1 month ago
Designing workplaces for tomorrow
As more and more of our day-to-day work and lives shift to the digital sphere, it’s more important than ever to create innovative, inclusive physical workspaces that bring people together to collaborate and exchange ideas.
This is one of the golden threads that bind Here East’s mission with that of Plexal – a pioneering innovation hub on a mission to close the gap between government, startups and industry to solve societal challenges. To learn more, we caught up with Plexal’s CEO Andrew Roughan to hear about the collaborative ecosystem the company is building as well as their vision for the future of the workplace.
Why are inclusive physical workplace environments critical in a digital world?
Andrew: Human connection is vital to ensure a shared mission and purpose. That’s why we’re committed to creating ‘Places for Innovators.’ This means building physical workspaces that inspire collaboration between a diverse community of like-minded stakeholders. The design concept of this space is crucial, with everything from the physical layout to how the facility is operated needing to be considered.
What does ‘a city within a city’ mean for Plexal?
Andrew: Plexal’s design mimics the construction of a city. We have a central square, a digital monument, a park and a cultural stage. We also operate events that bring our community together: seeking their views, participation and collaboration. Our space is designed for the whole of society – from the student completing homework through to the civil servant working on public policy or the entrepreneur investigating pharmaceutical crystallisation in space.
How does workplace design impact productivity and collaboration?
Andrew: While diverse work environments cater to different needs – from focus work to brainstorming – well-designed spaces encourage impromptu conversations and spark ideas. This variety boosts productivity, bridges generational gaps, and drives interdisciplinary collaboration. Plexal has created many sub-spaces that allow for this, from our accessible workspace through to our collaboration zones built for brainstorming.
Why is it important to offer more than just focus areas?
Andrew: Modern workplaces must support holistic well-being and growth. What does this look like at Plexal? From recreational spaces like Plexal Park to our wellbeing services, relaxation courses, stress management techniques, prayer and multi-faith room, customer services training, diversity and inclusion awareness sessions, and business support programs – we’re creating a balanced ecosystem where people thrive personally and professionally.
How vital is integration with the wider ecosystem?
Andrew: Plexal is an expert in building innovation clusters focused on the link between skills, products, customers, and capital. We believe this forms the true ecosystem that is necessary for progress. These clusters can be created for a specific subject matter, technology domain, geographic location, purpose or outcome, but they must also have an orchestrator in place to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from the value exchange. Not everyone will be physically present in the place, so creating pathways for access and engagement is very important.
What’s the future of physical workplaces?
Andrew: We believe physical workplaces will always be critical to act as magnets that bring people together to collaborate. They will change in form, function, scale, and purpose over time, but the value of human connection should never be underestimated. We believe that centres of excellence or clusters are critical to underpinning the UK Government’s economic growth imperative where the collection of organisations creates the basis for super-normal progress.
Thank you, Andrew, for sharing your insights with us. If you’re interested in learning more about Plexal, visit their website here.
