change. Our office spaces need to

adapt to keep our people safe and feeling comfortable to return. How can we adjust our spaces NOW to immediately create a safer space? With more sciences-based research and

information, we start to understand how we may need to look to adapt our spaces for the NEAR future. And as time progresses, the “new normal” will look different. We start to get a

perspective on how are spaces will need to adapt LONG-TERM (FAR), to keep people safe and comfortable.

We can help with product solutions & services for the NOW, NEAR, and FAR.

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEWHAT WE KNOW NOW

• The only constant is change, and change is happening fast.

• Employees will not willingly return to an office if they do not feel safe.

• Recent office design trends are now problematic: Agile work models, Benching, Hoteling, Densely packed floorplans, Double-occupancy

offices, Collaboration Areas…

• Employees will want their own dedicated workspace and will want control over the cleanliness of their personal space.

• If given the choice, employees who feel happy and efficient at home will choose to stay home.

• The square footage required per headcount will increase in the NOW, in the NEAR future, and perhaps in the FAR as well.

• Increased cleaning protocols with harsh chemicals will require a different quality of finishes and materials

• Increased panel heights and screens not only offer a psychological benefit but can provide a real benefit in terms of preventing the spread of

droplets

• This is not temporary. There is a new normal being revealed. What it looks like is uncertain, but it is evident that it contains a combination of new

safety standards, protocols, strategic design, technology investments, and product applications.

SHORT-TERM

Retrofit spaces for what

we know now.

NOW

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEWHAT WE PREDICT IN THE NEAR

• Reduced density and reverting to a single-use “my space” model vs. a hoteling and shared desks “our space” strategy will be expected.

• An effective home office is increasingly important.

• Companies will want to implement temperature check stations when entering the building to help ensure the well-being of visitors and

employees. These systems can be very cost effective and implemented in small to large scale with minimal infrastructure requirements and

training needs.

• Employees should be prepared to “Pack in & Pack Out.” Be prepared to be nomadic, balancing a work-from-home and a work-from-

office lifestyle. Packing up all belongings at the end of the day, and decluttering your personal space, will allow for proper sanitization

practices to ensue at the end of the day.

• Remain flexible. It is important to solve for short-term concerns with product and design solutions that can be efficiently reprocessed in the

future.

• Durable materials, that can withstand chemical disinfectants, and antimicrobial finish options in shared spaces will become important.

Cleaning routines needs to visible in order to put people at ease.

• Fresh air circulation will become increasingly important.

• Technology will play an even BIGGER role, filling the gap of absent in-office personnel. The integration of user-friendly collaboration

systems and video conferencing will be even more prominent, and will quickly shift from a business want to a business need

• As square footage becomes even more valuable, space analytics from data collected from subscription services will help businesses make

more informed decisions about how their space is or is not working effectively for their organization.

• Visual cues throughout the workspace to help define workplace behaviors and remind users how to interact with the space and with each

other will be commonplace.

• The value of the office space is being challenged. You better be able to identify & communicate what makes your office space valuable

if you want your people to return to it.

NEARMEDIUM-TERM

Reconfigure spaces to adapt to

what we are still learning as we

understand science and data.

PROPOSED PRODUCTS FOR NOW

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPROPOSED ADDITIONS TO CURRENT LAYOUTS

SIGNAGE

Visual cues throughout the

workspace help define

workplace behaviors and

remind users how to

interact with the space &

each other.

Branded Social Distancing Floor Decals

Writable Surface SignsHelp direct traffic flow in a space and allow for information to be easily updated

Branded signage to print & post throughout your facility

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPROPOSED ADDITIONS TO CURRENT LAYOUTS

Consultation BoothTemperature Check Screens Mobile “Pocket” Cart

Mobile Carts for sanitization supplies can be easily located in open office areas and meeting rooms

“Soto” mobile caddies can nestle under worksurfaces to keep sanitization supplies at desks

Wall-mounted sanitization stations at the entry/exit points of rooms, keep the spread of viruses at bay

SCREENING STATION

A screening station may be

implemented to assess

individuals coming back into

the office.

SANITIZATION STATION

Keeping sanitization

supplies within easy

reach is key to keeping a

clean and safer office

environment.

Aurora Temperature Check Tablets

Freestanding Sanitization Stations to hold hand sanitizer & tissues

Bar Carts just got a lot less fun, but are a practical way to hold hand sanitizer, wipes, and PPE

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPROPOSED ADDITIONS TO CURRENT LAYOUTS

PERSONAL WORKSTATION SCREENS & COUNTERTOP SHIELDS

Easy screen additions

provided extra personal

protection.

Panel screens A variety of surface-mounted screens

ShieldsTemporary cardboard screens

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPROPOSED ADDITIONS TO CURRENT LAYOUTS

FREESTANDING SCREENS

Privacy and flexibility for crisis

response applications

in healthcare and beyond.

*Screens with ESD materials available for lab spaces

Linking and Mobile Screens

Customizable ApplicationsSteelcase Flex Movable Screens

Mobile Markerboards are wipeable and functional

Healthcare Applications

PROPOSED PRODUCTS FOR NEAR

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPROPOSED ADDITIONS TO CURRENT LAYOUTS

LONG-TERM SPACE DIVISION

Help to set boundaries &

dictate traffic flow. Plants

and light filtering materials

help to keep the space

feeling warm and inviting.

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPROPOSED ADDITIONS TO CURRENT LAYOUTS

STEELCASE “FLEX”

Flexible space division

+ markerboard

surfaces + wipeable

surfaces keep a space

agile and resilient.

PORTABLE

With a thin-edge detail and a dual-

sided writing surface, the lightweight

markerboards (under 10 lbs) are easy

to move.

FREESTANDING

The multi-purpose stand holds

markerboards and screens, ideal for

pitching and sharing. It holds the cup for

markers, too.

WALL-MOUNTED

As a backdrop and focal point, the wall

rail has two tracks for layering content

and holds markerboards or screens.

ALL YOUR ESSENTIALS

When used with the basket and cup,

the team cart can hold all your team’s

essentials like dry erase markers and

sticky notes.

MARKERBOARD & SCREEN

STORAGE

The board cart can store up to 8

markerboards or screens so you can take

your work with you when on the move.

INFORMATION DISPLAY

Clips on both the board and team carts

allow you to display your work vertically

or horizontally.

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPROPOSED ADDITIONS TO CURRENT LAYOUTS

Personal HooksClamp to surfaces to keep bags and purses off the floor

Flexible Power Provide power to spaces that may be serving temporary functions

Slatwall Screens and Hanging Worktools, keep clutter off of work surfaces, so that they can be wiped clean after use

ACCESSORIES

Sometimes the

small things make

a BIG difference

Desktop Power AccessMaking power easily accessible at the desktop will enable users to easily unplug at the end of a day, so desktops can be cleared for a wipe down

PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO CURRENT LAYOUTS

STORAGE

Packing up

workspaces at the end

of the day, so surfaces

can be wiped down,

will become a must.

Personal storage, like

lockers, will give

individuals a place to

stash their stuff.

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACE

Banks of Lockers

High Density storage

Individual Lockers Individual “Moby” mobile storage cart

Individual mobile pedestals

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPROPOSED ADDITIONS TO CURRENT LAYOUTS

media:scapeIntegrate enhanced virtual experiences to connect people across distances.

AV & TECHNOLOGY

The office will need to

integrate enhanced

virtual experiences so

people can connect

across distances

Microsoft HubLarge scale digital tools help fuel innovation over distance.

RoomWizardReserve your rooms, meeting or private spaces.

Workplace AdvisorA space management tool that lets you monitor, quantify and optimize ongoing workplace performance, gathering space use and occupancy through sensors.

PROPOSED APPLICATIONS FOR FAR

Our tomorrow-spaces may look a bit different.

In what ways will our experiences today – that you capture in the now and

apply in the near – make you better in the future? How will this experience

be transformative toward an even better tomorrow?

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPOST-COVID WORKPLACE IDEAS & APPLICATIONS

THOUGHTS ON HOW WE BELIEVE THE WORKPLACE WILL BE REINVENTED

HANDS FREE NEW MATERIALS SENSORS

Sensors will measure

different aspects of wellbeing,

possibly including behavior or

actions that indicate illness.

Pure or engineered materials that allow for cleaning and disinfection without degrading over time will become the new standard.

More solutions will be

available for gesture or

voice-activated commands

(i.e. raise desk-top, open

door, save whiteboard note).

INCLUSIVE DESIGN LIVING ON VIDEO REMOTE WORK NORMS CREATE COMMUNITY

The workplace needs to

ensure that everyone has

equal levels of safe

participation regardless of age,

abilities or health issues.

Nurture a sense of belonging

and purpose. Reiterate the

organization’s strategies and

long-term vision. Use virtual

gatherings to help people

maintain that connection to

others.

Work from home will likely

become more

mainstream.

Employees will need

support for home

offices that provide

physical comfort and

allow them to participate

in work seamlessly.

The office will need to

integrate enhanced

virtual experiences so

people can connect

across distances.

INTRODUCE STANDING MEETINGS

Should you become ill, emerging smart phone technology can anonymously communicate this to anyone who’s been near you.

CONTACT TRACING

Adopt agile practices like daily stand

ups. Standing meetings can be

helpful in reducing overall square

footage / meter demands.

Add large-scale digital tools to help

teams maintain relationships and

fuel innovation over distance.

LARGE-SCALE COLLAB. DEVICES

Give people the choice of having a dedicated workspace. If spaces must be shared, they should be ‘reservable’. Provide ubiquitous access to cleaning supplies.

ME WITHIN WE

Add furniture that can

be easily moved and

reconfigured. Mobile power lets

employees work where power is

not readily available – such as

cafés that can be redeployed

for individual work.

FLEXIBLE FURNITURE + POWER

FARLONG-TERM

Reinvent spaces as

science and technology

progress.

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPOST-COVID WORKPLACE IDEAS & APPLICATIONS

WORKSTATIONS

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPOST-COVID WORKPLACE IDEAS & APPLICATIONS

WORKSTATIONS

FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACEPOST-COVID WORKPLACE IDEAS & APPLICATIONS

COLLABORATIVE