1. How We'll Work in 2020
12 winning visions for tomorrow’s workplace from our
Workplace of the Future Design Competition

2. 1
Today’s Workplace is Rapidly Changing
You’re already living it.
Emerging workplace trends
1. Flexibility & co-working
2. Wellness approach
3. Collaboration & focus spaces
4. Sustainability-centric
5. Work-life integration

3. 2
Who Will Be Staffing Our Companies in 2020?
The next generation employees are coming. Actually, they’re already here.
• 18% of baby boomers will retire in the next five years. [Forbes]
• By 2015, 36% of the American workforce will be millennials. [Forbes]
• By 2025, millennials will account for 75% of the global marketplace.
[Time]

4. 3
What Will the Workplaces of 2020 Look Like?
We’ll help you look ahead and plan for the future. Kudos for your proactivity.
Here's a look at how some of our most forward
thinking colleagues are re-imagining 2020’s
workplace:
The Workplace of the Future
Design Competition
Co-sponsors:
Business Interiors by Staples and
Metropolis magazine
• Hundreds of designers and architects
• Visions of 2020 spaces, furniture, employee solutions
• 12 finalists
• 12 submissions
• 1 winner

5. 4
2020 Vision
Winning Submission:
Joseph Filippelli, “Vertical Flux: The Office Tower as Fluctuating Atmospheres”
What’s important to remember, which has been consistently
overlooked in previous eras of office design, is that everyone is
different, and it’s impossible to dictate a working environment for
the masses. The question for me was: how can I design a space
that harnesses the benefits of mobile technology that satisfy
individual preferences, but does not lose focus of collaboration
and networking in today’s workplace?
— Joe Filippelli,
Architect and winner of The Workplace of the Future Design Competition

6. 5
Upwardly Mobile
Putting innovative technologies, collaboration-focused design, and sky-high ambitions to work.
Micro-climates
Vertical orientation
natural temperature flow (heat
rises) for employee customization
and comfort
organized into vertical zones
for efficient space use
Innovative technologies
solar connecting lenses and touch
screen surfaces for collaboration
and privacy
WINNING SUBMISSION
Joseph Filippelli
“Vertical Flux: The Office Tower as Fluctuating Atmospheres”
Space flexibility
tiered space for better mobility
and health

7. 6
The Mod (Work)Pod
Collaborative, interactive, and flexible—the workplace of the future.
Organic flow
Multi-surface displays
curved glass for improved sight
lines and space awareness
integrated interface technology for
seamless workflows
Flexible partitions
Space variety
fluid, movable partitions for
privacy or collaboration
different workspaces for different
functions
RUNNER-UP
Eckhart
“CoLab”
(Team: Frank van H., Britt B., Sander M., Pauline Q.)

8. 7
Farewell, Cube Farm
Say goodbye to cubicles as far as the eye can see, and hello to greener social pastures.
Old and new
Multi-use surfaces
old office typologies collaged into
new relationships for greater
engagement
places for sitting, standing—one
employee or many—for improved
comfort
Better visibility
uncluttered sight lines for routes to
social interaction
Scott Klinker Product Design
“Live Work Platforms”
(Team: Site L., Mike D., Ryan P.)

9. 8
Office-in-a-Box
Set up shop anywhere, anytime with the portable, modular workplace.
Easy to transport
Collapsible furniture
arriving by truck in boxes for
workplace set-up in a matter of
minutes
easy-fold work, lounge and power
furniture for flexible configurations
Mobile solution
quick solution for mobile/remote
workers with a variety of
workplace preferences
University of Cincinnati School of Architecture and Interior Design
“PopUP: The Rise of the Mobile Worker and the use of Vacant Space”
(Team: Kathryn Haley)

10. 9
On-rail Productivity
Time spent traveling by train now can mean time spent working.
On-the-go office space
Open orientation
passengers can work en-route for
increased efficiency
easily navigable for individual
mobility needs
Furniture variety
flexible seating and surfaces for
trips long and short, for improved
worker comfort
University of Cincinnati School of Architecture and Interior Design
“NEXUS: The locomotion of business”
(Team: Angie T., Matthew F., Mina L.)

11. 10
Work’s on the Table
Bringing the kitchen table into the workplace for better work family conversations.
Personal and professional communication
centralized table hub allows for better
collaboration and employee bonding
Micro-farm-to-table
greens and vegetables built into
space for improved employee
health and well-being
Leo A. Daly
“Working Rediscovered”
(Team: Linn B., Glenn W., Jessie B., Bill B., Rick B., Joy B., Andrew R., April D., Grace V., Alan S., Lauren P., Pierre G., Jess K.)

12. 11
The Office Share
The sustainable communal workplace for city-dwellers.
Sustainable solution
fills unused urban spaces for nofootprint, community-friendly use
Convenient access
easily accessible hubs for
improved work/life balance
Gensler Dallas
“The ANYPLACE”
(Team: Paul M., Jean W., Lindsey M., Ashley R., Stephen W., Francisco B., Gracie A., Katie C., Mark H., Michael C.)

13. 12
Workplace 360
Bridging work towers for multi-angled, multi-perspective opportunities for connection.
Better connectivity
bridges housing centralized
amenities for unexpected and
chance connections between
unrelated professionals
Multi-level, all-angle exposure
360-degree environmental
exposure for improved employee
health and well-being
Gensler Newport Beach
“Connect 4”
(Team: Stacey O., Josjua P., Ashley W., Alison W., Ximena S., Mariela L., Mark M., Baha S., Nic B., Lisbeth M.)

14. 13
The Integrated Urban Landscape
Build on symbiotic workspaces to existing urbanscapes for a seamless meld of old and new.
Echoes local architecture
borrows from local architectural
vernacular for increased
employee happiness and sense of
belonging
Easy to assemble
small in structure, easily mounted
and dismounted for quick
adaptation to community
workspace needs
Chongqing University
“The City…Our Workplace”
(Team: Cheng Hum Yuen)

15. 14
Renewed Purpose
Redundant spaces made relevant for better co-working.
Modular system
Cross-industry collaboration
multi-functional furniture and office
parts from recycled LDPE plastic
for innovative configurations
space structured as a coworkspace for idea sharing
between individuals, businesses
and community members
Global design
simplified manufacturing and
reduced shipping costs of furniture
for easy-assemble solutions in the
developed and developing world
TEAGUE
“INTERSECT”
(Team: C. Campbell, M. Geiman, K. Kelly, K. Kim, A. Naples, L. Prins, R. Viernes, N. Viggi)

16. 15
Office 2.0
The evolved workplace that marries new technologies with the splendor of the natural world.
Seamless technological integration
immersive data visualizations and virtual
experiences for close-to face-to-face
interactions with remote employees
Natural vistas
green space and natural views for
improved employee health
“Network—Connecting Virtual and Physical Data Points”
(Team: Brian B., Milena J., Hannah D., Kathy K., Megan N., Eric T., Zach K., Yeesan L., Kelley B.)

17. 16
The WorkKit
The affordable kit of parts for collaborative companies.
Economically competitive
Furniture-on-wheels
rolling and movable furniture for
customized co-workspaces
Wide open views
semi transparent and transparent
partitions for social interaction
Architecture
“ADDSpace”
(Team: Helen Bentley)
lower cost components for
business savings

18. 17
Building Your Office of the Future Today
You need answers. We can help.
You don't have to wait until 2020 to
start implementing the best of these
ideas—and you don't have to spend
a fortune. But you could probably use
a partner. That's where we come in.
What’s your 2020 vision?
Share it with us at:
http://blog.staplesadvantage.com/