At the sixth Smart Office India Summit 2019, the first panel discussion was graced by eminent business heads, architects, FM heads and owners across distinct domains. With an aim to bring the best out of the speakers on the topic of discussion ‘Scaling, designing & retaining: The creation of future workplace’, Rajat Malhotra, COO – Integrated Facilities Management – West Asia, JLL, moderated the session.
Responding to Malhotra’s first question about the business drivers of smart workspaces, Mukherjee replied, “Within an organisation, different departments have different requirements. The floor plan needs to be in tandem with the business that the departments are conducting. The FM sector is highly sensitive towards ROI. Architects are like the second limb in an organisation, aiming to achieve a smart workspace that is responsive to the needs and is sustainable too.”
Dsouza was asked why some organisations are slow in adapting a more agile workspace. She said she believes it is difficult for entities working traditionally to embrace newer concepts: “Many opt for premium spaces rather than collaborative open spaces, as the talent feels more privileged in cabins than at workstations.”
Malhotra, who favours the idea of a more interactive and open workplace, asked Sethi about the design demands of today’s workspaces. “We have seen organisations welcoming newer concepts. They ask for our help in presenting case studies to craft the mindsets of the end users. In all workplace design, we incorporate green spaces, open spaces and isolated spaces, and synchronise them with the client’s needs.” Gore agreed and added, “It depends on the way the organisation needs to work and the way users’ mindsets are developed. One must study data beforehand to zero in on the best practices.”
Tharani added her take on future workspaces: “Climate change and technological disruptions are two major drivers that should be considered, while shaping the floor layout, furniture, fixtures and other design components. I am sure AI is going to play a vital role in crafting futuristic workspaces, one that answers to individual preferences.”
Moza, who has studied businesses and their requirements before approaching architects, said, “The new service line ‘workplace strategy’, where design is more business-driven, is evolving.” To which, Saxena added, “The global impact and exposure of today’s millennial workforce is bringing in a new vision to workspace design. Innovation is present right from handling talent retention and cost pressure to helping businesses tailor suitable workspaces.”
When asked about maintaining safety and security standards in an office, Kale strongly answered, “The regulatory codes and standards that govern the safety sector do not evolve as rapidly as technology and trends.” Sen followed Kale’s comment by adding another dimension to office design trends. He spoke about how lighting also helps induce productivity in employees: “The human body’s circadian cycle needs to be considered, when planning a lighting scheme that caters to users’ responsiveness. We always work towards generating an integrated lighting design that favours wellness, and thereby profits the businesses at large.”
The panel members were felicitated by the event partners for engaging the audience with their perspectives and insights.