Leading M Moser Associates in one of the world’s fastest-developing cities, Sabina’s career spanning 25 years, includes working for a range of local- and foreign-owned architecture and interior design practices in Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Her professional experience has endowed her with a practical knowledge of how to build and manage teams, as well as meet client expectations for international-standard designs in the Indian market. She has successfully led teams to deliver over 4 million square feet of corporate office spaces for international clients in south India.
• What are some of the key strategies implemented by the team for the company in the past year to ensure safety and workplace efficiency?
To ensure employee safety and workplace efficiency, like many companies, we have had to leverage technology. We set-up best practices to make virtual collaboration run smoothly; we choose the right collaboration tools for us, we kept working during normal office hours while trying to provide flexibility as everyone had to adjust to the new normal and was facing different challenges.
We also did our best to alleviate stress related to financial security and health.
As communication and collaboration with our clients is key to our success, we used tools like Matterport to allow our clients to visit and supervise their site remotely and safely. They are able to virtually walk through their upcoming office space, see the weekly progress, inspect and share their feedback whenever required. Virtual tours in 3D offer an experience close to reality, virtual visitors have the impression of being physically present in their future office space and can easily monitor the progress of their project.
• What has been the impact of the low-touch economy on workplace design AND operations? Could you share with us what you identify as the short-term fads and long-term trends in this sector?
Before the pandemic we believed that there was no “one-size fits all” solution, and we still do. However when it comes to analysing trends, surveys have showed that in India, just like abroad, many companies plan to adopt long-term or permanent hybrid working model and that employees are keen on flexible remote working.
While the vast majority of companies and employees believe that the corporate workplace will remain highly relevant in the future – the workplace enables human interaction, innovation and knowledge sharing in a way that is difficult to achieve when people are remote, even with sophisticated virtual collaboration tools – going to office will become a conscious choice and not a requirement. The purpose of the physical workplace has changed.
To understand the major trends that will shape future office environments, and transform how people work, we have conducted an Asia Pacific Future of Work survey that included 120 client organisations across 17 industries. Below are the key take-aways:
1. Providing remote working options will become the norm. Companies will have to find the right balance that suits staff and business needs.
2. Anticipating more virtual collaboration, staff will require adequate technology and home support for undisrupted work. Companies would benefit from offering upgraded digital tools that are synchronised seamlessly with their in-office technology, as well as comfortable ergonomic options, to enhance people’s work-from-home experience.
3. As a company’s manifestation of brand, people and culture, the workplace will not disappear. It will need to evolve. Future workplaces will need to shift the focus of their space configuration away from individual workstations and become more of a vibrant destination, wherein face to face interactions and engagement thrive as its beating heart. A place for people to connect with one another, and the organisation.
4. Anticipating future uncertainties, workplaces will require more flexible and adaptable configurations to support changing needs across the organisation.
5. As an organisation’s greatest assets, supporting people’s physical, social & mental health will be a top priority.
6. Beyond distanced desks and taped signage, concealed engineering setups are critical to create safe spaces.
Social and operational measures such as hygiene and distancing only address the threat of infection through droplets, which are relatively heavy particles emitted when people cough, sneeze, laugh or speak loudly. These basic precautions ignore the exposure to microscopic airborne pathogens that are suspended in the air like smoke particles and travel much greater distances.
These aerosols pose a risk to anyone who inhales them. They present a more pervasive threat than droplets. The significance of aerosols is increasingly recognised by epidemiologists and is the focus of our recently developed proprietary models and tools. With occupants’ expectation for improved air quality, a comprehensive IEQ program is expected to be a key design requirement for the foreseeable future.
• Given the accelerated pace of transformation, what emerging technologies is the industry working with?
Remote working has forced companies to look at new solutions quickly. With many of them planning to embrace hybrid working, companies must now prepare to manage a distributed workforce. Organisations will also leverage technologies to ensure better employee experience, allow for more flexibility and finally yet importantly help with a safer and healthier environment.
1. Move to cloud-based platforms. If they haven’t already, companies will now avoid depending on anchored technology such as local servers and move to cloud-based platforms. For a fluid transition between the home and the office, in-office technology will be designed as an extension of remote working. High-speed internet connection, sophisticated video conferencing capabilities and virtual collaboration tools will need to be embedded into the design.
2. Embrace virtual meetings. Virtual meetings and team chats will become a universally accepted mode of communication in the post-pandemic era. Online collaboration software’s will be integrated into daily workflow.
3. Support flexibility. Companies will adopt solutions like wireless charging and Internet of Things to enable employees to move around with ease but also allow for more flexible and adaptable work settings.
4. Technology for a safe work environment. Employees will want to come back to a safe office environment. More stringent ventilation strategies will be needed, health screening conducted. Companies are also investing in touchless technologies and clean technology.
• Sustainability was a key factor for every company prior to the pandemic; has it now taken a back seat? How are companies working towards balancing sustainability with safety in the post-pandemic era?
Our wellness and sustainability experts agree that sustainability has been brought to the foreground even more these past months. We don’t talk only about the virus in the news but various natural disasters and an over-reliance on fossil fuels as well.
Previously existing emergency protocols were not well enough equipped to handle the challenges brought about by COVID – many have since been rewritten and enhanced to prepare not only for biological threats, but climate ones too.
ESG reporting methodologies and scopes have come under a sharper lens – protection of the planet, namely through carbon reduction; protection of people and their health; and protection of business to continue through challenges
A few examples of where environmental sustainability and safety may be on different sides is in the use of disposable PPE, which are necessary mainly for medical staff. A million Plexiglas screens and plastic face shields don’t help much when dealing with aerosols through which COVID is primarily spread. Increasing ventilation rates to reduce CO2 indoors and any potential viral particles with it is probably the most effective measure at reducing transmission but can lead to increased energy consumption. However if this energy is from renewable sources, the carbon footprint can remain low while also maintaining health.