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Ongoing research and insight from our Performance
Environments Group—a team that uses a mix of
methodologies to help customers optimize their work
environments—informed the redesign. They used the
same techniques they use with customers to analyze
the Design Yard. One such approach is observational
ethnography—a study of the ways people interact
with each other, their tools and technology, and the
space itself. We also measured space utilization with
electronic sensors—a technology we developed and
regularly use with customers. This research revealed
that dedicated workstations went unoccupied as
much as 60 percent of the time.
Using this research as a guide, we formulated a
plan that would meet the needs of the organization,
enhance the employee experience, and enable the
most efective use of the new space. Without adding
to the existing facility, the new design would
accommodate 40 percent more people.
To create a Living Ofce at the Design Yard, we began
with an understanding of what is fundamental to all
humans—their experiences and motivations—and
then considered our organization’s unique purpose,
character, and activities.
At Herman Miller, we want to make a meaningful
diference in the world by taking an original,
human-centered approach to solving the problems
people face. We ofer inspiring designs to help people
do great things. We believe that this purpose should
always be evident in our workplaces.
Understanding the character of our organization—
more diverse, casual, and interdependent,
to name a few aspects—helps us understand how to
create a space that tells people who we are and how
we work. A workplace that expresses the character
of the organization and the work being done helps
people progress toward common goals.
Also, to understand the activities of the people
working here, we conducted an Activities Assessment.
This research revealed that Chat, Converse, Create,
Process & Respond, and Show & Tell were high
priorities to the organization.
Our work to identify the activities of the inhabitants
of the Design Yard helped us create a purposeful mix
of settings—and determine the ideal arrangement of
surroundings, tools, and furnishings to best support
individual and group work.
Our Plaza is one setting where this approach is
evident. It’s an open, inviting space with a variety
of furnishings to support a broad range of activities.
The Plaza features a cofee bar, lounge area,
and outdoor seating where people gather for
conversations with coworkers at nearby tables,
catch up on emails, or decompress afer a meeting.
It isn’t just a place for socializing; it’s also a great
place to work. People perch at the cofee bar to work
on laptops or tablets. Residents and visitors alike
enjoy the energy in the space, as well as the close
proximity to a full-time tech expert, stationed at the
cofee bar and ready to help people resolve their
issues with technology.
Company Profle
The Plaza ofers a broad
array of furnishings that
enables a variety of activities
and supporting postures.
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