Workplace design can pose financial services companies for success amid trends that could transform the industry, according to a report, “The New Financial Workplace,” recently released by HOK’s WorkPlace Group.
New technologies like cryptocurrency, biometrics, and blockchain are disrupting the financial sector. These technologies are providing emerging companies with the tools to compete with venerable financial giants.
In order to compete for talent with these upstart technology-focused firms, old-line financial companies have to adopt the cultures and workplace design practices of the technology industry, the report asserts. The report’s findings include:
- A continued decline in square footage across the industry indicates that more financial firms have adopted progressive work styles and are catching up with early adopters.
- Firms that had previously reduced their space have stabilized and are now looking for ways to enhance the employee experience and retain top talent.
- Office space has evolved from being the only place of work to one of many in an entire ecosystem of choices.
- Firms are moving beyond open-plan offices and instead installing more flexible space.
- Neighborhood-based Choice Environments (NCE) provide neighborhoods for teams to operate out of while still giving people access to a variety of work settings.
The document includes case studies of projects for Scotiabank, TD, Nasdaq, Union Bank, and Harris Bank that provide insight into current best practices.
The report can be downloaded at: http://www.hok.com/thought-lea
Related Stories
| Mar 1, 2012
California bill aims to cut costs for commercial building energy retrofits
A bill in the California Assembly would allow the state to pool together property owners’ energy-retrofit loans.
| Feb 29, 2012
Carvalho appointed Shawmut Safety Director
He has been a driving force behind multiple safety-orientated initiatives at Shawmut, including Safety Week, the creation of an online safety manual, and the implementation of a new safety reporting and tracking system.
| Feb 23, 2012
Federal budget cuts put major building projects on hold
A plan to build the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Kansas is among several major building projects in jeopardy after the Obama administration’s 2013 budget was unveiled. The budget would cut all construction spending for the facility.
| Feb 23, 2012
Federal agencies fixed on leasing LEED-certified space
The federal government is especially focused on renting LEED-certified spaces.
| Feb 23, 2012
Regulators investigating construction accident at World Trade Center
The New York Port Authority and the city’s fire and building departments are investigating an accident at the World Trade Center construction site in lower Manhattan after a crane dropped steel beams that fell about 40 stories onto the truck that delivered them.
| Feb 23, 2012
New Virginia statewide building code goes into effect March 1
After March 1, all building plans in Virginia must adhere to the 2009 code that was adopted a year ago.
| Feb 23, 2012
Privatizing flood insurance could lead to new code requirements
One thing that could pave the way toward private flood insurance would be NFIP reforms, like requiring new construction in flood-prone areas to be elevated.
| Feb 22, 2012
ACI BIM manual for cast-in-place concrete in development
The improved communication, coordination, and collaboration afforded by BIM implementation have already been shown to save time and money in projects.