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Uzone.id – Generation Z is a young generation born in the mid-1990s to early 2010 and has different preferences and different living standards. This is also true with their expectations about the workplace. To Gen Z, the office is not only a workspace, but also an identity and belonging space. Thus, there is an emerging concern of providing office architectures that would cater to the needs and wants of Gen Zs.
The office design that Gen Z is interested in; Usually Gen Z has some specific expectations for the office space and equipment based on which they carry out such activities as work, teamwork, and even rest.
Flexible gen z does not only mean that they are flexible and adaptive to change but Gen Z also prefers technologies that integrate easily. This is very important for Gen Z because they require some easy means to access various devices and applications that enable productivity.
Scott Galloway, Professor of Marketing at New York University: “The office is not dead, but the traditional office is. The future of work is flexible, and companies that don’t adapt will be left behind.”
In contrast, a comfortable and motivating collaboration area is a kind of a thrill for Gen Z which is fond of communication and networking with co-workers.
Also, leave no room for doubt – everyone in the Gen Z category is very concerned about physical and mental health. Hence, the principles of ergonomic office design with the emphasis on a healthy lifestyle, including the presence of sports facilities and comfortable rest rooms, will play a special role. Another preference Gen Z goes for is minimalistic, modern, and beautiful looking designs. It also focuses on the desire to have an environment that prompts innovation, one in which they can also express their identity, and one that they find ethically satisfying.
Some Gen Z also like to pick an office that has several design aspects of the office. For instance, flexibility such as the case with opening an open space, for Gen Z an office design with a large open space helps create a collaborative and inspiring environment. These include use of glass partitions or green plants in dividing the large area while still maintaining the open outlook.
Gen Z expects an office with height adjustable working desks, with diverse chairs and tables available so that the employee can change the position that best suits working in. Besides pure business meetings, it may be beneficial to have more of an informal collaborative space that is more creative, for example, a brainstorming zone with a large wall filled with graph paper, or a relaxation area, like some couches.
However, Gen Z also dreams about an office that includes advanced technologies including state of the art audio visual systems, video conference equipment, and robust Wi-Fi networks among others.
For supporting work life balance, the office designers can also incorporate some natural factors into the office design in the form of live plants, proper window facilities for natural light, or green walls. Ensure that it has features of the sweet relaxation area that includes a meditation room or a mini-gym or a game area. Encouraging creativity of the employees can be done by offering walls that can be drawn on with special markers or paint.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States: “The workplace is a major determinant of our health. It’s time we started designing workplaces that promote health and well-being.”
An example of an office layout that can suit a generation Z is what might be termed as the ‘new age’ or the ‘coworking space’. These benefits clearly include flexibility, possibility to cooperate and the work being done in pleasant conditions. There are several amenities available for use in the workspace like the kitchenette area, the office/meeting room and the rest area. Interior design is just as important and is done with reference to beauty and comfort as much as functionality.
This fact proves that office design plays a deciding role in hiring and motivating young workers including Generation Z where interests and needs are to be identified to provide the space that inspires work, fun and creativity.
