News
OFFICE IN THE SKY
August 9, 2012
| To paraphrase inventor Charles Kettering, the future is of great concern because we’re going to spend the rest of our lives there. (Especially if medical science can advance to the point that life expectancy is 250 years, like Galapagos turtles.) At Bisnow’s Tech Summit and Office of the Future event Aug. 22 at the Westin Chicago River North, we’ll be offering some educated guesses about the work space of the future. So register here, before it's the future. | ||
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| GrubHub’s Mark Evans, one of our panelists, calls his company “the digital waiter for the takeout space, so it’s our priority to introduce cutting-edge technology to both diners and restaurants.” In terms of the company's new office—it inked a 60k SF lease in March at 111 W. Washington, where it will move soon—Mark says GrubHub is bringing advanced technology to its customer service department, because a top-notch 24/7/365 service department requires a lot of planning. That is, a lot of thought about everything from physical space constraints (environment, security, connectivity) to communication channels (email, phone, SMS, Twitter, Facebook). The space itself needs to make the job easier, so employees can focus on customer needs, Mark explains. | ||
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| Modular Architectural Interiors’ Mark Bassil, another one of our panelists, says that the office of the future will be driven by demographics and technology. The millennials will turn organizations upside down and eliminate hierarchal and elitist management styles of the past, as illustrated by GM before the bailout, when execs had their own elevators and parking lot to avoid mixing with "lowly" assembly line workers. Also, Mark tells us, all spaces will be green and reusable, with modular architectural interiors. Glass walls will replace drywall to maximize natural light and incorporate new LCD computers sandwiched within the interlayer of laminated glass, and office interiors will be more residential-like, with lounge areas and personal spaces (and we can’t wait). |
