HFA Investigates How Interior Office Design Changes During COVID-19 Can Impact Mental Health
BENTONVILLE, Ark., June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In the third installment of our Design Thinking Blog Series, Alicia Wilgus, ASID, NCIDQ, ASBALAID takes a closer look at how the design decisions we make in this post-COVID-19 era can and will affect employee morale and mental health.
"As designers, we study how people interact with their surroundings and strive to create inspiring spaces and environments that can best support the use of space. In planning for a return to the workplace, we need to prepare for the potential of higher stress levels and anxiety about being in our work environments. By shifting our focus to wellness and the importance of collaboration and social interaction, we can also provide a place for individuals to retreat and recharge," said Wilgus.
As businesses get back to normal and begin to reopen and encourage employees back into a shared workplace, how can we (as employers) encourage productivity while keeping employees feeling content and safe in their work environment? One action we believe is detrimental is through overcorrecting, or instituting solutions like private, secluded offices and higher partitions in cubicles, which only serve to loosen the bonds of community that employees are starving for after months of working from home.
"We must not fall back on regressive solutions but instead look for ways to make our workplaces better, healthier, more adaptive, and resilient. The ultimate goal will be to strike a balance between having a place where we feel comfortable while having a sense of control and knowing that we are safe, productive, and happy," concludes Wilgus.
Here at HFA, we feel that our 30 years of experience in various industries gives us the unique position to use that knowledge and expertise to help further the architecture and engineering industry throughout this post-pandemic era.
To read more from HFA's Design Thinking series check out the HFA blog: https://blog.hfa-ae.com/.
About HFA
Founded in 1990, HFA is a full-service Architecture and Engineering firm with locations in Bentonville, AR; Franklin, MA; Fort Worth, TX; and Mexico City, MX. Focused on designing for the customer experience, HFA works coast to coast with retail, real estate development, office, industrial, fueling, restaurant/food service, lifestyle, and education clients.
Contact: Daryl Whitmer, Director of Marketing and Business Development, (479) 273-7780 ext. 274 or daryl.whitmer@hfa-ae.com.
SOURCE HFA
