Sustainable Facilities Tool

The Workplace Environment as a Catalyst for Social Change

We know workplace design can influence functional behaviors, but can it be a catalyst for social change? Can organizations use the environment to improve sense of community, increase morale, reduce stress, and develop cross group relationships?

This seems like a pretty stiff challenge. But a small leadership group at the U.S. General Service Administration's Regional Office in Denver made it happen. They began with an environmental upgrade, and ended with a new office environment that dramatically changed not only the appearance of the space, but also the attitudes and behaviors of the workforce.

The project, lead by the Public Buildings Service team, was responding initially to GSA's Worldclass Workplace program to provide a better work environment for associates and to ultimately attract and retain new workers. However, as their commitment to the project developed, so did their desire to understand better how their own organization worked, especially how to improve internal working relationships in order to serve their clients better. They wanted to use the office as a showcase that would reflect the values and innovations that GSA wanted to offer its customers. What better way than to begin by reflecting on your own organization?

Project Goals

Through numerous internal workshops and site visits to other organizations, the PBS team developed the following goals for the workplace renovation.

• Improve internal working relationships, especially cross group communication and collaboration.
• Reduce workplace stress and increase the overall quality of life for GSA associates.
• Use the workplace as a way to show that PBS is a thought leader, rather than a follower, in workplace design.

 

Workplace Solutions

• Open spaces at central nodes for spontaneous meeting
• More meeting spaces of a greater variety
• A centrally located cafe
• A new daylight entry space
• A "de-stress" space with pool table, ping pong, exercise room and lounge furnishings

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