Prior to the leadup of the COVID-19 shutdown, Montreal firm ACDF Architecture was already engaged in multiple office designs, building on it?s renowned portfolio of hospitality, large-scale residential, institutional, and cultural projects.
In a Q&A interview with V2com, Joan Renaud, a partner, architect, and core member of the ACDF design team, discussed his views on what the future might hold for the office environment as companies begin to recognize working from home as a viable solution.
Q: How have your clients responded to the current situation in terms of concerns and new requirements"
A: In speaking with many of our clients, it?s apparent that many of them are confident that they will return to the vibrancy of their pre-COVID day-to-day operations. We are social creatures, driven by a collective energy when working with other people that pushes us to another level. That being said, our clients are also very aware of the current environment. So, whether it be in response to this current pandemic, or preparing for the next pandemic, this new reality must form part of the conversation about every new layout that we approach. Q: How do you work that into the conversation"
A: It takes time to change our habits, but I think that there are ways to incorporate flexibility into office design without making COVID the focus of a project. There are also ways to leverage and repurpose existing design measures without reinventing the wheel. For instance...