Modern workplaces have been transforming for decades, morphing from rows of small, uniform cubicles into lighter and more pleasant environments. These changes were hurried along in the wake of the 2020 pandemic, when working from home became the norm – prompting companies to redouble their efforts to support established employees and appeal to prospective new hires. These changes in office life also call for adjustments in office design. We at Gwen Grossman Lighting Design built the foundation of our firm on corporate lighting. Now, as this sector continues to regain its footing, we’re returning with new skills obtained while designing for restaurants, theaters, airports, and more. These myriad experiences have equipped our team to design for modern workplaces, which now offer more open space, amenities, and flexibility than ever before.

While corporate design used to be a standardized affair, today’s offices are nothing of the sort. From complex custom lighting controls to more rigid sustainability parameters, each project presents its own unique traits and challenges. We always start the design process by getting to know our client, their priorities, and their employees’ needs. Some clients prefer open and collaborative spaces, each with a distinct mood. This can be achieved by using a range of color temperatures and layered lighting strategies throughout the office, such as in the Molson Coors Chicago Headquarters (pictured below). Other times, the preference is for a sleek work environment that wows visitors while encouraging deep focus from employees.

Getting familiar with each client’s company culture allows us to tailor our design to their everyday needs. Whether they’re looking for an awe-inspiring lobby, seamless lighting integration, locally controlled workstations, or all of the above, our job is to gauge the dynamic of the office and devise lighting solutions that best serve the client’s goals.

We’ve seen a major shift in modern offices away from cookie-cutter cubicles to more open, hospitality-focused spaces. And with the introduction of these airy layouts comes the necessity for smaller breakout rooms to help everyday work run smoothly.

However, the amenity offerings of today’s workplaces go beyond private huddle rooms. Our team has designed lighting for offices that provide phone rooms, gyms, kitchens, meditation spaces, and even dedicated lactation rooms. This culture shift reflects a workforce made up of individuals who value their own physical and mental wellbeing – leading companies to want to assure both current and future employees that they also hold these factors in high regard. Adjusting back to corporate life after the work-from-home wave feels a little easier when the workplace provides the same (or more) comforts as a home office. These ample amenities encourage employees to show up and collaborate in person, with hospitality-inspired lighting adding to the appeal.

Interest in sustainable design is at an all-time high, and the move away from general overhead illumination to local controls bodes well for workplace sustainability. Individually controlled task lighting is significantly more efficient – with desks only illuminated when employees are present, and lit with beams that don’t travel nearly as far. These local dimmable options often draw on our team’s experience in theatrical design, adding an attractive layer of customizability to each workstation.

Many of our clients desire their offices to be LEED and WELL certified, requiring our designers to take into consideration factors like glare, energy codes, and employee access to daylight and views. These parameters encourage us to think more creatively, as accent lighting and extra flourishes tend to require more energy. By incorporating these additional features thoughtfully and sparingly, we create more streamlined and efficient designs that manage to be beautiful without extraneous fluff.

Being forced to adapt our portfolio beyond the corporate sector has made us who we are now: a team of designers with expertise acquired across a range of projects and fields. The technical knowhow of museum design, the artistic storytelling of theatrical lighting, and the thoughtful warmth of restaurant illumination all come together to equip us for whatever the future may hold. All companies with an interest in maximizing the wellbeing of their employees, their visitors, and the environment need lighting designs that works as hard as they do. As the identity of the modern workplace evolves, Gwen Grossman Lighting Design is ready to create offices lit with undeniable personality and unforgettable charm.