India’s tech parks are booming—but at what cost? As glass towers rise and green cover shrinks, architects, interior designers and developers are turning to a powerful design philosophy that reconnects people with nature: biophilic design. From Bengaluru to Gurugram, a growing movement is reshaping commercial real estate to prioritize well-being, sustainability, and sensory connection. In this feature, five experts share how India’s workspaces are evolving from concrete boxes to living, breathing environments that support both performance and planet.

India’s Workspaces Need Trees, Not Just Towers

By Nithin Hosabettu | Design Director | IMK Architects

India’s rapid urbanisation is reshaping its cities, with tech parks emerging as symbols of economic progress—yet this transformation comes at the cost of lost green spaces and an increasingly inhospitable urban environment. While these hubs drive business and innovation, they also intensify the urban heat island effect, reduce green cover, and put immense pressure on infrastructure. The growing disconnect between built environments and nature has critically disrupted sustainability and human well-being. In response, architects and urban designers are rethinking tech parks, integrating biophilic principles to create healthier, more engaging workspaces.

Biophilic design is a necessary shift in workplace architecture, creating healthier and more natural work environments. Integrating open-air work zones, sky gardens, shaded courtyards, and green walls helps regulate temperature while promoting social interaction and spatial comfort. Thoughtful use of natural materials, large windows for ample daylight, and passive cooling techniques reduce dependence on artificial lighting and air conditioning, making work environments more energy-efficient and inviting. By embedding nature into the very structure of these developments, architects are shaping spaces that encourage a deeper connection to the environment, benefiting both individuals and the broader urban fabric.

Despite its clear advantages, biophilic design has yet to become the norm in India’s office space sector. While some pioneering projects highlight its potential, wider adoption requires a shift in urban development priorities. The evolution of workplaces requires a synergy between technological advancement and ecological stewardship, ensuring urban growth aligns with environmental sustainability. By integrating nature into urban environments, office spaces can evolve into functional, restorative settings that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient cityscape.

WoCO One: Designing Tomorrow’s Tech Park with Nature at the Core

By Anand Sharma & Goonmeet Singh Chauhan | Design Forum International

Can biophilic design in tech parks and commercial workspaces offer a sustainable counterbalance?

Is India’s real estate sector truly embracing this shift, or is biophilic design still an exception rather than the norm?

India is amidst massive urban development, driving multi-dimensional growth across all real estate segments, especially offices & IT Parks. The surge in tech parks boosts international trade and attracts global interest. However, this progress comes at the cost of collateral impact.  

Rapid urbanisation leads to a steady increase in commercial development, transforming cities into dense concrete jungles. Combined with the depletion of green cover, this fundamental shift in planning and large-scale employment highlights the need to adopt open-air work zones to reduce energy consumption and fully embrace sustainable technologies. These changes are shaping not only our urban landscapes but also the way we work. The new-age planning must challenge the conventional workplace’s time-tested but worn-down approaches. They must move beyond the prosaic requirements, such as efficiently ventilated interior spaces or optimally-lit workspaces. They must care for the individual’s well-being by including informal spaces or planning the interiors with sufficient greens.

Biophilic workplaces—the spaces that integrate green patches into the core plan—have been shown to improve employee well-being, reduce energy consumption, and reduce the ecological footprint of commercial real estate. But is India’s real estate sector truly embracing this shift, or is biophilic design still an exception and not the norm? Nature-first tech parks can pave the way for a more liveable urban future. 

Sitting in a commercially-packed locality of Udhyog Vihar, Gurugram, WoCO One is an example of a modern-day workspace. WoCO (World of Cool Offices) introduces a fresh perspective on workplace planning by aligning with the aspirations of an evolving workforce. Located in a verdant, commercially thriving neighbourhood near the NH-8 intersection in Gurugram, WoCO One reimagines workplace design through inclusivity, flexibility, and sustainability. Passive design principles are integral to its sustainability-driven ideology.  

Spread over five acres and across nine floors, the WoCO One integrates passive design strategies to optimise energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Vertical fins along the southwest façade act as shading devices, filtering harsh sunlight while allowing natural ventilation and reducing reliance on artificial cooling. Trellis-guarded projections enhance airflow, creating comfortable outdoor spaces that seamlessly blend with the interiors. The insulated glass envelope fosters a strong connection to the outdoors while maximising daylight without excessive heat gain, significantly reducing glare. These strategies contribute to a 32% reduction in the LPD Index, minimising energy consumption.

The design prioritises spatial fluidity, fostering collaboration and adaptability while embedding biophilic elements to enhance well-being. Landscaped terraces, open-air lounges, and green courtyards punctuate the built environment, reinforcing a seamless dialogue between architecture and nature. The integration of rainwater harvesting and recirculation ensures water sustainability, aligning with the broader goal of reducing the building’s ecological footprint. By weaving together passive design principles, energy-efficient systems, and a human-centric approach, the project redefines the contemporary workspace as an immersive, sustainable, and responsive urban environment.

The design solution for WoCo One crafts an all-encompassing workspace campus that walks in tandem with the requirements of the modern-day, while also mitigating the urban heat island effect through passive sustainability. The project champions a design approach that not only meets the evolving demands of modern workspaces but also actively addresses the global climate crisis. They offer innovative solutions to the challenges of conventional office planning while remaining highly responsive to environmental concerns. 

Redefining Urban Workspaces: Human-Centric Design for a Healthier City Future

By Akshat Bhatt | Principal Architect | Architecture Discipline

Currently, 70% of humanity lives within 100 km of cities, and by 2035, this number will rise to 75%. Indian cities are rapidly evolving to house high-density commercial hubs, and the impact of urban consumption patterns on the environment and human well-being cannot be ignored. Adopting ways of building that are in tune with climate and context is crucial to mitigating these effects.

A responsible workspace serves the present while anticipating the future. High-performance materials, innovative energy-efficient systems, and biophilic elements create an environment that minimises impact and maximises comfort. Open-air work zones, sky gardens, passive cooling systems, and water-sensitive planning are some interventions that enhance employee well-being and reduce energy consumption, shrinking the environmental footprint of modern commercial hubs. 

Cities can only reach their true potential if they become healthier places to live. We are still at the threshold of what can be achieved. Access to nature, well-balanced acoustics in interior spaces, and intuitive layouts can create an environment where people feel motivated and engaged. Design must leverage the tools of natural light, space, and materiality to enhance productivity and sustainability. Proactive steps are needed to redefine commercial real estate with a nature-first approach, ensuring that cities remain livable and resilient for future generations.

Biophilic Design: A Sustainable Counterbalance in Tech Parks and Workspaces

By Vishal Sharma | Founder Partner & Principal Architect | Confluence

The rise of tech parks in India’s urban hubs has transformed cities into dense concrete landscapes, driving economic growth but also contributing to heat islands and straining urban infrastructure. Amid this challenge, biophilic design offers a promising counterbalance by integrating natural elements into commercial workspaces. At Confluence, we have been practising this approach throughout our projects across typologies and not just as an aesthetic choice but as a fundamental shift in design and planning that can redefine the impact of large-scale developments on our cities.

We’ve seen how biophilic elements can transform the work environment in commercial spaces. For instance, in our project, Gulshan Experience Centre in Noida, water features meander through interiors, their gentle ripples reflecting light and creating a sense of tranquillity. Additionally, the incorporation of indoor hydroponic farming not only provides fresh produce but also highlights the design possibilities in commercial interior spaces. A careful selection of plants and vegetation is strategically placed, improving air quality, reducing stress, and fostering a deeper connection with nature. This is especially helpful in workplaces because they have direct correlations with the productivity levels of the occupants. In another project, the Gaur Manhattan Experience Centre in Ghaziabad, we drew design inspiration from nature’s fluidity, with curves that mirror the gentle flow of water over rocks and the delicate filtering of light through tree foliage, creating an organic aesthetic that complemented the urban sophistication required for the project. Vertical metal louvres, arranged in a continuous wave, merge the structure with a natural flow while pin lighting creates interest and mimics nature by creating the illusion of a night sky.

These design strategies are aligned with the principles of phenomenology in architecture, creating immersive environments that engage all senses, paying attention to how the user is expected to feel when experiencing a space. From open-air work zones and sky gardens to passive cooling strategies and water-sensitive urban design, biophilic elements in tech parks can significantly improve employee well-being, reduce energy consumption, and mitigate the ecological footprint of commercial real estate.

As architects, our role is to champion this nature-first approach, paving the way for livable, sustainable cities that balance economic growth with ecological responsibility.

Beyond Green Aesthetics: Why Biophilic Design Is Essential for Sustainable Urban Growth

By Raghuveer Veeramachaneni | Promoter and Managing Director | Vista Spaces

With the rapid rise of tech parks in India’s urban hubs like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Delhi-NCR, our cities are transforming into dense concrete landscapes. While these commercial developments drive economic growth, they also accelerate heat islands, reduce green cover, and put immense pressure on urban infrastructure. Amid this urban sprawl, can biophilic design in tech parks and commercial workspaces offer a sustainable counterbalance?

Is India’s real estate sector truly embracing this shift, or is biophilic design still an exception rather than the norm?

Exploring whether nature-first tech parks can pave the way for a more livable urban future.

The number of full-glass buildings in our urban centres resonates with the fact that biophilic design is still an exception rather than a norm. However, the industry is evolving to understand better the benefits of biophilic design for all stakeholders – companies, employees, citizens, local neighbourhoods and governments.

Biophilic design is only one aspect of future-proof workspaces. A truly sustainable workspace should have a people-centric approach that puts the well-being of not only people who work in the building but also people who work or live around the building at the centre of the development. Green buildings offer numerous benefits for companies, employees, and the environment. By incorporating eco-friendly design and materials, green buildings:

• Reduce operational costs through energy and water efficiency.
• Boost employee well-being, productivity, and happiness through natural light, clean air, and a healthier work environment.
• Promote sustainability and reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
• Foster a positive and responsible corporate image.

As concern for climate change grows, the adoption of green building designs is expected to increase. Sustainable workspaces create a win-win situation for companies and employees. Although initial green upgrades may cost, they ultimately pay off through lower energy use, happier staff, and a strong brand image, leading to long-term gains. As more companies prioritise environmental responsibility, sustainable workspaces will become the standard, driving positive change for businesses, employees, and the environment.

Building Cities That Breathe

As India’s commercial sector pushes forward, the call for healthier, human-centric work environments is louder than ever. Biophilic design offers a proven path—one that doesn’t just reduce emissions or save energy, but revives how people experience space. From sky gardens to shaded courtyards, from fresh air to fresh perspectives, these five leaders show that the future of work is not only about tech—it’s about touch, texture, and the timeless wisdom of nature.

The post Trees Over Towers: Can Biophilic Design Transform India’s Rapidly Urbanizing Workspaces? appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Since 2022, Harvard Graduate School of Design has annually offered a workplace design program for professionals that has attempted to help participants answer the question,

How will we redesign our workplace and the way we work in a post-pandemic work environment?

Recognizing that there are countless books, podcasts, videos, articles, etc., professing to know what the workplace of the future will look like, we believe that no one knows. Instead of a fixed mindset of what that looks like, we need a process to test, learn, truly fail fast and iterate our workplaces to adapt to the needs of the moment. One size does not fit all, and to have the best workplace, you need to constantly assess utilization, leverage data, and be willing to experiment.

Work Design has a special sneak peak into this summer’s program: Redesigning Work & Workplace: Space, Technology, and Culture. Meet experts, Jacob Reidel and Carly Tortorelli and their experiences researching, teaching, and building workplaces.

Meet the Experts

Jacob Reidel, Assistant Professor in Practice of Architecture at GSD, is an architect, editor, and writer whose work examines architectural practice and seeks to redesign the way architecture is practiced today. Throughout his career Jacob has tested the ways in which designers can shape space, experience, and community by embracing roles and responsibilities outside the traditionally-defined role of the architect. Before joining GSD, he was a Senior Director at Saltmine, a technology startup creating a platform of programming, design, and space management tools that are transforming the way clients and designers leverage data and collaborate with one another.

Carly Tortorelli is the Intuitive Surgical IT team’s Director, Workplace Technologies supporting the Facilities & Real Estate organization. In her role she leads the technology transformation and harmonization efforts across the facilities and real estate business, supporting capabilities including space strategy planning, construction management, facilities management, real estate portfolio management, workplace employee engagement, and environmental health and safety. Her initial focus will be evaluating technology transformation opportunities to support Intuitive’s growing business needs; laying the foundation to help Intuitive make long term, informed business decisions. She is an active participant in the IT long range planning process to shape the technology roadmap for this area.

WeWork Insight: Data is Crucial

Jacob Reidel, one of the instructors for our program, was formerly a Senior Director at WeWork. He was a leader within the multidisciplinary team responsible for Design, Build, and Operate services tailored to the company’s Enterprise clients.

He has shared that one of the biggest takeaways from his time at WeWork was how they could make decisions based on the data they gathered. Through having help staff directly interfacing with clients daily and technology monitoring space utilization, they were able to improve their workplace offering at a much faster rate than the typical owner/occupier would. He attributes much of the success that WeWork experienced in the pre-pandemic period to this more rapid feedback loop enabled by better data collection.

Harvard GSD Research on Architecture Firms: Remote Work is Here to Stay

In 2022, Jacob Reidel, GSD Assistant Professor of Practice, and his students, recognizing that architecture had been a primarily in-person practice pre-pandemic, conducted a wide-ranging survey of architecture firms under the banner of to “understand how architects have designed new ways of practicing in direct response to crises ranging from economic collapse to structural racism to natural disaster to global pandemic.”

Hundreds of architects responded, ranging from 117 firms in 159 cities/states. In addition to confirming their belief in architecture practice and remote work pre and post-pandemic, the research found that:

1. Architects believe that the vast majority of architectural tasks can be done “entirely or almost entirely remotely”
2. There were very few substantial differences between demographic groups on this question.
3. The pandemic has substantially changed the way architects practice architecture and how they believe it can be practiced remotely.

Not Enough Conference Rooms in Your Workplace? Technology Can Help

In a past role, Carly Tortorelli, workplace technology expert, was responsible for many existing clients and an in-house and outsourced technology team.

One client was a large global company with steady growth projected in 2020-2025. Pre-pandemic, they were entirely in-person at all locations, but by 2024, they required team members to be in the office three to five days a week. Given their plans to double square footage, they wanted to understand how to build out their new space to meet employee needs. Like many clients, they would need to design the spaces before having their full teams back in the office.

The main problem the workplace team heard was that there were never enough conference rooms available. When leveraging meeting and workplace management reservation data, they discovered the problem was not the number of conference rooms but rather the types – the single-occupant conference rooms were being highly utilized, while larger rooms were underutilized. One of the key considerations was the level of AV technology required in the differently sized rooms.

Based on the data, the company realized that, when building out their new space, more AV-less, phone booth–type conference rooms would be more effective than larger spaces.

Join Us This Summer at Harvard

Join architect, Jacob Reidel, and technologist, Carly Tortorelli, this July 31-August 1 for Redesigning Work & Workplace: Space, Technology, and Culture, an on-campus program to help architects, designers, workplace professionals, and people experts design their workplace for 2025 and beyond. Participants will emerge fortified by the unique experiences of these instructors and their fellow professionals, which are shared freely in the classroom discussion.

Interested in Applying?

Click HERE to learn more about Redesigning Work & Workplace: Space, Technology, and Culture.

Article made in collaboration with Harvard Graduate School of Design.

The post Meet the Experts behind Harvard GSD’s Redesigning Work & Workplace: Space, Technology and Culture appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

What has happened with the project since the competition?

Since the competition, my design has become a standout asset in my portfolio, showcasing how I prioritize functionality and practicality in everything I create. My goal is always to design spaces that are not only visually appealing but also enhance a client’s daily life and routine. In today’s fast-paced world, where time is precious and space in a home is more valuable than ever, it’s crucial that my designs serve multiple purposes and streamline everyday living.

How did the competition help you as a student/young professional?

As a young professional, my experience with Work Design Magazine at IFMA’s World Workplace played a pivotal role in shaping my career. The opportunity to meet industry experts and connect with like-minded, career-focused young professionals helped me to build lasting relationships and amplified the skill sets I had been cultivating throughout my education and industry experience.

Through the competition, I gained confidence in translating my ideas into practical solutions and learned how to clearly explain and justify my designs, supported by the immense thought, research, and creativity I invested in my work.

Participating in the IFMA World Workplace events pushed me out of my comfort zone, both personally and professionally, fostering tremendous growth in my presentation and public speaking abilities. This competition provided me with a platform to showcase my identity as a designer and created an environment where I could flourish, learning from industry leaders, presentations and professionals.

What advice would you give to current students in interior design?

To all interior design students, above all else, I encourage you to push yourself and trust in who you are as a designer. Seize every opportunity that presents itself, whether it be reimagining past projects or tackling a competition brief. Participating in competitions as a student is an excellent way to challenge yourself and apply the skills you’ve been developing during your education. Dedication, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking will always be recognized, whether it turns into a winning submission or serves as a showcase of your skills to include in your portfolio. Competitions like the Next Work Environment Student Competition provide an invaluable opportunity to build your resume, expand your portfolio, and kickstart your career in the interior design industry.

What are you working on now?

Currently, I am managing over 10 interior design projects across both residential and commercial interior design sectors at Justin Sherry Design Studio. My undergraduate education, along with invaluable experiences from competitions like the Next Work Environment Student Competition, gave me the foundation to dive headfirst into an incredibly fulfilling career in the interior design industry. The experience and knowledge I gained from this competition accelerated my career, propelling me years ahead in my development as a designer. The experiences I had as a result of this competition helped shape who I am as a designer and positioned me to confidently tackle new projects and challenges without hesitation.

Tell us about what is to come!

This next chapter of my career is the most exciting yet. As several of the projects I started working on in 2024 are nearing completion, I am thrilled to promote what I have been diligently working on over the last year. Having recently purchased my first home, I am diving into one of my most exciting projects to date: curating and designing a space that reflects both my partner’s and my lifestyle and showcases who I am as a designer.

Are you the next Cali Pitcher? Enter the 2025 Student Competition Today!

Scholarships, Cash & Career-Boosting Opportunities Await!

The post Where Are They Now: 2024 Winner Cali Pitcher appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

From New Delhi and Washington, D.C. to South Africa, the United Kingdom and Sweden, Work Design went worldwide to highlight some of the amazing leaders in the A&D industry.

Mitu Mathur, Director, GPM Architects and Planners

Is empathy an instinctive quality in women’s approach to design? And if so, does it shape how spaces are created, experienced, and lived in?

At the core of architecture lies the responsibility to craft spaces that serve functional needs while enhancing the human experience. While discussions around women’s innate or conditioned empathy shaping design are gaining momentum, I believe empathy in architecture is not solely gendered—it is an essential and evolving approach that all designers should consciously cultivate. 

By virtue of social conditioning or instinct, women often bring a heightened awareness of the lived experience into their designs. This manifests in an acute sensitivity toward inclusivity, accessibility, and well-being—whether in housing, workplaces, or public spaces. However, empathy is not exclusive to women; instead, it is a mindset that must be nurtured within the design discourse. The ability to understand and anticipate the needs of diverse users—children, the elderly, women, and marginalised communities—makes spaces truly responsive and human-centric. 

In a rapidly urbanising country like India, where function and economic efficiency often take precedence over user experience, designing with empathy becomes even more critical. Whether incorporating shaded walkways to counter extreme heat, planning safer, well-lit public spaces, or designing homes that balance private and community spaces, architecture must move beyond the rigid binaries of function and economy to prioritise how spaces are truly lived in. 

True change, however, requires more than individual effort. Policies, urban frameworks, and data-driven insights must reinforce empathy as a fundamental design principle, ensuring that human experience remains central to decision-making. As designers, our role is to create structures and shape environments that foster comfort, dignity, and belonging. 

Therefore, the conversation should extend to how we, as an industry, can foster a culture where empathy is not an assumed trait but an intentional design approach. By making it a fundamental design principle rather than an assumed trait, we can shape spaces that are efficient and deeply connected to the people who inhabit them.

Dr. Katie Gaudion, Senior Research Associate, The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art

How do you believe women’s unique perspectives or lived experiences influence the design process?

I don’t know if it’s just my gender, but I’ve often wondered if the combination of being female, neurodivergent and having a background in textiles has been a great asset to me in what I do. As a design researcher, I work with neurodivergent people, particularly collaborating with autistic individuals who have intellectual disabilities and limited speech. What I do centres around connecting with others, building trust and above all, empathy.

At first, I believed empathy was something I naturally possessed. Over time, though, I’ve realised it’s a quality that has grown and evolved through my practice, especially when working with people whose sensory perceptual experience of the world can differ greatly from my own. Being neurodivergent myself has certainly played a role in this journey, as it allows me to understand and relate to the challenges of perceiving the world in ways that can be overwhelming or disorienting.

My background in textiles has also been crucial to my approach. It’s a field that trained me to engage all my senses—sight, touch, sound, and smell—to fully experience the materials and environments I work with. This heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli has helped me become more attuned to the needs of the people I work with, especially those who experience sensory sensitivities. I’ve learned to slow down, listen carefully, and watch closely to understand what’s happening beyond words, to communicate in a way that transcends spoken language.

Through this process, I’ve learned a great deal about vulnerability. I’ve come to understand that vulnerability is not a weakness but a strength that allows for deeper connections and trust.

Empathy, as I understand it, is a skill—a skill that is not confined to gender but is deeply influenced by one’s life experiences and personal values. While I don’t believe empathy is inherently tied to being female, I do believe that our diverse backgrounds and experiences shape the way we approach design. It’s these differences that play a key role in creating environments that truly address the needs of people.

The design industry lacks enough women and non-binary people in leadership roles, and that needs to change. Historically dominated by white, cisgender men, the field must embrace more diverse perspectives and experiences for more inclusive and people-centred design. To create a truly inclusive industry, we must elevate these qualities and empower underrepresented groups to lead, resulting in better, more impactful designs.

Alpana Gupta, Partner, Vijay Gupta Architects

While architecture has traditionally been male-dominated, there’s growing discourse around how women’s innate or socially conditioned empathy translates into more human-centred spaces. Is this a perception, or does it hold weight in practice?

Empathy is a key component in architecture, informing the design of spaces and how we experience them. I have found that listening, communicating, and approaching challenges from multiple perspectives in my practice leads to more user-centric and holistic solutions. While many believe women naturally possess these qualities, I see them as critical skills developed through experience and a conscious approach to design.

For me, designing with empathy is not just about aesthetics—it’s about creating functional, efficient, and sustainable spaces while being intensely responsive to users and the environment. This is particularly relevant in India, where urban development prioritises function and economy over lived experience. I believe women architects add a nuanced perspective to this discourse that ensures that buildings are structurally sound, socially inclusive, and contextually relevant.

That said, I don’t believe design empathy should be confined to gender differences. While women bring a strong level of intuitive problem-solving, I see a more general movement toward human-centred design evolving across the profession. Architects, regardless of gender, are increasingly integrating empathy into their work by balancing efficiency, sustainability, and user experience.

Ultimately, the emphasis needs to be placed on how we, as architects, approach the challenges of the built environment rather than who is doing the design. Women have played a crucial role in shaping this dialogue. Still, the real goal is to make empathy a fundamental design principle throughout the discipline so that it is part of designing spaces that work for people.

Kay Sargent, Principal and the Director of Thought Leadership, HOK

It’s biological – women tend to relate to people differently than men. As noted in The Athena Doctrine by John Gerzema and Michael D’Antonio, female leaders tend to be more expressive, reasonable, loyal, flexible, patient, intuitive and lead more by consensus. They also tend to be more personable and relate to people through stories.  

Being the mother of five kids has significantly impacted my view and perspectives. It’s helped me understand how unique we each are, and how we all process sensory simulation differently. Some people need to see something to comprehend it, while others need to touch it or physically interact with things and others are auditory processors. As a designer, I understand the impact the built environment has on us, and how we need to create diverse environments that enable everyone to engage as we best see fit so we can all thrive. One size misfits all.   

As a female designer, have you encountered any challenges or biases within the industry that have pushed you to redefine or reshape your creative vision?

I’ve been a practicing designer for 40 years. The industry was definitely different when I first started. It was not uncommon to be the only woman on a job site or in a meeting.  Our opinions were not always “heard” in the same way our male colleagues were, and that still occurs today. There were many times where I was the senior person in the room, but the men would address their comments to my male colleagues, who were more junior than I was.

I learned that we can’t control other people’s bias, but you can control how you chose to rise to the occasion and use it as motivation.

Architecture definitely tends to be more male dominated, and the interior design profession may have started that way also, but is now more female dominated. Instinctively, women tend to have the nurture gene, and interior designers are trained to think from the human perspective outward, while architects tend to focus on creating buildings that are monuments. In recent years, there been a movement to make architecture more human-centric – a welcome shift and one that designers have embraced for some time.

The interior design profession is often still not given due credit compared to the architecture. And now, since the interior designer profession tends to be more female dominated, it presents a double-edged sword. But I do believe that there is a growing recognition of a sensitivity and professional expertise that designers bring to the table. It’s debatable whether it’s their training or their female instincts that is making space more human centric and relatable. But in a world where we’re trying to create spaces that are enticing and authentic experiences, those are important aspects to have. But it’s important to note that I know a lot of fabulous male interior designers who have the same sensibilities, and many architects that are truly gifted in creating human-centric spaces.

Vipul B. Varshneya, Co-Founder and Principal Architect, STHAPATI

Is empathy an instinctive quality in women’s approach to design? And if so, does it shape how spaces are created, experienced and lived in?

Empathy in design is often associated with a more intuitive, human-centered approach that considers how spaces are experienced rather than just how they function. In architecture, where form and efficiency have traditionally been dominant considerations, the lived experience is often secondary to economic and functional imperatives. Yet, there is growing recognition of the need for a more empathetic approach in all forms of design and architecture. One that integrates cultural context, history, sustainability and human-centric design. Empathy, then, is not just a gendered trait—it is a critical design tool. Whether through materiality, spatial planning or the integration of local heritage, architecture that prioritizes human experience is becoming increasingly relevant.

Women in architecture and design are deeply passionate about reinterpreting traditional values and the essence of construction in modern practice. Their work often focuses on preserving India’s neglected monuments and significant heritage structures, ensuring that cultural narratives remain woven into contemporary spaces. Women designers frequently draw from local arts, culture, and heritage, using them as foundational elements. This allows them to create spaces that reflect the essence of India and encourages the use of indigenous natural resources—both actively and passively—promoting sustainability in their projects. This approach fosters a deep connection to place and encourages the use of indigenous natural resources—both actively and passively—promoting sustainability in contemporary projects. 

This approach does not merely stem from a gendered perspective but from a deeper understanding of how spaces are lived in. It fosters environments that are not only functional but also responsive—supporting diverse interactions, encouraging engagement, and ensuring that every space remains welcoming, accessible, and secure.

Kati Barklund, Strategic Advisor & Senior Manager, Tenant & Partner

I believe that women’s perspectives and experiences contribute significantly to workplace design by emphasizing collaboration, inclusivity and human-centered solutions as well as sustainability. The ability to understand group dynamics and psychological safety helps shape work environments that support both well-being and productivity. In physical workplaces, this translates into designing spaces that foster flexibility, social connection, and accessibility—ensuring that workplaces truly support diverse needs and ways of working.

My experience has taught me to trust in people’s ability and drive—when given the right conditions, both individually and collectively, people can achieve remarkable things. The workplace plays a key role in this by fostering engagement and empowerment, bringing people together to support an organization’s mission and vision. I’ve seen how truly listening to employees and aligning workplace design with their needs creates people-centric, inclusive, and adaptable environments that enhance both well-being and performance.

While A&D has traditionally been male-dominated, there’s growing discourse around how women’s innate or socially conditioned empathy translates into more human-centered spaces. Is this a perception, or does it hold weight in practice?

I absolutely see it in practice. Empathy is a key skill in designing workplaces that truly work for people, helping to bridge the gap between individual needs and business goals. That said, it’s not just about gender—it’s about fostering inclusive leadership that values diverse perspectives and recognizes the human side of workplace design.

There is definitely increasing recognition of the value women bring to leadership in workplace strategy, but challenges remain—especially in decision-making structures. To keep the conversation moving forward, we need to tie it to business outcomes: workplaces designed by diverse teams often deliver better results. The focus should be on fostering environments where different perspectives are not just included but truly shape the future of work.

Rachna Agarwal, Founder & Design Ideator at Studio IAAD

How can the idea of “designing with empathy” impact future generations of designers and women in design?

Empathy is central to my design philosophy, guiding the creation of spaces that resonate deeply with those who inhabit them. While empathy is often considered an instinctive quality in women’s approach to design, it transcends gender, shaping how environments are created, experienced, and lived in.

By deeply understanding and connecting with users’ emotional experiences, I aim to craft spaces that are functional and profoundly human-centred.

From my early days leading ideation and implementation, I have integrated mentorship with innovation, fostering a collaborative environment at Studio IAAD. My hands-on approach, reminiscent of a passionate newcomer, reflects a deep-seated commitment to understanding and addressing the nuanced needs of users. This empathetic lens is not confined to my professional sphere; it permeates my daily life. Whether interacting with my children and pets or evaluating designs during my travels, my sensitivity to design intricacies underscores my belief that technology cannot replace emotional intelligence. This conviction drives me to infuse a personalised touch into every project, ensuring that spaces are functional and emotionally enriching.

My leadership extends beyond the confines of my studio. As a jury member for prominent awards and a speaker at key industry events, I aim to inspire the next generation of designers to balance innovation with intuition. My journey as an entrepreneur, marked by challenges, showcases resilience and a steadfast focus on meaningful design. Investing my entire salary into building supportive infrastructures for home and office, I underscore the importance of a robust support system in balancing professional aspirations and personal responsibilities.

My approach illustrates that while empathy may be instinctive or socially conditioned in women, its application in design transcends gender. It is a conscious, evolving approach that, when embraced, leads to creating spaces that are aesthetically pleasing and deeply human-centred.

Kate Wardle, CEO and Founder, Include Me Consulting

How can some intersections of womanhood and neurodiversity impact the workplace?

With estimates ranging from 15-20% of the global population, more and more people are being assessed as neurodiverse. For women, we often find out about our own neurodiversity through the assessment of our children. Neurodiversity covers a range of conditions including ADHD and autism – but also applies to learning barriers such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia. Many of these conditions co-occur.

It has led many mothers to reconsider the type of workplace that we want to build for our own children. 

Growing understanding of the different ways in which people work is leading to initiatives to remove barriers in the workplace. Organizations are starting to consider what accommodations they can offer as standard and how to better build awareness of different ways of working amongst employees. In turn, this creates an environment where people can speak up without fear of being criticized or ridiculed. This is called a psychologically safe environment. It is good for all employees – and it reflects in positive results on the bottom line. 

To create psychological safety for our younger people means releasing unrealistic expectations on how a job is defined and what qualifies as working. Set office hours were already becoming irrelevant long before 2020, and job descriptions are now so fluid as to be meaningless. Instead, more companies are moving towards outcomes-based model, where employees have greater flexibility on how they work, if they deliver on their objectives. 

With better understanding and the benefit of hindsight, it is obvious to me where I have battled: unable to sit at a desk for a consistent amount of time, poor at executive functioning skills that are often critical to most jobs—completing time sheets, time keeping, and a tidy desk being three examples—and sensitivity to sound. Without knowing why, I often failed to bring my best self to work. Increasing stress led to overwhelm led to leaving the job role. Understanding an assessment of Autism and ADHD has given me great freedom to find out how to better support myself– when to ask for help– and how to ensure an employer gets the very best of my skills. 

Vineeta Singhania Sharma, Founder Partner & Principal Architect, Confluence

In a country like India—where urban growth often prioritizes function and economy over lived experience, how can empathy in design create more inclusive spaces? 

Empathy in design is increasingly recognized as a transformative force in architecture, particularly as women reshape the field with approaches that prioritize human connection and inclusivity. While empathy is not inherently gendered, the lived experiences of women—often shaped by societal roles that emphasize caregiving and community building—can inform a design ethos that centers on accessibility, safety and emotional well-being. This perspective is critical in India’s urban landscape, where rapid development often overlooks the nuanced needs of diverse populations.

Socially Conditioned Lens

Women architects and designers frequently integrate empathy into their work through community engagement and participatory processes. For instance, Phyllis Birkby’s projects emphasized how spaces connect people to nature, using frameless windows to merge interiors with landscapes. Such practices highlight empathy as both a response to exclusion and a tool for inclusive design rather than an innate trait. Similarly, participatory projects like Quinta Monroy Housing in Chile or the Aranya Housing closer to home—though led by male architects—show that empathy-driven design transcends gender when rooted in active listening and co-creation.

Impact on Urban Realities

In India, where urban growth often prioritizes efficiency, empathetic design challenges norms by addressing disparities. For example, Mumbai’s “vertical slums” reflect a failure to consider residents’ dignity. In our projects, like the Gulshan Experience Centre in Noida, we demonstrate how biophilic design principles and planning for climate adaptability can enhance well-being when designers prioritize user needs.

Beyond Gendered Stereotypes

While women have historically championed empathetic design—partly due to societal expectations—the approach itself is not exclusive to gender. Empathy in architecture demands intentionality: collaborating with marginalized communities, leveraging tools like BIM for energy efficiency and addressing spatial inequities. Empathy in design is less about instinct and more about conscious practice. While women’s contributions have expanded its reach—particularly in India’s push for sustainable, inclusive cities—the future lies in universalizing this mindset. By valuing lived experiences over gendered assumptions, architecture can evolve into a discipline that bridges equity gaps and transforms urban spaces into ecosystems of belonging.

Work Design is proud to collaborate with women leaders in the workplace every week. Subscribe to our Monday newsletter here to see what else they have to say!

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Designed to meet the evolving needs of a modern workforce, Arcadis’ reopened LA office provides a flexible and adaptable workspace that supports a cohesive office culture while allowing for future growth. The office design marks a significant departure from the pre-COVID model, which was centered around rows of individual desks and a mandatory five-day in-office schedule. The new layout embraces the shift in work patterns, incorporating a variety of workspaces and social areas to support different activities, giving employees the flexibility to work, meet, collaborate, and socialize as needed.

One of the highlights of the new office is a multifunctional gathering and presentation space called “The Forum.” This area is equipped with integrated technology and designed to accommodate both external organizations and internal events. Equipped with built-in audio and video capabilities, including a large retractable screen and digital projector, The Forum allows for seamless hybrid events, where in-person presentations can be easily shared with remote participants. Additionally, all conference and huddle rooms are outfitted with cameras, speakers, and digital displays, allowing for smooth video calls with clients or remote team members through wireless connectivity.

Communal banquette seating pods along the glazed edge overlooking the city offer a visual connection to the outdoors, providing comfortable settings for lunch breaks or impromptu collaborative meetings. Former principal offices have been converted into huddle rooms, enabling teams to collaborate and connect digitally with remote colleagues and clients. Smaller focus rooms have also been created to offer private spaces for individual work, conversations, or phone calls.

Sustainability was a key focus in the renovation of the office. The design team prioritized adaptive reuse of existing spaces and furniture, minimizing demolition, waste, and the need for extensive rebuilding during construction. 

Designing a Unified Office Space

Designing the office for internal use was different from designing for a client, but the same process was followed to ensure all user needs were addressed. Additionally, the merger of three different entities into the new LA office required extra time to understand the diverse needs, requirements, and standards of various user groups. Part of this process involved conducting an all-staff survey to gain insights into what employees were looking for in a workspace, how they intended to use it, and how often they planned to come into the office.

Based on these findings, the LA interiors studio led the planning and design, with periodic feedback and review from the LA office leadership and the larger Arcadis workplace group.

Standout Details

The Forum is a dynamic space designed for both presentations and team gatherings. This versatile area incorporates cutting-edge technology, making it ideal for hosting both internal meetings and external events. With its built-in audio and video systems, including a retractable screen and digital projector, The Forum facilitates seamless hybrid events, enabling in-person presentations to be shared with remote participants effortlessly.

Additionally, what were once principal offices have now been transformed into huddle rooms, allowing teams to collaborate and stay connected with remote clients and employees. Smaller focus rooms have been created to provide quiet spaces for heads-down work, phone calls, or one-on-one private conversations. For group discussions, communal banquette seating pods are strategically placed throughout the office, encouraging collaboration and interaction.

Sustainability was a cornerstone of the office’s redesign. By prioritizing the adaptive reuse of existing furniture and spaces, the design team reduced the need for demolition and extensive rebuilding, minimizing waste and environmental impact throughout construction.

Impactful Products 

• Two OFS Obeya pavilions were created as a focal point to the social/collaborative space
• Steelcase Campfire and Potrero communal tables, Coalesse lounge furniture
• DARRAN Honey workstation pods round out the rest of the social and collaborative FF&E

Smooth Renovation and Surprising Success

Because the renovation focused primarily on FF&E, finishes, and minor architectural changes, there were no significant challenges on the project. The biggest obstacle was the longer-than-usual timelines for the shipment of FF&E, but the procurement group effectively facilitated this process.

A post-occupancy survey is planned for early this year; however, initial feedback has been very positive. Despite the absence of an in-office mandate, the number of people regularly coming in has been encouraging. Additionally, there has been a pleasant surprise in the number of external groups reaching out to use the new forum space for events. This space was intended to foster internal connections as well as engagement with the external design community, making the positive response particularly exciting.

Arcadis’ general contractor, HITT, and FF&E procurement partner, Tangram, both significantly contributed to the project by closely managing costs and devising creative, cost-effective solutions. They also played a crucial role in expediting subcontractors and products whenever possible to help maintain the project schedule.

Meet the Arcadis Team

Project Team:

• Kevin Horn
• Kwi Chang
• Alex Poon
• Mandy Chan
• Boram Song
• Beverly Abraham
• Mengdie Zhou

Arcadis is hiring! Please visit the LA career page for more information.

Photography

Weldon Brewster

Connect with Arcadis

Contact Arcadis | Follow on Instagram |  Connect on LinkedIn 

Want More From Arcadis Thought Leaders?

Workplace 2024 Retrospective: My Top Five

The post Flexibility at The Forum: Inside the Arcadis LA Office Renovation appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Meet the Team:

Why does King Living choose to do all its internal design in-house?

At King Living, we believe that no one knows the brand better than our own people. Designing in-house ensures that our creative vision remains pure and uncompromised, staying true to the essence of our brand. This approach also allows us to be highly agile, making adjustments and tailoring designs to suit specific regions, including Chicago and Costa Mesa.

By maintaining control of the design process, we can deliver a cohesive and authentic brand experience across all markets.

How do you ensure your creative design concepts appeal to a US audience?

The US market is incredibly diverse, with consumer preferences varying significantly from state to state. To address this, we take a hyper-localised approach, ensuring our showroom designs resonate with the unique demographics and tastes of each area. While all our showrooms share a consistent brand DNA that reflects King Living’s identity, we introduce subtle adaptations for each region. Whether it’s in Sydney, London, Singapore, or the newly opened showrooms in Chicago and Costa Mesa, our designs consider factors such as the showroom location—whether in a mall or a freestanding site—and the local lifestyle preferences, creating a tailored yet cohesive experience.

King Living has such a strong sustainability legacy with its products. Are there any specific sustainability standards incorporated in the showroom buildouts?

Sustainability is at the heart of everything King Living does, and our showroom buildouts are no exception. We design our fit-outs with minimal impact, adhering to a streamlined aesthetic that reduces material usage. Additionally, we collaborate closely with local governments and landlords to meet environmental requirements and ensure sustainable practices are embedded in every stage of the showroom development process.

What is unique about King Living’s showrooms that appeals to a commercial interior designer?

The uniqueness of King Living’s showrooms lies in our furniture. Our products are the focal point, showcasing the modularity and versatility that set us apart from other retailers. This “King Difference” appeals to commercial interior designers who value functional yet stylish solutions. Our showrooms are curated to inspire, offering design flexibility and showcasing the innovative possibilities our products provide.

How does the King Difference come across within the showroom space?

The King Difference is brought to life in our showrooms through the careful curation of our products. We select furniture that reflects the demographics and lifestyle of the region while demonstrating the versatility of our iconic designs. For instance, in our Chicago and Costa Mesa showrooms, visitors can explore multiple configurations of signature pieces such as Jasper, 1977, and Delta. These displays highlight the flexibility and adaptability of our ranges, allowing customers to see how our products can fit seamlessly into their lives.

What multi-sensory elements are in place to inspire or delight?

Our showrooms are designed to engage all the senses, creating a memorable and immersive experience for visitors. Touch is a key focus, with customers encouraged to explore the textures of our premium upholstery and hard finishes. Smell also plays an important role; we’ve developed a signature scent that embodies King Living’s DNA, complemented by the natural aroma of our premium leathers and wood finishes. Together, these elements work harmoniously to leave a lasting impression on every visitor.

How are the US showrooms different from showrooms in other countries? What are the differences between the Costa Mesa and Chicago showrooms?

While the fundamental design of our showrooms is consistent worldwide, each location is tailored to its local market. The primary differences between our Costa Mesa and Chicago showrooms lie in the demographics and lifestyles of their respective areas. Costa Mesa’s showroom reflects a warmer climate, featuring outdoor displays year-round and a lighter, neutral colour palette with pops of colour. In contrast, at present, Chicago’s showroom is tailored to its colder climate, with durable materials like leather taking prominence, ensuring practicality without compromising style.

Interested in the U.S. showrooms? Check out:

Come inside King Living’s the new Chicago – Lincoln Park and Orange County – Costa Mesa showrooms in two of the largest interior design hubs.

What international design trends did you bring to the Chicago and Orange County showrooms respectively?

Our international expertise allows us to blend global design trends with local preferences. Both the Chicago and Costa Mesa showrooms incorporate sleek, modern aesthetics that align with contemporary global interiors while adapting to the specific needs of their environments. For example, Costa Mesa features elements that embrace indoor-outdoor living, a hallmark of Southern California design, while Chicago incorporates more robust materials and layouts suitable for a city accustomed to seasonal extremes. By merging these trends with King Living’s hallmark modularity and functionality, we’ve created spaces that resonate with the local market while maintaining an international appeal.

How do you encourage repeat customers and referrals?

At King Living, our Trade Program is designed to reward customers for their loyalty, encouraging them to spend more with added incentives like a commission program that pays designers for bringing clients to King Living. This creates a mutually beneficial relationship between King Living and our trade partners. Additionally, our King-Care® division ensures we provide ongoing support with replacement covers and parts for all King Living products, offering a sustainable solution that keeps customers returning to us and reinforces their trust in the brand.

Ready To Connect?

Book A Consultation (Costa Mesa) | Book A Consultation (Chicago Lincoln Park) | Worldwide Showrooms | Join King Trade

Photos courtesy of King Living.

Article created in partnership with King Living.

The post Inside King Living’s New US Showrooms: What Interior Designers Need to Know appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

King Living is expanding to the United States with the opening of two new showrooms in two of the largest interior design hubs with a location in California and Chicago.

Each showroom showcases King Living’s award-winning furniture, with design solutions for many commercial spaces including lounge, dining, outdoor, theatre rooms and lobbies, as well as rugs and lighting. Spoiler Alert: You’ll want these pieces in your next office project and your home. 

While mostly building out spaces for residential clients, King Living Furniture has tracked the progress of the “hotelification” of the office. Work common spaces are looking more and more like living rooms and spaces that encourage comfortability while working.

We favour a relaxed, timeless aesthetic and many of our indoor designs are offered in outdoor versions, which creates that effortless flow between rooms.

— David King, King Living Founder

Showrooms That Are More Than Product Showcases

Prepare to have “aha” moments when Interior Designers see the infinite customization possibilities of the products and experience the King Living ability to adapt designs to specific project needs.

The showrooms are hubs for King Living trade partners. In fact, designers can use the showroom as a meeting space to connect with clients, discuss projects, and explore ideas in a setting that truly brings their vision to life. It’s all about creating a collaborative environment where inspiration can thrive.

Despite rapid global growth, King Living has continued to stay true to their roots, providing customers with furniture that embodies the authentic Australian lifestyle, a trend that’s been gaining significant popularity across international markets and helping drive expansion. 

This isn’t about growth for growth’s sake, this is about our belief that we will improve the lives of customers who choose our furniture; we are passionate about bringing our designs and our engineering to those who appreciate the King Difference.

– David Woollcott, King Living CEO

Orange County (Costa Mesa), California Showroom

The first USA showroom is in an impressive space in Costa Mesa, Orange County. This California location is the ideal introduction into the American market for King Living, due to architectural similarities to Australia, as well as synergies in mindset and appreciation of an indoor-outdoor lifestyle.  

Indoor-outdoor living is synonymous with California and our designs are the perfect complement to this lifestyle

— David King, King Living Founder

Chicago (Lincoln Park), Illinois Showroom

Chicago was chosen as the ideal location for King Living due to it being one of the largest interior markets in the United States. The showroom, which is 9,990 square feet, is designed to create an immersive journey for customers, showcase the King Difference via every touchpoint, and spark creativity within the district’s collaborative interior design and home maker community. The Lincoln Park Chicago showroom allows customers to experience firsthand the King Living collection of sofas, living, dining, outdoor, and tables.

Chicago is one of the most incredible design destinations in the world and we are honored to be part of the vibrant community.

– David King, King Living Founder

3 Things Commercial Interior Designers Will Love

Quality & Sustainability

King Living products are crafted for longevity. Their timeless forms combine with easily removable covers (for cleaning or replacement) and a material palette selected for durability and a lifetime of comfort.

Durability

Interior Designers are impressed by the King Living mission to make lasting furniture, and particularly value that every sofa and all indoor designs with a steel frame is backed by a 25 year warranty.

Infinite Modularity & Customization Capabilities

Independent modules and components move and connect to create endless configurations ideal for clients seeking flexible work spaces. Simply bring your dimensions to your appointment and their space planning tool will configure options for you.

Designers and end users resonate with the relaxed Australian aesthetic and appreciate the extensive personalization options King Living offers. The ability to tailor every aspect of a sofa—from seat configuration to fabrics, finishes, and smart accessories — is especially well received in modern work environments.

Bonus for Designers: Join King Trade

The King Trade Program offers incredible benefits, including year-round trade pricing on all products—even during sales. Members also enjoy exclusive invitations to trade events, early access to new products and materials, additional discounts for personal purchases, and complimentary trade sample materials. It’s a comprehensive program tailored to meet the needs of their trade partners, ensuring they have all the tools to succeed with King.

Must-See Products For Your Next Project

1977 Sofa 

Honouring the simplicity of the past while embracing the innovation of the present, the 1977 Sofa redefines the meaning of timeless design. With a low profile and relaxed curves, the modular design provides complete lifestyle flexibility. A contemporary take on the first King Living sofa created in the seventies, modern materials and construction methods enhance functionality while retaining the integrity of the classic silhouette.

1978 High Back Sofa

Featuring relaxed curves and a supportive high-back for lasting comfort, the modular 1978 High Back Sofa can be rearranged to suit any space and lifestyle. Easily removed tailored covers for machine-washing or replace for a fresh look.

Myco Side Table

These tables are a designer’s dream for adaptability, available in a range of different materials and colours to create some unique tables to suit any space. Versatility to function as a side table, laptop or plant stand.

Aura Sofa

With its organic curves, the Aura sofa provides the perfect blend of form and
function. It can be positioned as a single relaxation zone or reconfigured into multiple settings, offering the flexibility to create both interconnected and defined seating areas tailored to any spatial requirement.

Seymour Chair

This chair is a unique Australian design by renowned designer, Charles Wilson. With a variety of uses, choose from a range of premium fabrics and luxurious leathers in various colors to match or contrast with your existing interior. Seymour is available with a fixed ir swivel base and three seat back option (low mid and high). All King Living covers are individually tailored and can be removed easily for cleaning or replacement.

Kato Sofa

With its modern, sleek, off-the-ground design, the Kato offers unmatched versatility through King’s unique modularity, allowing for infinite configurations to suit various projects.

Jasper Sofa

Easily rearrange the truly modular design into multiple configurations to fit any space. There’s even an option to add wireless and integrated lighting.

Ready To Connect?

Book A Consultation (Costa Mesa) | Book A Consultation (Chicago Lincoln Park) | Worldwide Showrooms | Join King Trade

Photos courtesy of King Living.

This article was created in partnership with King Living. Special thanks to: Kahn Morkaya (Trade & Commercial Manager) | Nick Lippa (Showroom Manager – Lincoln Park) | Diego Beltran (Design Consultant – Lincoln Park)

The post King Living Makes Its U.S. Debut With Two Showrooms appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

The KFI Studios Ethos

KFI Studios is a design-driven company partnering with global designers to create award-winning furniture for our commercial customers. Crafting inspiring furniture for spaces where people work, socialize, and connect, we believe beautiful design pairs best with high function and premium comfort. We’re passionate about providing the ultimate customer experience, minimizing our environmental footprint, and having a positive impact on our community.

The Inspiration Story

Calm’s design stems from the idea of using thin materials, like paper, to define and create spaces. By applying a textured fluted pattern to the thin PET felt, the design achieves both strength and structure, similar to how corrugations reinforce cardboard. This approach balances simplicity, durability, and sophistication, transforming lightweight materials into sturdy, functional privacy screens.

Calming Facts

• Lead time: 5 days
• Price Range: List price starts at $1625
• SCS Global Indoor Advantage Gold
• PET felt and steel are both recyclable at end of life.

Calm screens feature a unique textured surface that has been pressed into the recycled felt material creating visual and tactile interest. 

Innovative Materials 

The modular design offers a system of thin, lightweight panels and versatile connectors. This simplicity enables seamless customization, from straightforward linear partitions to unique configurations like the round and star-shaped setups – all without the bulk of traditional systems.

Calm in the Evolving Workplace Environment

Whether it is head-down work in an office or the need for separation in a dining space, Calm has got you covered. Some of its most popular uses are in open floor plans for space division, creating and/or separating workstations, creating small meeting spaces and adding privacy to larger seating areas. 

What Can Calm Do in a Space?

• Provide privacy for both individual workspaces or group collaborations
• Foster quiet and focused spaces
• PET felt helps reduce ambient noise
• Easy to move and rearrange as space needs evolve

What Clients Love Most (and why we need to Calm down)

While the options for how Calm can create a diverse space are almost endless, most clients rave about Calm’s lightweight and the easy to deploy as and where needed in the office. From large space dividers to small curved seating separation, Calm offers the modularity the evolving office needs today. 

Want to Learn More?

Contact A Rep | See it In-Person (in Chicago) | Follow on Instagram | Shop it Online

This article was made in partnership with KFI Studios. 

The post KFI Studios Redefines Privacy with Innovative Calm Screens appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Bringing the Outside in at L.L. Bean’s Maine Headquarters

SMRT Architects & Engineers helps L.L.Bean consolidate to create a Headquarters to celebrate their past while making room for inspiration and the future.

Tour RSM’s Hybrid Workspace in Fort Lauderdale Designed by Shive-Hattery

Shive-Hattery helps RSM create a hybrid workplace for employees to connect with eachother and clients in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Clubhouses Are The New Office — New York Creative Agency Headquarters

Gensler creates a creative clubhouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard for Creative Agency Firm, Huge.

Barstool Sports Un-Offices its Chicago Space

BKV Group and Two Fourths Studio created an environment for Barstool Sports that supports their predominantly content-creation focused team.

Integrating Public and Private Spaces in Korn Ferry’s Paris Office

Gensler helps client Korn Ferry implement unassigned seating for the first time in their Paris, France office.

Blending the Physical and Digital World — Zoom’s Office in London

Come with us behind the curtain of Zoom’s forward-thinking London office design by Unispace and Downstream.

The Jewel Box — Bringing Hollywood to Atlanta at Assembly Studios

Hendrick Inc creates a hospitality-focused environment for Gray TV in Atlanta with their new entertainment space, The Jewel Box.

An Ode to the Bay Area — Haas Jr Foundation HQ

TEF Design pulls inspiration from the local landscape for the Haas Jr. Foundation Headquarters in San Francisco, California.

A Macy’s Makeover: Tuliant’s New Winston-Salem Office

Little’s recent adaptive-reuse project overhauled a Macy’s to fit Truliant’s innovative and sustainable needs.

Neiman Marcus Group Dallas Hub by Gensler 

Meet 2024 Next Work Environment Competition winner of the Hybrid Work Environments – Dedicated Office: Gensler‘s Neiman Marcus Group Dallas hub.

Encouraging Social Connections in the Workplace — RTL’s Cologne, Germany HQ

Evolution Design leverages informal meeting spaces to foster connection at television network company RTL’s HQ in Cologne, Germany.

Sweet Success! Ferrara Candy Company’s Innovation Center in Chicago

NELSON Worldwide adds an Innovation Center to Ferrara Candy Company’s Chicago Headquarters.

Want To See More?

Make sure you subscribe for free here to our Monday Newsletters to see all of our New Office Tours in 2025.

The post The Most Inspiring Project Profiles of 2024 appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

Tea Forte Frank Lloyd Wright Gift Set with Cafe Cup, Tea Tray and 10 Handcrafted Pyramid Tea Infuser Bags

For your Lloyd inspired architect, this distinct collection of grounding teas is expertly crafted to pay homage to the iconic architect and visionary. From robust classics to spiced warming blends, each tea evokes a connection to nature, beauty, and tradition.

Amazon price at publication: $45.50. 

Copic Sketch, Alcohol-Based Markers

Everyone needs a little ink refresh. These fast-drying, transparent alcohol ink markers will not harm the surface or fibers in the paper allowing it to remain smooth.

Coming in a variety of colors, the 2025 year will be a bright one for your designer.

Amazon price at publication: $58.99

Keadic 87Pcs Modeler Basic Tools Craft Set Gundam Model Tools Kit

This gundam tool kit is not only suitable for a beginner and Model Making Lover, but also great for Senior Modelers and Model Manufacturers to go back to the basics.

Offer a light hearted Christmas challenge this year of building a model.

Amazon price at publication: $38.99

Blackwing Matte Pencils – 12 Count

Nothing says back to the office like a luxury pencil set. These pencils put you in the company of Pulitzer, Grammy and Academy award-winning creators.

Made with high-quality incense-cedar that only grows in the forests of northern California and southern Oregon, this graphite tool will take you to new design heights.

Amazon price at publication: $30.00

PRE-ORDER: Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: Advancing Sensory Processing and Cognitive Well-Being in the Built Environment

One of our favorite thought leaders in workplace design, Kay Sargent, is releasing her book, Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: Advancing Sensory Processing and Cognitive Well-Being in the Built Environment. 

This deep dive into strategic spatial zoning and sequencing, sensory zones, patterns, textures, colors, lighting and soundscaping needs of neurodivergent individuals is the perfect gift for someone thinking about the future of the workplace. The book releases in March 2025.

Available for PRE-ORDER on Amazon: $48.00. 

Lego Architecture 

Celebrate your inner (but sophisticated) child during the holidays with the LEGO Architecture collection

This kit features London’s iconic Skyline, sure to have your architect and designer occupied for hours.

Amazon price at publication: $39.99

reMarkable Notetaking Tablet 

Stay organized in 2025 with the reMarkable 2 Tablet. Your work is synched across your smart devices using the reMarkable apps, with unlimited cloud storage and sync. Your notes will be stored safely in the cloud with a subscription.

Amazon price at publication: $449.00

Phillips Natural Light Alarm Clock

For your traveler, give the gift of a gentle wakeup after being in a different time zone. The  simulated sunset and sunrise, 20 brightness settings, and choice of 5 natural wake-up sounds ensure a restful wake up call back at home.

Amazon price at publication: $89.95

World Famous Architects Coloring Book

Pair your Copic Sketch markers with this World Famous A to Z architects coloring book.

With 104 unique illustrations, you can give the gift of a little industry refresh.

Amazon price at publication: $12.99

Playable Art Helicone Sculpture

We’ve heard that playable art is a designers kryptonite. This helicone sculpture will satisify any shape you please during the workday.

Helicone can be played with as a toy, employed as a stress reliever, or displayed as a desktop accessory.

Amazon price at publication: $69.99

Two Tumbleweeds Art Dice Inspiration 

Inspire creativity during the holiday with this art dice game.

The game can be played alone, with friends and family for a fun family game night, or to encourage creativity and collaboration in the workplace.

Amazon price at publication: $19.95

The Work Design Magazine team carefully and independently curated these products and we may earn affiliate revenue from purchases made via links in this content. The prices listed reflect the price at the time of publication. Since 99% of our content is free – your purchase is an extra validation that you like our work. Thank you in advance and happy shopping!

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