Once Albert hatches a plan, AECOM principal and design guru Michelle Ives Ratkovich (snapped with Herman Miller's Richard Munsey) gets started on shaping the space. It’s important to build a space with flexible amenities, she says, that will serve as a community space where all the employees can engage and share ideas. Regardless of how conservative a company is, Michelle’s seeing a focus on a more connected workforce (think tech firm’s cafeteria spaces). On a recent project for a prominent financial services firm, they found a blend of conservative and progressive solutions worked best. They decided on an open plan (above right) with glass-front private offices on the perimeter, which created appropriate hierarchies that worked for their culture.

She and Albert worked with Pacific Gas and Electric on its offices and client-facing facilities where many customers still come in to pay their bill. They used a retail model to differentiate and improve the experience of each group of people that comes through the office (customers, employees, vendors, etc.). In the new environment, technology, coworkers, and space converge to create a fun and collaborative experience, they tell us. Outside of the office, Michelle loves to ski, hike, and read. Her top spots for skiing: Mammoth Mountain, Vail, and Aspen.