“GCUC is the biggest coworking conference series in the world, and just like the industry itself, we don’t follow the rules. We give you all the things you need and none of the things you don’t. Our list is on lockdown (no spam for you!) and our speakers never pay their way onstage. We’re not interested in wasting your time; we’re interested in blowing your mind. That’s why we’re bringing the heartbeat of the coworking movement to Sydney this year: because just like the city itself, we’re no-BS, larger than life and awesome as you-know-what.”

In August I spent three glorious days in Sydney at the Global Coworking Unconference Conference (GCUC). Workplace wellbeing was the biggest thing on the agenda, along with other “industry hot topics” such as building business, growing scope and raising capital.
 
I had a blast touring the Sydney coworking scene and brought back plenty of ideas to integrate into my own designer spaces here in New Zealand.

Keep mental wellness at the forefront workspace design

We’ve seen a lot in the media recently about mental health and our concerning mental health statistics as a country. More people are reporting feeling lonely, despite living in the most connected time ever. It doesn’t help that businesses and clients alike, intentionally or otherwise, expect us to be connected and available all of the time. It’s doubly true when you are a freelancer and/or working from home.

Now we can’t say that coworking is the solution. But it isa step in the right direction. Coworking provides social stimulation, even if it’s just a smile or a ‘good morning’, and can make you feel a part of community that wants to see you succeed.

It’s not just millennials that thrive in inspiring workplaces that feel like a community. It’s important to remind younger professionals their efforts are contributing to a greater purpose. Your workspace design should serve as a visible reminder that employees are part of a valuable cause and united purpose.

Design for the millennial workforce

For the first time ever, 51% of the working population are millennials aged 18 to 30, and they’ll form 75% of the workforce by 2025. That means that working out how millennials work is the key factor in designing the offices of the future. One of the coworking spaces we toured with GCUC is HUB Australia, who keep some things in mind with their ‘future-proof’ office design:

Avoid rigid environments. Gone are the days when you sit in your cubicle with your head down for eight hours a day. Millennials respond better to relaxed professional environments, where they can make full use of the flexibility modern technology offers.

Incorporate technology. This is a tech-savvy generation who have been using digital platforms, apps, and portable devices from school-age. They’re often call the “impatient” generation, too used to having everything happen instantly. But why shouldn’t it? Fast WIFI connectivity and multiple power point outlets give you flexibility, efficiency and productivity… so make sure you have them!

Preserve your office culture (even when you’re scaling up)

One of the speakers was a property developer of office buildings in Australia, and for the last four to five years they have factored coworking into their building design. They see coworking as the “lungs” of the building… it should be central (metaphorically and literally) to the business design.

Their design allowed businesses can scale up or down between tenants and coworking spaces. This meant that a small business that outgrows the shard space can move up a floor to their own office in the building, or a business that is scaling down can stay in the building but move to the coworking spaces.
 
It’s not just good business sense in terms of keeping your clients in your building – it means you keep your office culture solid and you’re able to select and keep coworking tenants based on values and talents that mesh with yours.