SAN DIEGO—Traditional office users are looking for ways to create work environments that satisfy the needs of both younger employees and seasoned professionals, Ware Malcomb principal Tiffany English tells GlobeSt.com. The firm recently completed construction on the new San Diego-based corporate headquarters of ICW Group Insurance Cos., a group of property and casualty carriers, at 15025 Innovation Dr. Ware Malcomb provided interior architecture and design services for the project, completely transforming the existing 68,105-square-foot space, and also provided an evaluation of new guidelines for space allocation and furniture standards.

We spoke exclusively with English about what more-traditional office users are seeking in their workspace and how these goals are achieved through design.

GlobeSt.com: What are more-traditional users looking for in their office space today?

English: More-traditional office users are looking for ways to create work environments that provide the flexibility and amenities desired by younger employees while meeting the needs of seasoned professionals who prefer privacy and stability. This hybrid space needs to satisfy a diverse workforce and at the same time reflect the culture and brand of the organization.

GlobeSt.com: How are these goals achieved through design?

English: These goals are achieved by creating a design that emulates a company's culture, brand, diverse demographics and business objectives. With successful execution, employee satisfaction and success are the result. Getting the balance right between creating a strong company identity, a sense of community and a shared organizational vision can exhilarate the team. Lastly, design always needs to be organic and fluid to evolve with a firm's business goals.

GlobeSt.com: What does this say about traditional office space and where it's going?

English: Traditional office space reflects a “one size fits all” approach, which no longer works in today's diverse and quickly evolving workplace. Companies need to embrace their unique culture, understand the tools their employees need to be successful and realize that their space can be more fluid and grow with their business. We've outgrown traditional office ideology and have matured to a better understanding of how the environment effects employee satisfaction and performance.

We spoke exclusively with English about what more-traditional office users are seeking in their workspace and how these goals are achieved through design.

GlobeSt.com: What are more-traditional users looking for in their office space today?

GlobeSt.com: How are these goals achieved through design?

GlobeSt.com: What does this say about traditional office space and where it's going?

Instant Insights /

Traditional Office Users Try to Strike a Balance

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