After the gold rush: a new workstyle revolution?

The Damien Hirst designed Union Jack at the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Photo courtesy of the Daily Mail.

The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) should get gold themselves for organizing a showcase games in terms of planning/design/execution, sustainability and a legacy of urban regeneration. After the euphoria of Britain’s very own goldrush and stellar performances from global superstar athletes, we now return to post-Games reality in London. In time, we will see lasting benefits to the East London area as the Olympic Park physically transforms itself to become a new vibrant quarter of London, eventually to be rechristened Queen Elizabeth Park.

So what other likely Olympic legacy themes will we see emerge, post-Games? The strapline of The Games was “inspire a generation” (to participate in more sports), but what about “inspiring a (re)generation” of working styles? I believe this theme - largely unexplored until the Games themselves were upon us – has enormous potential for the Capital and other major metropolitan cities: inspiring a flexible working revolution.

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Everyday Changes, Extraordinary Savings

Federal agencies don't need to undergo sweeping transformations to reduce their budgets. Making micro changes to work spaces can pay macro dividends in the long run.

I have previously written about the challenges facing federal real estate managers, and it continues to be tough sledding for those tasked with planning for agencies’ current and future space requirements and finding ways to lower utilization rates, all while complying with numerous directives to cut costs and reduce overall footprint.

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Technology has grown up...now we need to do the same

Our relationship with technology reminds me of a parent's relationship with a new child. After birth, parents marvel at the new life with wonder and amazement. Once the honeymoon period ends, they realize the child can be a bit troublesome and even has the capability to push-back. And as the child grows into a full-fledged person, parents and children evolve simultaneously and adapt on the fly.

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What’s that SMELL????? Surviving lunch in the open office…

Photo courtesy of snowcat

How many change managers does it take to tell you your lunch stinks? A hundred? A thousand?

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Learning from the crazy…

As designers, we frequently exclaim (with complete seriousness and utter confidence), “I really love the feel of the space” or “The space feels really good.”

We are also guilty of talking about design in anthropomorphic terms, saying things like “That building is sexy.”

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