Companies reinventing the workplace to adapt to a post-coronavirus world

As some companies consider making work-from-home permanent, others see the value in creating a workplace for employees.

THEY NEED TOCHANGE HOW THEYDEVELOP NEWOFFICE BUILDINGS.AMANDA BRANDEISSHOWS US ONECOMPANY THAT HADTO QUICKLY CHANGEITS BLUEPRINTS TOFOCUS ON KEEPINGEMPLOYEES SAFEFROM COVID-19.21:38 "We wanted aplace that was our own."An office space thatshapes culture, whereemployees want to go.REID CARR, CEO ofRed Door Interactive6:11 "We've always beenflexible in our workplace,we've always allowedpeople to work fromhome if they want, andwhat we learned is thatpeople do want a placethat is their own that wecan come into."Reid Carr is the CEO ofthe marketing agencyRed Door Interactive.After years of leasing anoffice in downtown SanDiego, the companywanted to create its ownspace to fostercollaboration and growth.2:55 "We were excitedwhen we found it, we hada vision for how thiswhole process was goingto go down."The company purchasednearly half an acre ofproperty to create acampus-style workplace.2-SHOT 32:55 "We'regoing to have a porch."But after the pandemicchanged our way of life,the company overhauledthe design to ensure itwas a space employeesnot only wanted to go butcould feel safe in.16:40 "I think we aredefinitely going to see itimpact workplaces,homes, marketing,shopping, everything."The new campus willincorporate touchlessfeatures throughout thebuildings - like doors andwater bottle fillingstations.They're creating outdoormeeting spaces withheaters and shades tobe used year-round.And inside, they'reinvesting in the bestavailable HVAC systemsfor air filtration.12:31 "I'm learning at allthis stuff as we go, butwe're looking at hospitalgrade stuff.

Theperspective we took isthere's always going tobe flus and colds, so whynot do these things thatwill help keep peoplefrom spreading disease."In addition to having theirown socially-distancedworkspace, employeeswill have designatedareas separate fromvisitors, including thekitchen.Which will featureaccomodations for foodprep and hand washing,as well as a new snackstation allowing forminimum contact.From the kitchen toconference rooms, thecompany reinventedeach aspect of thecampus.6:46 "it was important forus to have a place that'sattractive, and it putsanother and anotherlevel of design andaesthetic and ideation onan environment."As some companiesconsider moving toremote workpermanently, Carr saysthere's value in aworkplace designed tosupport employees.But to make it work,flexibility and resiliency iskey."I mean, this is ourhome."In San Diego, I'mAmanda Brandeisreporting.STILL AHEAD...THE BUCKSSTRUGGLES CARRY