IN PLACE End of Year 2024 Newsletter
IN PLACE End of Year 2024 Newsletter
2024 continued with the post-covid trend of businesses offering flexible work arrangements for employees. But with low unemployment rates increasing competition for the best employees and high housing costs pushing many employees further out from metro centers leading to longer commutes, during 2024 employers and building owners found they needed workplace designs that would encourage staff to return to the office. And the top design requirement was increasing and ensuring employee well-being.
Renowned architect Zaha Hadid said, “Architecture is really about well-being. I think that people want to feel good in a space.” And the 2024 Global Workplace Report confirmed that by noting employees want workplaces that are “beautiful, welcoming, and inspire thinking.”Whether a spec lab, new headquarters, or an office renovation, all Ebbrell Architecture + Design’s 2024 projects had employee and visitor well-being as a top priority.
At Lutronic’s new headquarters in Billerica, MA we added a two-story green wall as a focal point in the lobby and reception area. And at Burro Happold’s new Boston, MA offices we included biophilic elements such as custom lockers with planters, which underscored the client’s commitment to elevating the overall human experience within the workplace.
Maximizing natural light was another recurring feature. At the Charles River Mills building in Newton, MA we capitalized on the existing high ceilings and large windows to enhance natural light in the lab. And, at 293 Boston Post Road in Marlborough, MA, we strategically placed the lab spaces along the windows, creating a bright and inspiring work environment, while windows along the corridor allow views into the labs and to exterior panoramic views.Improving well-being also requires creating comfortable spaces.
For repeat client, Festo Corporation’s new HQ in Marlborough, MA we repurposed existing furniture from the previous location to ensure continuity and familiarity for employees. Maintaining original brick and beam features at Charles River Mills created a unique and warm workspace and at Burro Happold we crafted a social space with soft seating, exposed ceilings, and light-infused interiors, creating an inviting living room atmosphere conducive to creativity and interaction.
2025 is likely to continue with the well-being in the workplace trends we saw this year. And the Ebbrell team is ready to help create the designs that will lead to productivity and success for businesses and their employees.
