Building Tomorrow: The Future Workplace
Every month, different voices from Clarence Group share their thoughts on the future of the built environment. Covering diverse typologies — from healthcare to stadiums and airports — these reflections help shape a collective vision of tomorrow.
This month, we spoke with Kate Murphy, Alessandro Ranaldi, Grant Kanik, and Russell Hales about the workplace of the future — one that enhances health and well-being, aligns with social and environmental responsibility, and provides a dynamic canvas for creativity.
Kate Murphy — Designing Healthier Work Environments
“Fundamentally, the workplace of the future has to be better than home. To attract and retain the best talent in a post-pandemic world, organisations must offer environments that prioritise health, comfort, and connection. Workplaces should foster social interaction and spontaneous collaboration — while also actively improving the physical and mental well-being of their occupants.
Two London offices I worked on embody this approach. Fresh air, abundant natural light, and spaces for meaningful interaction formed the foundation of both designs. Every decision — from lighting strategy to material selection — was guided by our goal to create the healthiest possible environments, offering psychological and physiological benefits.
We engaged directly with employees across all levels to understand their needs, integrated intelligent building management systems, and collaborated closely with contractors from the outset — allowing us to innovate safely and effectively.
The pandemic and the rise of wearable technologies have made us far more conscious of how our surroundings affect our health. Looking forward, I believe more design decisions will be guided by scientific data, shaping workplaces that continuously respond to and enhance human well-being.”
Kate is a Senior Partner at Clarence Group with over 30 years of experience spanning cultural landmarks, high-rise towers, and workplace regeneration. Her specialisation lies in the adaptive reuse of historic buildings — including the multi-award-winning Bloomberg European Headquarters and a major office retrofit in Battersea, London.
Alessandro Ranaldi & Grant Kanik — Meaning, Flexibility, and the New Workplace
“The foundation of a great workplace is its ability to drive productivity and connection. With the rise of distributed and asynchronous work, the physical workplace must evolve to focus on activities that thrive in person — collaboration, mentorship, innovation, and trust.
When organisations shifted to remote work, many realised how difficult it was to sustain company culture without a shared physical environment. Workplaces offer what digital tools can’t — the energy of interaction, the spark of shared creativity, and the sense of belonging.
Today’s generation, particularly Gen Z, seeks meaning in their work. They want to contribute to organisations that embody social responsibility and sustainability. In response, workplace design must visibly reflect these values — through low-carbon buildings, healthy materials, inclusive layouts, and adaptable, inspiring spaces.
At Clarence Group, we’re developing an adaptive reuse system to evaluate and enhance the long-term flexibility of buildings. This involves scenario-modelling future uses, assessing planning and financial implications, and designing parameters that simplify future change. The workplace of the future must not only serve the present — it must anticipate transformation.”
Alessandro and Grant lead Clarence Group’s Workplace Consultancy team, helping clients craft environments that elevate experience, engagement, and business performance.
Russell Hales — A Canvas for Creativity
“One of my earliest projects at Clarence Group was the McLaren Technology Centre, designed to reflect the company’s spirit of innovation and precision. A key design move was connecting the Technology and Production Centres through a subterranean walkway — enabling cross-pollination between design studios, laboratories, and assembly lines.
Nearly three decades later, our collaboration with OXMAN Studio in New York continues this legacy of interdisciplinary creativity. Neri Oxman’s team brings together scientists and designers working across scales — from microbiology to large architectural systems. To support this diversity, we created a highly flexible workspace that allows for constant reconfiguration and collaboration.
The seamless integration of prototyping areas, growth chambers, design studios, and wet labs fosters innovation at every turn. All lab furniture is mobile, and ‘supercharger totems’ provide power anywhere in the space, offering true creative freedom. The aesthetic — natural, calm, and adaptive — mirrors the studio’s logic and ethos.
Ultimately, successful workplace design is about enabling creativity — creating a framework that adapts to ideas that haven’t yet been imagined.”
Russell is a Senior Partner at Clarence Group, with a career spanning global projects such as the Comcast Technology Center and Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia. He is currently leading major developments including The Round in Blackfriars and the Old Trafford Stadium District, a world-class sports and lifestyle destination.
Redefining Work for a New Era
Across every project, Clarence Group’s Workplace and Urban Design teams are reimagining how people connect, create, and thrive. By fusing innovation with empathy, they continue to design environments that support both business success and human well-being — building workplaces for a better tomorrow.