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March 2021 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 17 Making Place declining as collaboration has decreased. One could argue that the minimal workplace occupancy has played a signif- icant role. Equally important are broader corporate goals that sup- port employee development and culture. Culture is essen- tial to creating an engaged workforce, and remote work does not cultivate the behaviors and norms that combine to produce thriving cultures. Zoom is a tool. It is not a place. • The future of the WORK-PLACE. Eating takeout never will replace the feeling of going out to dinner at a beautiful restaurant with friends and family. Seeing pictures of excit- ing places will never replace experiencing those places and cultures for ourselves. The power of place in all aspects of our lives has been made clear by this pandemic. As work- place design experts, we must recognize that while some things certainly will change as a result of all we’ve learned over the past year, place remains important. We must shift to viewing the workplace as a PLACE – a destination with a purpose beyond just housing desks. Knowing they can get their assignments done remotely, workers will choose to come to a workplace if they are inspired and feel a sense of community. And where there is community and a strong culture, there is loyalty. The battle for top talent will soon resurface. Knowledge workers will have more choice than ever before about where they want to work. Unless they see that a company is offering them a superior place to help them drive results and achieve their personal career goals, they will choose re- mote work with their current employer, or a different one. Think of the future workplace as an amenity to attract and retain the best of the best. Following a human-centered design approach, organizations will invest in the right methodology to understand what humans need to perform at heightened levels. With increased choice around where towork, flexibleworkplaceswhere users candetermine the best setting for their preferences and performance will be- come the new standard. Moments full of rich cultural con- tent will be designed into the spaces and will spark innova- tion and creativity like never before. Energy levels fostered by inspired teamwork will rise to new heights. Just as important as designwill be the opportunity to find and build a diverse community in the workplace. Organiza- tionswill incorporateworkplace design into their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Placemaking starts with the needs of people – all people. Inclusive placemaking in- volves fostering a sense of belonging and celebrates a sense of self. The built environment will be enhanced to support diverse communities. The workplace will additionally be viewed as an exten- sion of wellness initiatives. Organizations that focus on a people-centric workplace and the wellbeing of their em- ployees will thrive. Outside of human needs like nutrition, financial health and love, there is nothing more powerful than place. We will all be inspired workers as special plac- es provide the foundation to support creativity, unity and diversity. Businesses in the United States will finally under- stand how powerful the workplace is to their success. 2022 will be the year of the destination-worthy work- place.\\ Fora Great Eastern, London The flexible workspace. Rockwell Unscripted by Knoll Blurring the boundary between work and play. M Moser Place shapes experience: Citi Chennai Workplace Interior.