Aligning Design and Technology Infrastructures for a Collaborative Workplace: Considerations in Architecture and Design Practice

Abstract

How may design address the conditions of change and creativity in today's workplace envirorunent, particularly in large (200+) organizations? Based on investigations of workplace designs for high technology companies, this research project supports the notion that in order to develop effective workplaces, architecture and related design professions not only need to respond to the physical requirements at hand but also need to expand on the role of individual users, supporting technologies and factor in the changing nature of the work space itself. The paper reports on findings of two case studies that represent conventional design workflows in workplace design. Based on these findings, the paper proposes key criteria for the development of an alternative design model where users could increase their level of participation in the design process and shape their envirorunents within parameters of a negotiated framework. The paper describes opportunities where this multidisciplinary approach could be taken to facilitate for direct and meaningful exchange of creative ideas, knowledge, and physical resources between all project participants and also illustrates an emerging model of workplace design that can leverage technology investments for design benefit and user collaboration in today's increasingly networked office.