Will they or won’t they?
That’s the golden question facing thousands of employers as the pandemic wanes and the office beckons.
Survey data suggests employers have their share of challenges in rallying troops back to the office. A recent poll revealed that 77% of U.S. workers want the option to work from home. Even more daunting, 46% said they’ll look for work elsewhere if the boss insists they return full time.
What’s an employer to do? It’s a question that weighs heavily with the senior leadership at 12390 El Camino Real in San Diego. That’s the address of Seismic Software, a fast-rising software development company and home to about 360 employees.
Seismic commissioned architectural firm Ware Malcomb to renovate 45,000 square feet of the software company’s three-story, 21-year-old building, placing a bet that the workforce will return. Angela Ryan, the director of interior architecture and design for Ware Malcomb’s San Diego office, is keenly aware of the stakes as project lead on the renovation.
“How we used the office before [the pandemic] isn’t necessarily how we use it now,” explains Ryan. “This project puts the focus on how to draw people back with a fun, collaborative workspace.” Ryan described several ways they aim to do just that:
- Light and Bright. The renovation started in the lobby. Dated wood paneling was removed to lighten and brighten the three-story volume. “It’s now a crisp, clean white, which goes along with the aesthetic Seismic wanted—pops of high-contrast color in a matte, non-glare finish,” says Ryan.
- Collaboration vs. Privacy. “There’s a generous ratio of open workspace with huddle and phone room,” says Ryan. “People can pull away from the main space for privacy. That balance is important. The work teams are very collaborative, which can be distracting after a time. The space supports both.”
- Go Outside. And why not? It’s San Diego! One of the principal attractions of the location is its proximity to One Paseo, a cool new shopping and entertainment district. “Part of the overall design is encouraging people to go outside on breaks and lunch. It’s all part of a healthy lifestyle,” says Ryan.
- Finish and Texture. The emphasis on warmth and vitality was carefully considered in paint selection. “Above all, we wanted a nice soft velvety finish, a rich matte look. Texture is just as important as color, if not more so. It supports a sense of calm without the sterile, clinical feel of a gloss,” says Ryan.
Using a matte finish poses its share of challenges, however. “The issue with matte, of course, is durability and cleanability. A matte finish can be a maintenance nightmare,” says Ryan.
What saved the day for the Ware Malcomb team was Behr Premium Plus paint, a GREENGUARD GOLD-certified product. “It has a flat matte finish with the durability and cleanability of a gloss. It’s the best of both worlds,” she explains. Another Behr flat matte finish product, Behr Ultra Scuff Defense, sets a new standard for paint durability with advanced scuff and mar resistance and exceptional stain-blocking properties.
The project is scheduled to be completed later this year. “We have to draw people back to the office and offer comforts they expect at home,” says Ryan. “The more you can make them feel comfortable in their surroundings, the better.”
Learn more about a flat matte paint that’s scuff and mar resistant.
