FLEXIBILITY AN A Q&A with ACDF Architecture on what’s in
FlightHub
Patience is a virtue. As new realities - and new measures aimed at countering those realities - continue to unfold on a daily basis, it’s still too early to put a seal of approval on a post-Covid, all-encompassing solution for office environments. As some companies terminate their leases, even sceptics are beginning to recognise that working from home may be a viable solution for some in the future.
In the leadup to the COVID-19 shutdown, ACDF Architecture was already engaged in multiple office design projects. The Montreal firm is renowned for its work on hospitality, large- scale residential, institutional, and cultural design projects, as well as office space design for a top-tier clientele. Joan Renaud, a partner, architect, and core member of the ACDF design team, shares his views on what the future might hold for the office environment that we have known.
Q: A:
Q: A:
How have your clients responded to the current situation in terms of concerns and new requirements?
In speaking with many of our clients, it’s apparent that many of them are confident that they will return to the
vibrancy of their pre-Covid day-to-day operations. We are social creatures, driven by a collective energy when working with other people that pushes us to another level. That being said, our clients are also very aware of the current environment. So, whether it be in response to this current pandemic, or preparing for the next pandemic, this new reality must form part of the conversation about every new layout that we approach.
How do you work that into the conversation?
It takes time to change our habits, but I think that there are ways to incorporate flexibility into office design
without making Covid the focus of a project. There are also ways to leverage and repurpose existing design measures
22 | OFFICE & WORKPLACE
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without reinventing the wheel. For instance, when things shut down, we had just completed first phase of an office design for a company called FlightHub. We completed the work before any signs of social distancing had emerged but, in retrospect, there are already some design elements built into the project that address post-pandemic concerns. The overall design of the space makes it possible to reach any destination from two directions, which offers the possibility of designating one-way streets, so to speak, in order to minimise corridor interactions. Additionally, entry to each tribal zone has two doors, which can be designated as separate entry and exit doors. Each zone also has its own kitchen and conference room. Finally, we infused some modulation into sections of the common areas by adding curtains, which enables partitioning of wide-open spaces when necessary.
Q: A:
Q: A:
Speaking of open spaces, the trend in recent years has been to move towards wide open, collaborative work environments. How do you reverse that trend?
Actually, the trend toward open spaces that puts managers out on the floor with their employees has
received some pushback in recent years. It was always a good excuse for maximising space, but too many people hovering around each other can also diminish efficiency. In a post- Covid world, there is certainly an opportunity to reapproach those layouts.
What sort of changes do you foresee in terms of that reapproach?
I don’t think that we will see things like expanded corridors with partitions running down the middle. Space
is still as limited as it was before, so I think that behaviours are more likely to be the agents of change. Employers will likely devise strategies for reducing their office staff, perhaps having 30% work from home on a rotating schedule. I do, however, foresee more social distancing measures
Image credit: Maxime Brouillet Information source:
V2.com
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