Why office culture starts with space and intent 

Lately, it feels like everyone has an opinion about the workplace. Should people come in or stay home? Should we downsize real estate or double down on design? But most of those conversations miss the point. The question leaders should be asking isn’t where people work. It’s why they need space at all.

When I ask clients this question, their answers are remarkably consistent:

• We want people to connect.
• We want them to learn from each other.
• We want to create a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves.  
• We want a place that reflects our mission, values, and culture. 

This tells me most organizations aren’t looking for “seats per square foot.” What they really want is a cultural platform and the supporting infrastructure that enables it. They want to support connection, learning, and belonging. 

So, if that’s what leaders are asking for, why do so many offices still look like a collection of individual desks and little boxes? We need to pause and ask better questions.  

• What’s the value of place?  
• What do we want people to do when they come in?  
• What types of spaces do we need to support that? 

For leaders: If you’re planning next year’s workplace investments, this is the shift that changes everything: Know what you value and design for outcomes, not occupancy.

Designing collaborative spaces that foster workplace belonging

Technology can be part of the solution, or part of the problem, depending on the wisdom with which it is used. Too often, we’re still designing around outdated behaviors and then using those behaviors to justify the next round of design. 

I hear clients say, “We’re tracking how people use our space, so we know how to design the next one.” But if the space wasn’t designed for the right intent in the first place, we’re just reinforcing the wrong habits. Technology can make that cycle faster, but it can’t fix a flawed foundation.

Generative AI can create a floor plan in seconds, but a fast plan isn’t the same as a thoughtful one. We need to lean into the science of design and start from a clear understanding of why the space exists and how it impacts your most valuable asset: your people.  

A well-designed workplace isn’t just beautiful, it’s purposeful as well. Designers need to lean into evidence-based designs that are human-centric, high-functioning, and where all can thrive. And we need to create places that give people what they can’t get at home: energy, access, connection, and a sense of belonging. 

For leaders: In practical terms, this means measuring success by how well spaces serve your culture and mission, not just how often they’re booked.

Rethinking cultural infrastructure

If you want people to collaborate, start by defining what that really means for your teams. Are you talking about fast problem-solving? Deep project work? Mentorship? Each of those requires something different.  

If you want people to learn from each other, think about workplace connection in the visual sense: whiteboards, digital canvases, and shared surfaces that make knowledge visible and invite participation.

If you want to foster a sense of belonging, design spaces that encourage people to stay a while. I believe the most meaningful parts of office culture often happen in the in-between spaces: the quick chats, shared laughs, and small sparks of creativity that build trust and remind people why being together matters. For leaders:

These are the moments worth designing for and investing in.

Aligning space, culture, & technology with workspace strategy

Rather than viewing the office as a fixed destination, I encourage you to view it as part of a broader workspace strategy that reflects how your organization works today and where it’s heading next. 

When you align people, space, and technology around a shared sense of workplace purpose, the result is an environment that feels energized, relevant, and connected to your culture.

Designing with intent means looking beyond what’s efficient to what’s effective. That’s where the real value of place lives. 

For leaders: Purpose should guide every decision, from the layout of the room to the systems that connect it. That’s how you turn strategy into action.

FORTÉ’s take: A framework for workplace culture alignment that works

At FORTÉ, we see culture and technology as deeply connected. As Kay points out, the office should reflect intent, and technology should help make that intent real. 

Jason Roberts, Vice President of Enterprise AV at FORTÉ, puts it this way: “The conversation needs to start before you discuss specific rooms. What’s the outcome you’re trying to create? What kinds of meetings do you want people to have? What helps them do their best work?” 

When you start with outcomes and intent, everything else falls into place. And that’s what FORTÉ helps organizations do: turn good intentions into places and systems that actually work for people. 

About Kay Sargent
Kay is a senior principal and the director of thought leadership in HOK’s Interiors group. With a passion for using design to transform how and where people work, she spends her days (and many nights) working with clients on workplace strategy and design.