Building Community at Work: Community-Based Design in the Workplace

The working world has undergone tremendous changes in the last few years that have inevitably impacted the very environments in which we do our work. The return-to-work tug-of-war is simultaneously increasing the pressure on employees and business leaders, AI is reshaping our approach to our jobs, and employee wellbeing is an ever-growing concern.

Amidst these challenges, leaders increasingly recognise that their workplaces are falling short, hindering rather than helping employees adapt to the evolving world of work. A new approach to workplace design is needed if businesses want to build a resilient and adaptive workforce ready to support their growth strategies. And the answer may lie in community-based design.

What is community-based design in the workplace?

Community-based design is an approach to urban planning to create vibrant city environments where communities can naturally form. In a community-based city, diverse, enriching spaces are specifically designed to bring people together, fostering a sense of community where individuals can thrive.

Malcolm Gladwell was the first to compare community-based urban planning with the workplace and suggested that organisations should model workplaces after vibrant cities.

“The parallels between neighbourhoods and offices are striking. Who, after all, has a direct interest in creating diverse, vital spaces that foster creativity and serendipity? Employers do.”

Malcolm Gladwell, Staff Writer for The New Yorker.

Unlike traditional office layouts, which often follow a standardised, rigid structure, community-based design applies urban planning principles to design a workplace that encourages spontaneous interactions, varied experiences, and a sense of belonging. The core idea is to make the office feel more like a living community where employees have a range of options to work, socialise, and unwind, all within the same space.

Why modern workplaces need community-centric design

The shift to hybrid work has changed employee interactions and company culture. With many working remotely or less frequently in the office, feelings of isolation and disconnection have increased. To address this, innovative companies are adopting community-based design, creating inclusive spaces that foster collaboration and a sense of belonging.

Community-centric design helps counter feelings of isolation by creating flexible spaces where employees can gather informally, enhancing both social interactions and spontaneous collaboration. Workplaces designed to foster a sense of community see higher levels of employee satisfaction, engagement, and retention. 

New research from Steelcase shows that only 25% of business leaders feel fully satisfied with current office attendance, underscoring the need for engaging, community-orientated spaces that draw employees in and encourage greater in-office participation. Additionally, employees who feel connected to their workplace community are 55% more likely to stay with the company long-term, helping to build a resilient and loyal workforce.

Key principles of community-based design in the workplace

Incorporating urban planning concepts into office spaces involves carefully designing for movement, flexibility, and accessibility. Just as cities have neighbourhoods, streets, parks, and communal hubs, a community-based office offers a mix of work environments—quiet zones for focused work, collaborative areas for team discussions, and casual social spaces that mimic the feel of a bustling city square. These thoughtfully designed areas allow employees to connect and navigate easily between tasks and social interactions, promoting productivity and ease.

At the heart of community-based workplace design are three essential elements: 

• Diverse spaces
• Seamless connectivity
• Supportive infrastructure 

Diversity in spaces

Community-based design introduces a variety of spaces—private focus areas, open social hubs, and collaborative zones—that support different work needs and preferences. This diversity mirrors the zones of a city, where parks provide spaces for relaxation, streets encourage movement, and cafes facilitate conversation.

Enhanced connectivity

Designing pathways and shared amenities encourages employees to move fluidly between spaces, facilitating spontaneous interactions that foster collaboration. Shared spaces like cafés and lounges act as office "city squares" where employees can gather informally, much like they would in vibrant urban centres, which can increase idea-sharing and team innovation, essential for a culture of creativity and camaraderie​.

Support for wellbeing

Wellbeing-focused design elements—like access to natural light, quiet zones, and biophilic spaces—are integral to community-based design, helping employees feel more balanced and less stressed. This approach supports individual mental health and enhances employee resilience and motivation, creating a more productive and positive work environment​ while boosting overall workplace satisfaction.

The benefits of community-based design

Community-based design offers more than just an aesthetically pleasing workplace—it transforms the office into a vibrant, supportive environment that actively drives business success. By creating spaces that resemble thriving communities, companies can enhance the work experience for employees and deliver measurable business benefits.

1. Improved collaboration and innovation

Community-based design encourages cross-departmental interactions by strategically placing shared spaces, such as lounges, collaboration hubs, and flexible meeting rooms, in ways that increase the likelihood of spontaneous encounters. These informal exchanges foster creativity and spark new ideas that can lead to innovation, forward-thinking solutions and an increased competitive edge for businesses.

2. Better employee engagement and retention

When employees feel a sense of community in their workplace, they are more likely to be engaged with–and loyal to–the organisation. Community-based design builds this connection by offering spaces that support both individual and group needs, allowing employees to feel seen, valued, and part of a larger team. This can significantly reduce turnover and the costs associated with recruitment and training.

3. Greater flexibility and resilience

Community-based design prioritises adaptability, making it easy for workplaces to evolve with shifting business needs. Movable furniture, flexible layouts, and varied work zones allow companies to respond quickly to changes, such as scaling teams or transitioning between in-person and hybrid work models. According to Steelcase, adaptable workplaces are better equipped to maintain productivity and employee satisfaction, even during times of rapid change, giving businesses a resilient foundation to weather any challenges.

How to implement community-based design

Are you curious about how you can transform your office into a dynamic, community-first space? Here are three practical steps to get started.

Assess and identify what your current office space needs

The first step is to thoroughly assess your current office layout to understand how well it supports collaboration, wellbeing, and individual work. Conduct surveys and observations to identify where employees feel engaged and where they might struggle. 

Define and map diverse spaces based on employee needs

Once you’ve assessed your layout, map out a variety of zones—including focus areas, social spaces, and collaborative hubs—tailored to meet your employees’ specific needs. Aligning these spaces with actual work patterns makes the design more effective and gives employees autonomy to choose the best settings for each task.

Incorporate natural and flexible elements

Incorporating flexible, mobile furniture and nature-inspired elements like plants, natural lighting and dedicated outside areas where possible helps create a comfortable, adaptive environment. These elements not only enhance aesthetic appeal but also improve wellbeing and focus, leading to a healthier and more resilient workforce​.

Conclusion

Community-based design is about far more than making an office look aesthetically pleasing—it’s about crafting a workspace that fosters a strong sense of belonging, engagement, and purpose. For companies, the benefits of this kind of workspace extend beyond employee satisfaction. Such environments encourage a healthier work culture, increase collaboration, and attract and retain top talent by creating a space where people want to be.

By introducing diverse spaces, supporting connectivity, and prioritising employee wellbeing, this design approach transforms the workplace into a vibrant, collaborative environment where people feel motivated to do their best work. If you’re ready to start building a workspace that’s as supportive as it is dynamic, community-based design could be the design philosophy that transforms how your organisation operates—and ultimately thrives.