Driven by hybrid work models, organizations are rethinking the role of the physical office—no longer viewing it simply as a place to perform tasks, but as a tool to foster greater collaboration and connectivity.
As office evolution continues to prioritize connection and culture, designers are rethinking layouts to better support these values by incorporating urban planning principles directly into workplace design.
One emerging approach draws inspiration from the familiar rhythm of city life: the “Main Street” concept. This design approach anchors the office around a central thoroughfare of activity, blending function and social energy to mirror that of a vibrant urban corridor. By channeling the flow of a city’s main street, the office is transformed into a destination that encourages greater connectivity, wayfinding, and community.
The Main Street: Where Connection Takes Shape
Office occupancy levels are continually changing due to the advent of hybrid work. Designers are now working to accommodate this variability by creating environments that remain functional, efficient, and inviting regardless of headcount on a specific day. Faced with these changes, employees need flexibility and continuity, which is where the central corridor concept becomes an essential component. Acting as the workplace’s social core, the central corridor provides direct access to office amenities, collaboration zones, and shared resources in a way that feels both organic and inherently navigable. Much like a city’s downtown, the office becomes a place where people naturally meet to exchange ideas.
Expanding further on the concept, a central hub provides greater variety for different work styles within teams. By enabling employees to work in different locations and space typologies adjacent to a central hub, teams are empowered with a sense of autonomy that reduces the typical hierarchical structure of the workplace. The hub instead functions as a shared point of reference to reconnect, collaborate, and ensure that employees feel like an integral part of the broader workplace community.
Designing for Flow: A Built-In Sense of Direction
The success of a workplace ‘Main Street’ hinges on how intuitively employees can move through the space. By studying staff movement and aligning pathways with natural circulation patterns, designers can make even the largest workplaces feel more human-scaled. This “street grid” planning logic creates clear orientation and fosters subtly organic space transitions between focused work and informal collaboration, mirroring the movement cues people naturally follow in urban environments. The corridor then takes on the familiar hustle and bustle of the city core, an energetic flow where people naturally cross paths, pop in and out of adjacent destinations, and experience the small, natural moments that define urban living.
This method provides the added benefit of increasing opportunities for unplanned interaction and cross-pollination of ideas. Main corridors and clear signage connect employees to other departments seamlessly, creating more opportunities for spontaneous connection. Like storefronts or neighborhood amenities off a primary roadway, office amenities and shared zones located off the central corridor function as mini destinations. These densely populated touchpoints provide employees with the opportunity to tailor their location to their specific needs, while also cultivating impromptu interactions that reinforce a broader sense of community. By promoting movement and social interaction throughout the day, these corridors also contribute to overall employee well-being—encouraging teams to leave behind static, sedentary office experiences in favor of a more activated, dynamic approach to work.
Apart from these benefits, a workplace main street plays an important role in safety and accessibility. Just like well-designed public infrastructure, wayfinding must be inclusive and intuitive. Clear orientation helps reduce confusion in high-stress situations, and ensures that all employees, regardless of ability, are able to navigate their office space independently. By making the environment more accessible, the workplace fosters social inclusion and encourages greater engagement across teams.
Cultivating a Shared Sense of Place
Inspired by the way thriving cities guide movement and foster connection, the workplace should take cues from urban layouts to encourage engagement and create moments of discovery. Structuring the office around a central gathering zone, similar to public squares or central parks, turns the space into a symbol of community.
At its core, this central pathway is designed to facilitate meaningful interaction. Not only does the zone boost interaction, but it also establishes a neutral space where employees feel empowered to more actively participate in discussions. By providing this shared environment, the office further enhances connection and collaboration.
Functionality aside, the central corridor also doubles as a cultural landmark for the office, anchoring the identity of the workplace to give employees a stronger sense of belonging. Just as a main street reflects the culture of a city, a well-designed central corridor communicates both the personality and shared values of an organization, acting as a means for employees to feel both comfortable and connected within their work environment.
By establishing a central gathering place, the office creates space for expression, connection, and individual belonging.
Looking Forward: Designing People-First Offices
As the workforce continues to adapt to hybrid environments, the workplace of the future will be defined by environments that foster meaningful connection, reflect the culture and identity of the organization, and ultimately reward attendees with experiences they can’t receive elsewhere. By reimagining this “Main Street” concept to create a central throughline of activity, designers can create spaces that better support how employees work, collaborate, and engage with one another. This transforms the office into a place where people choose to be every day.
