How office space can be designed to remain relevant in the new era of hybrid work
- Two Taikoo Place and Six Pacific Place, two new smart buildings in Hong Kong, have been built with connectivity, sustainability and well-being in mind
- Developer Swire Properties was awarded the highest Platinum rating for the office buildings under the international WiredScore and SmartScore certifications
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After Covid-19 pandemic restrictions kept people largely at home for more than two years, hybrid working is now the norm as the world swings back towards normalcy. The nature of work has become more flexible, with many people working remotely using video conferencing and digital collaborative tools.
However, maintaining face-to-face interaction remains crucial, as it can foster a strong company culture, make collaborations more efficient and improve workers’ well-being. According to Thomasin Crowley, global director of Asia-Pacific at WiredScore, this means employers – and, in turn, property owners – need to adapt to this new model of hybrid working in order to draw people back into offices.
WiredScore is a building technology specialist that focuses on assessing and improving digital connectivity and smart technology in homes and offices. The company is behind the globally recognised WiredScore and SmartScore building certifications.
Crowley says: “The office has to delight and lure employees back with personalised experiences that enable employees to become more productive. It has to be able to compete with the bedroom office.”
She highlights key examples such as having office space designed to wow and inspire, and offering digitally enabled areas tailored to different types of work tasks, from conducting calls to facilitating brainstorming sessions.
Ticking these boxes is Hong Kong developer Swire Properties, which has achieved Platinum status in the WiredScore and SmartScore certifications for its two newest office buildings, Two Taikoo Place in Quarry Bay and Six Pacific Place in Admiralty.
WiredScore certification is an international benchmark of digital connectivity in buildings, while SmartScore recognises smart buildings that leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance sustainability, cost efficiency and the user experience. Two Taikoo Place and Six Pacific Place are among only 22 buildings worldwide that have been awarded the Platinum rating – the highest possible level – in both certifications.
In addition to being digitally and technologically future-proofed to meet occupants’ business development and environmental goals, Two Taikoo Place – an addition to Swire’s Taikoo Place complex of 5G-enabled smart buildings – has also been designed to facilitate communication among tenants in this business district.
The first four levels of the building will comprise amenities as well as food and beverage outlets. This space also opens up into an urban park, and will be connected with the rest of the complex via an elevated walkway.
Jonathan Ward, a design partner at architectural firm NBBJ and the lead designer for Two Taikoo Place, explains: “The space provides a community-focused urban experience and is like being in a comfortable room where people are welcomed – they can stay or move around, and can have different interactions.”
This zone is built for various types of connectivity, with people able to transition seamlessly between activities and places across different levels. Ward says: “We saw the opportunity to drive more value for the tenants with a bigger array of workplace experiences that allows more synergy and connection, by creating magnets that pull people out of their desks and into lounges and green spaces.”
NBBJ took an unconventional design approach by shifting the core of the building – which holds interior elements such as staircases and elevator shafts, and is usually placed at the centre – to the south side. This opens up the floor spaces within the building, making it easier for people to gather and socialise.
Ward notes that placing the core on the south side had an added sustainability benefit. “Besides enhancing flexibility and functional use of a typical workplace floor, it also helps to conserve energy, as the building is shielded from the most intense heat throughout the day.”
In fact, one of the key factors that determined the SmartScore Platinum accreditation for Two Taikoo Place was the building’s built-in, data-driven technologies that will help occupants monitor and optimise progress towards their sustainability goals.
Two Taikoo Place also connects people to nature, with pockets of greenery incorporated around the building, including a two-storey garden above the ground level. This design element reflects neuroscience research conducted by NBBJ fellow Dr John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist.
According to his findings, integrating natural materials, daylight, green views and access to outdoor spaces into the office environment can help lower stress and make for a healthier workplace.
“Working together enhances emotional well-being and enables organisations to innovate and move quicker in a lot of ways,” Ward adds. “The landscape of the office is going to change, but its importance will not be diminished.”
