Copy of Sofi's Portfolio

This project was presented at the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Conference in 2023 and was awarded first place in the Cornell University Graduate Student Graphic Design Poster Competition. Working with a large, NYC-based engineering firm, our team collaborated directly with leadership and staff to rethink future office design in response to post-COVID hybrid work challenges. We conducted staff interviews and translated insights into a workplace programming solution that supported multi-modal, flexible work while aligning with the client’s long-term spatial goals. The final design addressed key employee concerns and was selected by the client as the best overall solution.

Case Study Summary

Skills + Tools

No items found.

Process

Understanding organizational & site context
Defining our programming approaches
Analyzing the existing state
Literature review and precedents research
Summarizing key findings & issues
Recommendations: problem, mission, goals, PRs, concepts

Approaches Used

User Profiles Approach
User Participation Approach
Social Functions Approach

Key Issues we identified:

Flexibility (Static “one-size-fits-all” office design limiting flexibility)
Interaction (Inadequate spaces for formal and informal collaboration)
Privacy (Limited options for group and individual privacy)
Psychological Wellbeing (Lack of consistency, reliability & sense of ownership)

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Constraints

Limitations

The review of literature was not conducted as a systematic review.
Company work-from-home policies changed between survey collection and follow-up interviews.
Environmental analysis was based on a single site visit, with limited opportunities to speak directly with employees.

Insights

Research Implications

Organizations with partially remote staff may benefit from reducing individual desking in favor of shared collaboration spaces.
Workplace strategies should balance interpersonal interaction with the need for privacy and focused work.
As remote work options expand, fostering a sense of control over the work environment becomes increasingly important.

Issue 1: Flexibility

Skills + Tools

No items found.

The current office utilizes a static “one-size-fits-all” design, which limits flexible use of the space. It is dominated primarily by open plan desks and a handful of formal conference rooms.

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Solution 1

‍Implement Activity Based Working to increase autonomy, productivity, and engagement by introducing adaptable space typologies to support varying tasks and work modes.

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Performance Requirement 1:

Replace open plan individual desks with 4-6 “mixed-use” neighborhoods placed in 2 parallel rows on each floor.

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Performance Requirement 2:

Include 3 zones within neighborhoods:

• 4-16 individual desks for heads-down work

• 1-2 semi-private hybrid collaboration hubs

• 1 flexible open space

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Issue 2: Interaction

Skills + Tools

No items found.

The current office provides inadequate space for formal and informal collaboration. Employees voiced this as a top priority in both surveys and interviews.

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Solution 1

Enable remote and in-person employees to collaborate seamlessly.

Performance Requirement 1:

Equip semi-private collaboration hubs with 2-4 monitors that can be easily angled to face an individual or the larger group.

Solution 2

Foster informal collaboration and community-building in appropriate spaces.

Performance Requirement 1:

Incorporate easily moveable furniture and whiteboards into open flexible space of neighborhoods to support impromptu brainstorming.

Performance Requirement 2:

Increase the size of communal areas such as kitchens and other indoor non working areas to foster serendipitous interactions and networking opportunities.

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Issue 3: Privacy

Skills + Tools

No items found.

The current office provides limited options for group and individual privacy. Control over noise and distractions is seen as a key reason for working from home.

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Solution 1

Increase accessibility to distraction-free private spaces for both individuals and groups.

Performance Requirement 1:

Add bookable enclosed offices along windows on each floor, which can accommodate between 1-3 persons.

Performance Requirement 2:

Apply acoustic paneling such that enclosed offices have sound levels <35 db when empty, and neighborhoods have sound levels <40 db when empty.

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Post COVID Workplace Design Strategy

Institution

Cornell University | EDRA

Area of Interest

User Experience Design

Collaborators

Lauren Cheetham, Karen Joyce, Sara Golder

Limitations

Research Implications

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