What do business owners and landlords need to know about workplace design post-covid in Los Angeles? Read our future of workplace design guide here.

WDG Commits to Carbon Neutrality by 2030

Workplace design is going to undergo a dramatic shift in a post COVID-19 world. Remote work has been on the rise for years. Now, in our ever-connected society, the pandemic has simply accelerated that adoption process by forcibly imposing what was perhaps the largest work from home experiment the world has seen. Anyone who could work from home, has been working from home during lockdown. While there still has not been enough time to gather significant statistical data on remote work productivity, it’s clear that many people were able to work from home just fine. That alone has furthered the credibility of remote working for many businesses who are questioning just how much office space they truly require. COVID-19 has created a large-scale disturbance not just in how we work, but how we think about the very spaces in which we do work. We’d like to further discuss some of our thoughts on the direction of workplace design going forward.

Much has been written about the “Return to Work” as we come out of COVID-19. Workplaces with built-in social distancing, masks, sanitation stations, split shifts, Plexiglass partitions, touchless hardware. All in an attempt to return to normal. The problem is, normal is not a good place to be. Before COVID-19, the issue of climate change was starting to gain traction in our collective consciousness. Concern was starting to develop over issues such as plastic in the oceans, severe weather events, frequent wildfires. There was still debate over the causes, but the reality of these environmental issues was starting to sink in. Then COVID-19 hit, and climate change was relegated to the back burner. Scientists tell us that global temperatures are continuing to rise – now 1.1 degree C higher than at the start of the Industrial Revolution. An increase of 1.5 degrees C has been determined to be the tipping point where significant impacts to the environment and our way of life will occur. A 2.0 degree C increase is projected to result in catastrophe to the planet. While we at Wirt Design Group are taking a break from our usual routine and hunkering down at home, the environment was not taking a break. Yes, there was a hiatus when the air cleared up due to less cars on the road. Global emissions in 2020 are projected to drop 7.6% due to COVID-19 – great news, but it would need to stay at that level through 2030 if we are to hold temperatures to a 1.5 degree increase. The only way to do that is to restructure the global economy by moving away from fossil fuels, starting now. (For more insights on this topic, see “ One Last Chance – The Defining Year for the Planet” in the July 20-27, 2020 issue of Time Magazine.) Our industry – design, construction, real estate – has the means and methods of doing something significant to affect climate change. Designers can design net zero buildings and spaces using materials from sustainable manufacturing streams. Builders can focus on alternative methods of construction that conserve resources, capital and time. Brokers and agents can introduce owners and tenants to properties that are not only energy efficient but net zero for carbon emissions. When we come out of this pandemic, we have an obligation to make sure we don’t go back to normal. We need to do better. We can and must work together to do our part in making sure our planet does not pass the 1.5 degree C threshold. We have the tools. We know we can do it – most of the world came together over 4 months to combat a virus. Do we have the will to tackle climate change with a similar laser focus? Our collective survival hangs in the balance.

Valued Clients and Business Partners, In the midst of the pandemic and ongoing social discord, WDG has been watching, listening, staying informed and supporting. A few weeks ago, orders for the pandemic began slowly lifting and companies started thinking about how to return to work. We were proactive in helping, not only our clients but also our industry partners adjust to this new world – then two weeks ago, the nation shifted its focus to the tragic death of George Floyd and issues of racial inequality. As an office of diverse and creative individuals with varied backgrounds and identities – embedded in a city known as a true cultural melting pot – we stand in support of all efforts to help end racial injustice and recognize the need for meaningful change. As an organization, we are looking at concrete ways to commit our unique skillset to action. Because we have a responsibility to the neighborhood in which we operate and the communities in which we live, we want to engage our office with our community to help bring design and dignity to all. In that spirit, we pledge to join The 1+ program, the largest pro bono service network that connects non-profits with design professionals. Our mission is to design for humanity – design that supports safe spaces and dialogue, that is inclusive and empowering. Design for progress and equity.

Note: This will be part of an ongoing series about design and the impact of Covid-19 on the workplace As California prepares for a staged re-opening of the economy, COVID-19 and social distancing is forcing companies to rethink how their employees will to return to work. Wirt Design Group President, Jeff Wirt & Design Principal Eduardo Melgar were interviewed by KTLA for our insights on Returning to the Workplace during COVID-19.

What’s Next After Sheltering in Place?

On November 21, 2019, CoreNet Global ‘s Southern California Chapter held their Annual REmmy Award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Wirt Design was awarded Innovative Workplace over 50,000 square feet for our project with Scorpion Internet Marketing . To see project images, click here. Congratulations to our entire project team, the other winning teams and nominees.