Energy

Tech culture will find a new home in energy workplaces.

As the energy sector pulls talent from technology companies, the industry’s traditionally conservative workplace culture will change. Informal innovation spaces designed to support collaboration will replace enclosed offices; a diverse new pool of workers will demand a wider variety of workplace options than the industry is accustomed to providing.

Design interventions will bring industrial workplaces up to par with “white collar” offices.

Recognizing the importance and potential of their plants as innovation hotspots, some forward-looking energy companies are exploring how to prioritize them and blur the lines between various workflows and roles. Industrial workplaces, once barren and utilitarian, will soon feature more supportive amenities, collaboration opportunities, natural daylight, and greenspace.

In pursuit of carbon neutrality, the industry will expand its real estate portfolio to include spaces for nuclear power and hydrogen capture.

LEED certification will steer the energy industry’s real estate decisions for years to come. But innovative players will also explore how to operate independently of carbonized grids and use energy sources like hydrogen to decarbonize the atmosphere. Companies investing in nuclear power will need innovative ways to educate the public on its safety.

Success in workplace safety will inspire a broader focus on designing for wellness.

Compared to most other industries, the energy sector provides outstanding workplace safety but falls short when it comes to supporting overall employee well-being. In the coming years, the industry will build on its historically strong culture of safety to promote healthier behaviors, aided by design features centered on mental health and physical balance.