Purpose

This research seeks to address how to improve employee work performance by incorporating the concept of creative workplaces into the current design of campus office spaces at Michigan State University. Using the attributes of creative workplaces developed by Dr. Young Lee, this study aims to analyze how current MSU offices are designed, and offer design strategies to increase MSU employees creativity and innovation. This study will provide design strategies and considerations for future implications at Michigan State University.

Method
The study carried on a comparative investigation between two facilities: MSUs Hannah Administration Building and Herman Miller Design Yard, a furniture design and manufacturing building complex, in Zeeland, Michigan, which has been identified as a very innovative workplace.5 By comparing the Hannah Administration Building to the Design Yard, this study intended to highlight similarities and differences in design qualities and features regarding disengage spaces between the two facilities. A site visit was conducted at the Design Yard on 11/02/2012 where written and visual observations were recorded via digital cameras and notes. A similar visit was done 03/06/2013 at the Hannah Administration Building. Both sites were toured and spaces that fit the qualities of a Disengage Space were focused on..
5. Glaser, J (2006). The DNA Of Leadership: Leverage Your Instincts To Communicate, Differentiate, And Innovate. Avon, MA: Platinum Press.

Findings
After visiting the two sites, a few key elements stuck out. The Hannah Administration building had multiple floors with employee workstations and offices but no signs of an area for relaxing or play (based on the criteria for a Disengage Space) were found. There was a designated staff lounge area that was also used by the Spartys Express, leaving employees with the opportunity to form social relationships with their coworkers but also giving access to the public to use the space as well. At the Design Yard, Herman Miller has formed distinct areas for employees to gather to hangout, socialize, and relax. These spaces follow the criteria for a Disengage Space, allowing for innovation and creativity outside of the individual work areas. Visual evidence is shown below, with photos of each type of Disengage Space from both locations.

Background and Framework

According to the literature on creative economy, employee innovation and creativity are known to be critical to organizational success, especially in this economically challenging period.1 The study focuses on the concept of Disengage Spaces, one of the criteria of Creative Workplace Design developed by Dr. Young Lee (Figure 1). Disengage Spaces physically or mentally takes you away from your tasks for a short mental break and provides you with a space where you can partake in non-work related activities that encourage innovation and creativity by recharging. It includes three types of spaces: Play Space, Solitude Space, and Social Hangout Space. For the suitability of the purpose of this study, the term Relaxing Space is used instead of Solitude Space. Table 1 provides examples and further in-depth descriptions on the three types of Disengage Spaces. This type of space is frequently used in highly innovative organizations as an effective method to improve employee creativity.2,3

Results
RELAXING SPACES HANGOUT SPACES PLAY SPACE

BUILDINGS

Fig 1. Seven Creative Workplace Criteria Adapted from Lee, 2013.4

1. Miller, A. (2005). Fun In The Workplace: Toward An Environment-Behavior Framework Relating to Office Design, Employee Creativity, And Job Satisfaction. (Unpublished thesis). University of Florida, Gainesville. 2. Leopold, T. (2012, June 16). Trying To Be Creative In A Dilbert World, CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/15/living/corporate-creativityoffice-workers 3. Tarkan, L (2012, ). Work Hard, Play Harder: Fun At Work Boosts Creativity, Productivity, FOX News. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/13/work-hard-play-harder-fun-at-work-boosts-creativity-productivity// 4. Lee, Y.S. (2013). Seven workplace design criteria for workplace creativity. Manuscript submitted for publication.

MSU Hannah Administration Building Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48825
Photo Credit: jrn203

Table 1. Explanation of the three types of Disengage Spaces

Types of Space Description/ Characteristics
o Is designed around allowing the employee to step away from their desk and escape to a space where they can relax individually o Allows for quiet reflections and privacy from co-workers. o May accommodate resting, contemplating, and even taking a nap for a short period to recharge themselves o Is designed to promote social interactions and camaraderie among employees. o Allows employees to gather in a casual surrounding. o Can be located a few short steps away from their desk or in another area of the building such as a caf or lounge area. Pixar Headquarters
Photo Credit: Sharon Residorph Photography

Examples

Relaxing Space

Herman Miller Design Yard Zeeland, MI 49464

Photo Credit: Herman Miller

Google London
Photo Credit: Gadget Review

Google Switzerland
Photo Credit: Carmenzind Evolution

Conclusions:
Disengage spaces have been able to bring the most out of employees, keeping them coming to work or even working extra hours without a word because the environment they are working in is fun and catering to their creativity and innovation5. Figure 2 demonstrates a summary of the three key elements to a Disengage Space: Relaxing, Hangout, and Play. Based on the comparison between the MSU Hannah Administration building and the Herman Miller Design Year, several implications are provided for future renovations at the Hannah Administration Building.

Hangout Space

Steelcase Headquarters
Photo Credit: Benny Chan/Fotoworks

5. Glaser, J (2006). The DNA Of Leadership: Leverage Your Instincts To Communicate, Differentiate, And Innovate. Avon, MA: Platinum Press.

Fig 2. Three Components of Disengage Space

Implication 3 Incorporate non-work related activities, such as a ping pong table or foosball, into an existing office space or storage room that would allow for employee innovation and creativity away from the desk.

Play Space

o Features activities not related to the work but have been shown to create a sense of involvement and further unleashes creativity in employees. o Allows employees to build camaraderie as well as take physical and mental breaks o Can include physical activities as well as virtual games for a short break, including pool, ping pong, basketball, darts, video games, and exercises.

The Parliament Company Offices

Photo Credit: Fopple

Google Milan Office

Photo Credit: Toynuts

Implication 1 Introduce small relaxation zones among office spaces that are away from the work areas, either in a separate room or across the room for the workstation. Use lounge chairs or a sofa to enable comfort and tranquility. Bring in plants to amplify the calming atmosphere.

Implication 2 Create a lounge space in the hallways or within suites, using a few pieces of comfortable lounge furniture, like plush chairs and a sofa, to increase social interaction and communication.