As the workplace shift begins to take on a new tangible identity, the exploration into finding ways to work in a post-Covid environment have become more visible through changing aesthetics, revised ethics, and varying initiatives across many companies. At the newly designed LIXIL headquarters located in Piscataway, New Jersey, those thematics have presented themselves in very evident ways by contributing to a more mindful understanding of the way employees interact with, and are both influenced and guided by their physical work environment.
The redesign of the headquarters space in 2021-22 has been a tremendous opportunity to refamiliarize and engage with the company’s fundamental ideal to create a better “home” for everyone. The translation of this into the workplace looks like creating spaces that intersect in both a formal and informal way with employees. Thus, creating a balance between independent and collective spaces with areas dedicated to amenities within the larger office area.
To curate this connectivity within the 65,000 square feet that LIXIL occupies, new primary design features include workstations on the outer perimeter of the office area facing the windows to promote creative stimulation, informal lounge and work areas for individual and group work, variously sized meeting rooms for structured gatherings, a central zone with amenities including, two large kitchens, and a contactless restroom to accompany the heightened priority for hand washing upon arrival into the space — made possible in part through partnership with Dormakaba. Additionally the office features the inclusion of socially conscious artwork to reflect on the impact we have on the world around us, plus several exhibit spaces showcasing a multitude of products and brands on display in common areas to reflect the vision of hard work in a dimensional format. These efforts have collectively contributed to a more flexible work environment that facilitates ad hoc collaboration while still maintaining a respectful understanding of the need for individual work.
Coming from the comfort of home after two years of remote work, there is an evident sensitivity to elements of the different spaces we occupy that were perhaps not as prioritized before. For one, sustainability, which has become one of the largest initiatives that LIXIL has incorporated into its brand identity over the past decade. This has been reflected in the new workplace by using LED only lighting, sensor-to-adjust lighting throughout the day, LEED-certified materials, neutral colors, and different textures to construct a less corporate ambiance and instead assist in creating both an inclusive and welcoming feel upon stepping foot off of the elevator.
By continuing the progression towards a more inclusive future through the creation of different environments, the conversation shifts to social equity and the way in which LIXIL can further the development of its core company ideals: respect, responsibility, and innovation. Within the larger workplace which accommodates various physical and non-physical perspectives, this new layout can foster equal opportunity amongst all employees to yield the most effective end results both inside and outside of the office.
Year:
2021
Project Team:
GENSLER, Joseph Magee, Kibok Song, Julia Arieno, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff
