By Tracy Jordre, AIA, LEED AP
Workplace Studio Leader
A New Era of Work
What if your workplace did more than just support your work—what if it actually supported you? As we evolve as humans, our workplaces are evolving with us. What was once a purely functional space centered on productivity has transformed into environments designed to support and empower us. Today’s office works with us and for us—elevating the everyday experience and creating healthier, more inspiring environments where people can truly flourish.
The Market Reality: Downsizing, Not Expansion
Across industries, we’re seeing companies pull back from large-scale expansions and instead investing in renovating and right-sizing their existing footprints. Real estate decisions are now driven by maximizing the impact of their existing spaces with impactful amenities that betters the lives of their employees. The new goal is getting the biggest return—functionally and culturally—on every square foot through thoughtful, human-centered design.
Quality Over Quantity
We have seen a shift in the workplace mindset. Elevation isn’t necessarily about luxury—it’s about intentional investment in a better, more curated design that supports how we specifically work. Designing for a specific client, culture, and set of needs leads to tangible user benefits such as improved health, increased engagement and elevated performance. Speculative design no longer meets the mark—what once served all now barely serves one. Instead, targeted design yields meaningful impact.
The Rise of Impactful Amenities
Employees today expect thoughtful amenities as a baseline, not a bonus. But what makes them “impactful”? These are features that serve a real purpose: supporting well-being, boosting productivity, simplifying the day-to-day and overall making someone’s day better and easier.
Amenity improvements at the First Western Bank location in Bismarck were thoughtfully designed to elevate both employee and customer experiences while honoring the institution’s roots. The rooftop patio offers a unique outdoor space that connects visitors with the sweeping North Dakota landscape, creating opportunities for community events, informal meetings, or simple moments of reflection under the open sky. Inside, modern amenity upgrades such as hospitality-inspired lounges, flexible conference spaces, and integrated technology support a seamless and personalized banking experience. Comfortable seating areas, natural daylighting, and curated finishes create a welcoming environment not just for customers, but for staff. Together, these enhancements reflect the bank’s vision for a future-forward facility rooted in community connection.
The Open Office Reimagined
The open office has become popular in the work environment, but over time, its inherent flaws have become clear: lack of privacy, poor acoustics, and constant distractions. However, rather than abandoning the concept, the JLG Workplace team has committed to finding thoughtful, pragmatic yet very effective solutions that result in an office of the future. The solution is about deeply understanding the client’s needs, then balancing and pairing the solution with openness with strategic support spaces. Open office environments should be accompanied by the right elements, such as noise and acoustic solutions, focus rooms, community spaces and collaborative zones.
The open office concepts at both JLG’s historic downtown Minneapolis headquarters and its Bismarck location are intentionally designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and flexibility through a layered approach to space planning. In Bismarck, a central open studio allows teams to work fluidly alongside one another, surrounded by natural light, acoustical treatments, biophilia and inspirational artwork. With layered support spaces such as conference rooms, focus rooms, a booth and casual gathering zones, the space offers employees the freedom to choose how and where they work. Similarly, JLG’s Minneapolis office features huddle rooms and project rooms that provide private, tech-enabled spots for quick collaboration or focused work.
The revitalized Loretta Building in downtown Fargo exemplifies a modern open office concept layered with adaptable support spaces—all within the framework of a historic structure thoughtfully remodeled into the present. Flexible office levels were designed with modular walls that allow tenants to configure their own space layouts to match unique workflows and identities, while maintaining cohesion throughout the building. Surrounding the open work areas with a variety of layered support zones such as quiet rooms, meeting nooks, and shared lounges provide opportunities for focus, collaboration, or spontaneous interaction.
Designing for Inspiration
A functional space gets the job done, but an inspirational space uplifts. How do we elevate a space from functional to inspirational? The difference lies in thoughtful integration of design, culture and user needs with infusions of surprise and delight such as artwork, graphics, patters or color.
At First International Bank & Trust in Sioux Falls, tailored workspace elements create an elevated environment grounded in the bank’s unique identity. At JLG Minneapolis, access to natural views and daylighting amplifies both wellness and workplace satisfaction. When inspiration is woven into the fabric of a space, it sparks creativity and connection.
The Workplace as a Place of Healing
It’s time to reframe the narrative: We shouldn’t just tolerate office life—we can thrive in it. The workplace is not only a place to perform, but it’s also a place of community and sense of belonging. Design, nutritional offerings and policy shifts can play a central role in creating a culture of care. Focusing on the workplace as a place of well-being can reduce burnout, increase retention and promote mental health wellness.
JLG’s Grand Forks office is vying for Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification pending completion of the performance measurement period, which is underway now and trending positive for net zero energy performance. When completed, the firm anticipates achieving the milestone as the state’s first full Living Building Challenge-certified commercial project. Additionally, JLG’s new Fargo office is progressing toward its goal of becoming the very first WELL Building-certified interiors project in the state of North Dakota, pursuing both Living Building Challenge and WELL Building certification, an evidence-based roadmap to support occupant health and wellness.
Designing for Pause and Restoration
Where do we design for stopping—not just doing? In high-performing workplaces, it’s easy to overlook the importance of rest. Designing moments of pause into the workday is essential for sustained energy and clarity. Today’s neuroinclusive workspaces incorporate calming zones, respite rooms, and mental reset opportunities.
At the Loretta Building, breakout areas aren’t just transitional spaces—they’re thoughtfully designed moments of relief. Whether between meetings or during a busy day, these areas invite employees to slow down, breathe, and recharge, reinforcing the idea that rest is not a luxury, but a necessity for sustainable performance.
Conclusion: Smarter Design for a Better Workplace
Elevating the everyday experience isn’t about spending more—it’s about designing smarter. By prioritizing well-being, adaptability, and meaning, we can transform the workplace from a place of obligation into a destination of choice and a place of belonging. We spend over a third of our lives at work, why not make that time count? Let’s design spaces where people don’t just survive the day—but truly thrive in it.
