Our Corner of Space: Space as a person-first resource

Jan. 10, 2023

— Brittany Van Eck, space planner and leasing manager

This past October I traveled to a Space Strategies Conference hosted by Tradeline, and it was one of the best conferences I have ever attended. I think it was so impactful for a few reasons: first, as an office of one I don't have space-focused peers and these were my people. Second, the conference focused on something that I was not quite able to put into words until I saw it demonstrated so clearly. That is the idea that space is a valuable resource, here to support our people – and people are the most important resource. I will say it again: it is not about space, it’s about supporting the people. This matters because it frames and informs your plan for how, where, and when you work.

First, a quick summary of space along a continuum, as taught by Tradeline, in three steps. First, space layouts started out as a product of office hierarchy and were a closed system (conventional style), which was based on 100 percent occupancy, and seats were assigned and “owned;” think of offices along the outside of the wall and cubicles/desks in the middle of the room. Second, the traditional movement brought in collaboration, and a bit less hierarchy, leading to more open areas but was still based heavily on “ownership.” The third workplace type is progressive, which relies the least on “ownership” (50 percent presence, for example), and focuses on engagement, innovation, and utilization. With the pandemic quickly changing how we use space at UAF, many areas and leaders are thinking about this continuum to see what works best for them. The challenge is that there are a lot of options, a lot of work styles, and costs associated with these changes, plus, not all space is well suited to adaptation. The payoff can be higher retention and recruitment rates (i.e. people want to work here and stay here), increased employee satisfaction and support, and a reduced or more tailored footprint that may free up infrastructure funding in a way that supports program growth.

In conversations with different groups at UAF there is a common theme: a desire to give employees a space that helps them work well, and that increases their desire to be present and engage at UAF. To do that I encourage each of you to think about what you want in a work space, and how space can be a tool to accomplish your goals – not just a place to hold your belongings. As expected, the conference was full of innovative ideas, new workplace designs, and a focus on data as a key tool in looking at how space supports people. Workplace design is  about change management, and should be based in a deep understanding of the qualitative and quantitative elements at play. 

I encourage you each to think about ways that you can try new things to see how they work for your organization. And if you’re looking for someone to help you understand your space, please give me a shout. I understand that space is about supporting people, and will continue to work to ensure that UAF’s space is a tool in pursuing our goals and mission.

Our Corner of Space is a column focused on optimizing UAF's space through the office of space planning and leasing.