As firms change their thinking about the function of the office, one thing has become quite clear: people come to the workplace to connect.
Today’s most successful work environments are not only places to do the work. They are spaces to connect, to create, to form relationships, to be part of the community. Interestingly, the notion to create these significant spaces comes from a centuries old concept that has been present in Hispanic cultures: the plaza.
The Plaza as a Community Center
For hundreds of years, plazas have been the center of communities in Latin America and Spain. They are venues where people gather, celebrate, interact, share ideas and establish relationships. Plazas are meant to be pleasant and accessible, to facilitate contact and to accommodate a wide range of activities and experiences.
The architecture of a workplace might seem a far cry from that of a bustling town square, yet the intent behind it is surprisingly similar. Both are places where people meet together.
As we wrap out this Hispanic Heritage Month, the plaza reminds us that the most powerful spaces are built on human connection.
Why Connection Matters More Than Ever
Now that hybrid work has become the norm, employees don’t have to come into the office to complete individual job anymore. “There’s got to be something you can’t get over a screen in the workplace.
That “something” frequently is teamwork, mentorship, culture and innovation.
Smart space planning may assist generate these experiences by designing areas that promote unplanned interactions, teams can easily get together and employees can have a sense of belonging.
The question is not now, "How many desks do we need?”
but instead “How can our space connect people?”
Bringing Plaza-Inspired Thinking into the Workplace
Today’s workplaces, like plazas that enable many sorts of contact, should provide a range of settings to suit a variety of requirements during the day.
Create Central Places for gatherings
Every business has a spot where the employees tend to gather. And you can see it.
Whether it’s a cafe, lounge, town hall or collaborative commons, these cluster areas are the workplace equivalent of a plaza, encouraging cross-departmental contact and unexpected encounters that can often be the birth of invention.
Design for Flexibility
The liveliest public spaces are those that accommodate a variety of uses. And the working space must be flexible for everything from focused work to informal team conversations and major meetings.
Flexibility in furniture, adaptable layouts, and multi-purpose spaces drive engagement and efficiency for organizations.
Stimulate Movement and Discovery
With great plazas to visit. The same is true for work environments.
Intentionally designed circulation routes, well-placed collaboration areas and welcoming communal spaces encourage employees to circulate inside the space, amplifying chances for interaction and cross-functional engagement.
Create a sense of community
Of course people go to places where they feel welcome.
Elements that reflect an organization’s beliefs, culture and people can assist promote a greater sense of belonging and inclusion. Design is an effective tool for building community – from art and branding to employee-centered perks.
People-First Design
The finest workplace design isn’t about space footage or furniture selections. It’s about creating experiences.
What we can learn from Hispanic cultural gathering spaces confirms the premise that successful environments are built for people. They enable a discourse. They facilitate collaboration. They are locations where relationships grow.
As organizations consider the future of work, perhaps the most significant design question is not how to bring employees back to the office, but how to build environments that they want to be in.
When connection is baked into a workplace’s design, it’s more than simply an office.
They create communities.
Lexington Group is dedicated to designing the finest workspaces for those who will work in them. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we are honoring the strength of community and the impact of creative space planning in bringing people together. Spaces that inspire connection can help improve the work experience, whether it’s rethinking an office, updating a collaborative hub, or preparing for future development.