AFL-CIO HIT

Designing for the Evolving Workplace

The design for the new AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust office was ultimately planned by keeping in mind the human experience. In collaboration with leaders and staff, our team worked to determine the optimal post-pandemic work model since the design was being done during the height of the pandemic.

Our teams decided to look at the long-term human behavior and design for full capacity. Instead of creating a hybrid environment, the organization focused on quality of air, easy material to disinfect and large personal spaces while individual office spaces were installed in what would have been a wide-open collaboration space. Glass doors were used for the offices so employees could see each other while remaining at a safe distance. Removable partitions/sneeze guards and expanded spacing between workstations were incorporated.

Our teams drew from their experience from working with healthcare clients to assist AFL-CIO HIT with their design pivot and were able to effectively change the space without changing its function.