Small Firm Symposium

Though architecture's impact on the social and psychological well-being of humans has been recognized for millennia, less has been done to infuse the myriad insights of the social sciences into the practice of architecture. This presentation explores the relationship between architecture, social science, and wellness and discusses what has been done, what is in the works, and what gaps remain in the important effort to elevate the role of the social sciences in the practice of architecture.

Tradeline Space Strategies

The workplace landscape has changed dramatically since the pandemic. Organizations have now recognized the viability of mass telework and began to leverage existing and new data sources to rethink their corporate real estate changing value propositions. As organizations are grappling with the challenges and opportunities enabled by the new hybrid model, this presentation looks toward a future workplace that is more responsive to the needs of our businesses, our teams, and our communities.

The workplace design community is rethinking the office building to use less space, introduce better systems and controls, and improve health. Reducing our footprint will also reduce the investment required to get to net zero across our remaining portfolio. PLASTARC joins a panel of experts to discuss how to engage Federal employees to reimagine work and the workplace to realize these improvements to our physical and energy footprint.

The Future of Work and Place is a forward-looking exploration into the transformative changes in workplace planning, design, and utilization over the past three years. This discussion encourages participants to contemplate the evolving nature of urban occupancy and how this compels us to adapt our cities and buildings into versatile, future-prepared spaces. The conversation extends to the potential of boundary-pushing urban reimagination. Additionally, the presentation emphasizes the individual's role in actively participating in the reshaping of urban and suburban landscapes, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility in creating the cities of tomorrow.

The pandemic highlighted the importance of well-designed, flexible workspaces that accommodate people with diverse needs.  To encourage office utilization, organizations must rethink their approach to interior design to provide the level of comfort and customizability that workers seek. This presentation highlights research PLASTARC conducted with the Federal Government to explore how understanding the relationship between personality traits and environmental preferences can lead to more successful and inclusive workplace design.