New Research: The Tech Workplace Takes Center Stage

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Chair of the Month

Kay Sargent
Kay Sargent
Kay Sargent, Director of WorkPlace, HOK With 37 years of experience, Kay is a recognized expert on workplace design and strategy issues and an award-winning designer. Kay is Global Co-Director of HOK’s WorkPlace team and sits on HOK’s Board of Directors. In 2020 she was named ASID’s Designer of Distinction. Kay currently serves on the ASID’s Foundation Research Taskforce; George Washington University Advisory Council; the IWBI Mind Advisory Team and the Advisory Boards for I+S and WorkDesign magazines. During her career she has also served on the International Boards of CoreNet Global, AVIXA, IFI - International Federation of Interior Designers /Architects, ASID, IIDA, NCQLP and the Advisory Board of Virginia Tech School of Architecture and Design and NVCC. She is an active member of IFMA and co-founder of the IFMA Workplace Evolutionaries, WE community and serves as an Executive committee for WE. In 2021 she was selected from her field of peers to provide Congressional Subject Matter Expert Testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives on “Federal Real Estate Post-COVID-19: A View from The Private Sector.” Kay also serves on the GSA Diversity taskforce and is an advisor for the HOK Diversity Advisory Council.

New research from HOK explores the challenges and opportunities facing the tech sector today. Check out their informative video and key takeaways below! 

HOK’s Workplace group has just released their annual report which explores a crucial issue in workplace and interior design. “HOK Forward: Tech Workplace Takes Center Stage” investigates the distinct threats and challenges facing the tech sector and how these same challenges are affecting all companies, regardless of the industry in which they operate.

The 83-page report explores the myriad challenges and opportunities facing the tech sector, from the shrinking talent pool and evolving regulatory environment to privacy and data security and the growing exodus from Silicon Valley.

Also included are key takeaways from HOK’s recent global survey of corporate real estate executives that found:

  • 72 percent of portfolios is leased space
  • 67 percent anticipate growth will be leased space; eight percent envision coworking space as part of future growth strategy
  • 47 percent expect to increase headcount in the coming year
  • 59 percent have a formal distributed work program; 41 percent prefer employees to be on site
  • 76 percent have a portion of portfolio with unassigned space, with the remaining 24 percent assigning staff to work points
  • 82 percent monitor and track space utilization; only 13 percent use sensors with 56 percent tracing via badge-in or IT login and 30 percent via observation studies.

Among the trends highlighted in HOK’s new report:

  • Evolving amenities: Companies looking to attract and retain top talent continue to develop amenity offerings, which can range from nap pods and wellness rooms to medical clinics and maker spaces.
  • Data and disruption: ‘Smart’ workspaces, replete with multiple sensors, will continue to increase. Designers and clients continue to learn how to leverage that data to optimize space. Yet they must balance this with a commitment to valuing humans over metrics.
  • Beyond open plan: One size does not fit all, and the right space solution for each tech company will depend on its culture, work style, mobility profiles and business goals. HOK explores the characteristics and considerations for options including Activity-Based Workplaces, Neighborhood-based Choice Environments (NCE), Agile Environments, Maker Environments for Mobile Occupants (MEMO) and Immersive Environments.

You can check out the full report here. Let us know in the comments if you are seeing the same trends in your workplace! 

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