Workspace Design Lab | Healthy Spaces, Lasting Impact

Intentional workspace design may be the most overlooked retention strategy in business.

In this episode, Syl Vanderpark sits down with Morgan Mosher, Director of Workplace at Furngully, to explore how organizations can use workplace design to reduce friction, improve employee experience, and make better real estate decisions.

Morgan explains why planning around headcount often leads to overspending, how worker personas reveal actual workspace requirements, and why activity-based working frequently fails when organizations skip the foundational research required to make it successful.

The conversation covers workplace utilization data, employee surveys, mentorship-focused environments, hybrid work...

What makes people want to come back to the office?

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, Sylvanna VanderPark sits down with Collin Burry, Design Director and Principal at Gensler. With more than 27 years at one of the world's leading design firms and projects spanning Apple, Pixar, Nike, Samsung, Airbnb, Dolby, and San Francisco International Airport, Collin brings a unique perspective on how workplace design is evolving.

They explore why return-to-office mandates often fail, how workplace experience has become more important than square footage, and why the future of work depends on creating environments that...

What if hybrid work is not the problem, but the mirror showing leaders what was already broken?

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab Episode 15, Sylvanna VanderPark speaks with Sam Sahni, Founder and Principal of Work Transformers, about hybrid work, return to office mandates, workplace strategy, and how to design offices people actually want to use. Sam is a global workplace strategy consultant, technology entrepreneur, and author of Destination 2.0: The Playbook Every Executive Needs to Master Hybrid Work.

Together, Sylvanna and Sam explore why proximity does not equal productivity, how workplace design can support focus...

What if the biggest ergonomic risk in today’s workplace is sitting on your laptop?

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl VanderPark speaks with Dr. Nikki Williamson Weiner, OTD, OTR/L, AOEAS, CEAS-II, President and Lead Ergonomic Specialist at The Rising Workplace, about how clinical ergonomics, occupational therapy and human-centered workspace design can prevent injuries before they become costly problems.

Nikki shares how her background in occupational therapy shaped her preventive approach to workplace ergonomics, why adjustable desks and chairs are not enough on their own, and how personal, environmental and occupational fa...

What should you really evaluate before buying mission critical desks for control rooms, trading floors, and other high performance environments? 

In this solo episode of Workspace Design Lab, Syl VanderPark shares a practical framework for choosing mission critical furniture that can perform reliably for 20 to 30 years. If you work in control room design, trading floor design, ergonomic workspace planning, or mission critical console specification, this episode will help you look beyond the catalog and think in terms of lifecycle, support, and long term operational value.

Syl breaks down the factors that matter most before you b...

What if the biggest mistake in workplace design is starting with the building instead of the people? In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, Sylvanna VanderPark sits down with Stephen Smith, VP of People Analytics at Reworc, to explore how people data can reshape the way architects, designers, and workplace leaders think about office design, hybrid work, and employee performance. With experience spanning human resources, corporate real estate, and people analytics, Stephen shares what data from more than 500,000 employees reveals about flexibility, workspace intentionality, and why the best environments are designed from the inside out.<...

What happens when a family business refuses to rely on banks, debt, or outside financing, and builds everything on discipline, cash flow, and trust?

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl VanderPark sits down with Maria VanderPark, VP and Co-Founder of NovaLink, and Tony VanderPark, President and Co-Founder of NovaLink, to unpack the financial philosophy that shaped more than four decades of business growth. From childhood lessons in Mexico to navigating recessions in Canada, Maria and Tony share why cash flow is the foundation of resilience in the workspace industry and how operating from financial...

Are modern offices actually designed for how we work today, or are we still operating inside outdated ideas?

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Sylvanna VanderPark explores the evolution of workspace design, from ancient Roman offices to Taylorism, cubicle farms, open plan offices, and today’s hybrid environments. Through research, neuroscience insights, and real world observations, she unpacks why so many beautiful workspaces quietly drain productivity, creativity, and wellbeing. This episode is essential listening for architects, interior designers, facility managers, and business leaders who want to design ergonomic, human-centered, and sustainable workspaces that truly perform.

Can workplace design actually save lives?

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Sylvanna VanderPark welcomes Kay Sargent, Senior Principal and Director of Thought Leadership at HOK. With four decades of design experience, Kay shares how thoughtful design impacts not only productivity but human safety, behavior, and inclusion. This powerful conversation explores real-world stories, the science behind effective office design, and what companies must do to truly support neurodiverse teams. From life-saving design decisions to building spaces people actually want to return to, this episode is packed with practical, evidence-based insight for architects, interior designers, and...

What happens when your worst gig becomes the spark that launches a global podcast business?

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, Syl Vander Park sits down with David O Gara, founder of APodcastGeek, to explore how a career in radio, live DJing, and a single traumatic christening gig evolved into a thriving remote company built around trust, sound, and storytelling. Broadcasting from his garden studio in Dublin, David shares how he built his podcast production business from scratch during the pandemic and why workspace design still matters in a remote-first world. They dive into gear setups...

What’s the real reason your office isn’t working? It might not be the space, it might be the strategy.

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl Vander Park is joined by Kati Barklund, Senior Manager of Workplace Strategy and Global Chair of Workplace Evolutionaries. Kati unpacks what truly makes a workplace “work” and why the future of office design goes far beyond furniture.

From cultural alignment to data-driven design, this conversation offers rare insight into how leaders can reshape their environments to support performance, purpose, and wellbeing.

If you're an archi...

🧠 Can toys make us better designers?

In this solo episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl Vander Park takes a thoughtful dive into how everyday objects, like fidget toys and lap pads, are changing the way we think about workplace comfort, focus, and inclusion. Inspired by a conversation with her 6-year-old daughter, Syl explores how tools often used in classrooms can translate to adult offices in powerful ways. From posture and sensory input to neurodiverse-friendly design, this episode uncovers the small, often overlooked choices that lead to more human-centered workspaces. If you're designing for wellbeing, this one’s a m...

Is your office furniture silently sabotaging productivity?

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl Vander Park is joined by Jane Sleeth, founder of Optimal Performance Consultants, to explore how workplace design impacts everything from physical injury to cognitive performance. With 35+ years of experience across manufacturing, banking, healthcare, and aviation, Jane breaks down what real ergonomics means—and why too many companies still treat it as a box to check.

From avoiding costly design mistakes to planning for inclusivity and longevity, this conversation is packed with insights for architects, designers, and workplace leaders who wa...

What happens when technical excellence meets human-centered design? 

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, Syl Vander Park sits down with Michael Rane Downey, retired architect from Gensler San Francisco, to explore the design process behind some of the most mission-critical workspaces in North America. From data centers to gas operations command centers, Michael shares stories that blend technical rigor with thoughtful design, and lessons every architect and designer should hear. Whether you’re new to workspace design or decades in, this conversation will change how you think about architecture, culture, and collaboration.

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What does it take to design workspaces that truly endure? 

In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Sylvanna VanderPark sits down with Marilyn Simeone, a seasoned leader in corporate real estate and workplace strategy. With over 40 years of experience across Merrill Lynch, Citibank, and Princeton University, Marilyn shares her approach to building office environments that are adaptive, sustainable, and deeply human-centered. Whether you're an architect, interior designer, or workplace strategist, this episode delivers rare insight into real-world workspace planning, global standardization, and timeless design principles that stand the test of time.

KEY TAKEAWAYS