Workplace Design

Trending Interior Renovations for a Commercial Office That Improve Wellbeing

Trending Interior Renovations for a Commercial Office That Improve Wellbeing

We’re pleased to share this guest post written by Natalie Akins, Interior Design Editor with Innovative Building Materials. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevailing trend in commercial office design was to open up spaces to create a more inviting work atmosphere. While creativity and collaboration are undoubtedly optimized in open floor plans, the pandemic reminded everyone that, in addition to the periodic need for privacy, some measures must be taken to provide social distance and ensure employee wellness.

Office Design + Employee Wellness Ideas for Post-pandemic Reentry

Office Design + Employee Wellness Ideas for Post-pandemic Reentry

While the idea of a personal work bubble might sound sci-fi surreal, the reality is that from here forward, it’s more paramount than ever for workplace design to address how people perceive and experience personal safety and wellbeing, through visual and physical cues in the work environment.

Read on for a baker’s dozen ideas for office design and employee wellness ideas for post-pandemic reentry.

Conversations with Kadalyst: How to Design a Workspace that Supports Employee Wellness With Ctrl+Shift+Space’s Allyson Strowbridge

Conversations with Kadalyst: How to Design a Workspace that Supports Employee Wellness With Ctrl+Shift+Space’s Allyson Strowbridge

Allyson, owner of ctrl+shift+space, shares several tips with Kadalyst, an HR benefits and wellness company, that employers can use to develop a space that supports their employees’ physical and mental well-being.

Women take center stage at co-working companies

Women take center stage at co-working companies

Read about two new co-working businesses that recently opened in Portland, OR, including Vida Co-working which ctrl+shift+space had the opportunity to collaborate with.

3 Pitfalls to Avoid In Your Office Move

3 Pitfalls to Avoid In Your Office Move

Designing and moving into a new office is a big deal! And like many things in life, workplace transitions are often more complex than we think they’re going to be. But take heart! We’re here to help you avoid costly mistakes. Read on to learn about 3 pitfalls you’ll want to avoid during your office transition.


Human-Centered Design at VIDA

Human-Centered Design at VIDA

Originally written by and posted on VIDA Co-working’s blog, this article focuses on the unique design approach being applied in a collaboration between VIDA and ctrl+shift+space. This office will be the first of many co-working spaces being created by and for women professionals who desire to Make/Life Work. Give it a read and you’ll see how VIDA supports how real people will actually use and engage with the environment.

Smart Design for Shared Spaces

Smart Design for Shared Spaces

Originally written by and published by Buildings in May of 2019, this article focuses on how shared spaces are most successful when intentionally planned and outfitted to meet the needs of the people who will use the environment most.

5 Ways to Help Boost Productivity and Collaboration With Creative Spaces

5 Ways to Help Boost Productivity and Collaboration With Creative Spaces

Originally written by and posted on American Express’s Blog, this article touches on several ways to boost employee productivity through purposeful design and placement of creative spaces in the open office.

How Oregon Works: ctrl+shift+space's Allyson Strowbridge on office design's competitive edge

How Oregon Works: ctrl+shift+space's Allyson Strowbridge on office design's competitive edge

Allyson Strowbridge is principal of ctrl+shift+space, a Portland-based workplace strategy and design firm with a client list that includes Zapproved and Technology Association of Oregon.

Portland Technology Company Sightbox Unveils New Office Expansion

Portland Technology Company Sightbox Unveils New Office Expansion

In response to its rapid growth, Sightbox, a Portland-based technology company that offers its members a new way to experience vision care, recently embarked on an expansion and remodel of its current office space in downtown Portland. Doubling its square-footage, two Portland workplace strategy and design firms, ctrl+shift+space and Studio 7 Design, collaborated to infuse Sightbox’s culture into the 25,000 square-foot project, while also ensuring the company operated successfully throughout construction and installation.

Essential Elements of Flexible Workspaces

Essential Elements of Flexible Workspaces

When designing a flexible workspace, what essential elements do you need?

For this question we reached out to design expert Allyson Strowbridge, who with her firm, ctrl+shift+space, has years of experience helping companies of various sizes and industries design the best-fit workspaces for their respective needs. For most of the clients she’s worked with, that means creating a more flexible workspace.

Modern Meeting Room Designs

Modern Meeting Room Designs

Originally written by and posted on CORT Furniture’s blog, this article touches upon different ways of setting up meeting rooms for maximum productivity and collaboration.