Naresh Narasimhan

Narasimhan accepts that aspirations and demands for a Google-inspired office, which was dominant over the past few years, have diminished and offices are now reflecting a specific approach tailored to their industry, employees and company culture.

Technological developments and innovations in the workplace in terms of building automation, virtual offices, hot desks, data-based design, intelligent building controls, etc, helps Narasimhan rethink traditional concepts around offices and change the image of what an office should look like. “Technology now provides a level of communication never before seen. Companies can now connect with any employee, supplier, client and co-worker anytime, anywhere. Many innovative ideas are born not only during scheduled meetings but also at impromptu gatherings. Hence, while workstations are being slimmed down in number and size, spaces for meetings and informal interaction are growing,” says Narasimhan.

With experienced people retiring later and more Gen Z employees starting their careers early, today’s workplace is increasingly cross-generational. Narasimhan lays more stress on factors that appeal to all employees. He works on providing settings for different work styles across different generations.

Over the years, the company has developed its own expertise and knowledge base in workplace design and emerging trends. It has devised a proven approach that is tailor-made to the project and company culture. Venkataramanan Associates’s portfolio spans multiple sectors and geographies ranging from complex research and development facilities, manufacturing units and IT parks to public institutions and real estate, creating the benchmarks for their typologies in India. The firm employs an eclectic work style of knowledge building in allied fields, a workforce with core strengths in varied sectors and extensive client research and fieldwork.