Workplace design aids in employee recruitment, retention

Today's employers must diligently seek unique benefit opportunities to offer existing and potential employees. This particularly is true in our 21st century mobile society and in areas that experience tight labor markets.

Business owners are learning that there is another valuable tool available for job recruiting and retention. This tool, which always has been available, is the environments in companies' facilities.

The quality of an employee's working environment can be a major determinant in maintaining satisfaction and enthusiasm. Architects understand the value and influence that quality buildings and their interior environments have upon individuals. They are trained to design spaces based on the functional needs and psychological aspects of comfort and stimulus responses.

Many individuals put a great deal of emphasis on and make decisions based on owning or being associated with brand names or icons, which are believed to invoke an image of prestige, power, acceptance and status.

This desire reaches beyond automobiles, clothing and furniture, and into the employment realm. People want to be associated with beautiful and high-quality building environments.

Business owners are recognizing this desire and asking architects to create powerful building images that people will identify as a unique "brand-name icon." Just as important is creating interior environments which respond in the same fashion.

Many employees seek businesses which have broken down the layers of corporate America and are focused on equality at all levels. Large private of-fices, private restrooms and three-piece attire are no longer the norm. Teaming, technology, accessibility to management and casual atmospheres are a necessity. Architects and designers are responding with a variety of alternative solutions.

In office buildings, large open interior volumes are designed to incorporate system furniture modules arranged in team pools. The majority of this furniture is mobile to allow flexible transitions for a periodic change in team size or projects. Technological equipment must also be mobile, and it requires a building's infrastructure to accommodate wireless systems. Management offices often are part of a team zone with positioning in the heart of the work area often without doors. Interior space design uses a mixture of business and residential style themes. Perimeter areas surrounding these open office environments are used for common meeting rooms, power brainstorming sessions, resting and meditation zones.

Natural filtered light mixed with various levels of artificial light is used to enhance and stimulate all work activities. Greater levels of thermal control in work zones are being provided along with the introduction of increased volumes of fresh air. Attention to colors, quality of finishes, ergonomics and acoustics offer comfort and excitement.

These same concepts and solutions are being used in varying degrees among many different types of building facilities.

Industrial plants are focusing on improved artificial lighting, indoor air quality and air conditioning of the manufacturing zones, which is the largest portion of their total square footage. These same employers are placing a renewed emphasis on the quality of the exterior building image.

A powerful but pleasing appearance can visually suggest the strength and dominance of the company within its markets.

Outdoor spaces for resting and company rallies or training sessions provide ad-ditional amenities attractive to potential employees.

When you use a facility for employee recruitment and retention, the resulting building design takes on a new focus. A business owner's largest operational cost can be its employees.

However given the right tools, physical environments and building image, these same people will be your most productive and greatest long-term asset.

(Michael Sapp, AIA, is president of Sapp Design Associates Architects PC.)