GENSLER IS BACK AT WORK. In 2020 John Wix, then managing director at Gensler, the Portland-based architecture and design services firm, said the hybrid workforce would be a “model of the future.” “Gensler has shifted away from the hybrid model to an in-person model. We do have hybrid capabilities and continue to use that option to provide flexibility to staff, teams and our clients,” managing director Maurice Reid wrote in a statement to OB. “Our shift to prioritize an in-person model was made because being together on a daily basis leads to a much better office culture, and we see better work outcomes. Face-to-face interaction provides immediate and spontaneous opportunities for understanding, feedback and learning,” Reid added. “These outcomes may be more subjective in comparison to measurable goals like efficiency and productivity, but we find that without these interactions, our design and business culture goals are difficult to achieve. Our profession is intensely collaborative, and with hybrid-first models, the results are simply not as good.” But, he added, the firm does continue to take advantage of hybrid tools that help staff manage unexpected challenges, like snow or school-day cancellations. “While we remain committed to in-person work, we continue to assess and refine our work practices to support hybrid options. This is a necessity because we are often traveling for projects, collaborating with other offices, and are always meeting our clients and partners where they are, which is often in remote or hybrid locations. It’s exciting to be in the business of designing workspaces at this moment when there is so much evolution in mixing physical spaces with new technology and process,” Reid wrote. FINANCIAL-SERVICES FIRM THE STANDARD IS STILL MOSTLY REMOTE — but committed to downtown Portland. In November 2020, J. Greg Ness, CEO, told OB almost all of the 3,000 employees of The Standard were working from home. Ness retired in 2021 and was succeeded by Dan McMillan. “Most of our 4,200-plus employees are working remotely today,” McMillan wrote in an email to OB. “During COVID in 2020, we realized most positions can be filled by people who live anywhere within the United States, which oftentimes places them closer to our customers.” Some roles do require daily or hybrid in-person schedules, and the company does have regular on-site meetings and gatherings at its headquarters, McMillan added. In fact, last year The Standard kicked off a multiyear renovation of Standard Plaza “to support a variety of work needs and collaborative meetings.” “We believe that our commitment to a flexibility-first approach creates a competitive advantage, putting The Standard in a favorable position for attracting and retaining the best talent across the country. There are no plans to shift to a different model,” McMillan added. McMillan described 2024 as “an exciting year of unprecedented growth and change alongside strong financial performance,” and noted that the firm has made three strategic acquisitions in the past two years. At the end of 2022, The Standard acquired the retirement-plans recordkeeping business from Securian Financial, and it closed a deal to acquire the life and disability business from Elevance Health in April of last year. A third deal to acquire the employer voluntary benefits business from Allstate was announced last summer and is due to close in August. That deal, McMillan wrote, will add 1,000 more employees and a “big book of business” to the company. In 2023 McMillan worked with Gov. Tina Kotek to develop a plan to revitalize downtown Portland, calling for a ban on public drug use and an expansion of homeless-shelter capacity. On the current state of downtown, “we feel things are moving in the right direction,” McMillan wrote. “Crime is down since the pandemic. The city is a lot cleaner. There are more people everywhere, particularly on the weekends but also on weekdays. Hotels are hosting more guests. Concerts, festivals and nonprofit events are back. More employees are back during the workweek and we expect to see those numbers increase this year. We still have a long way to go, but I’m encouraged by what we’re seeing now.” “We believe that our commitment to a flexibility-first approach creates a competitive advantage, putting The Standard in a favorable position for attracting and retaining the best talent across the country. There are no plans to shift to a different model.” — DAN MCMILLAN, CEO, THE STANDARD PHOTOS BY JASON E. KAPLAN THE FUTURE IS NOW. “Our profession is intensely collaborative, and with hybrid-first models, the results are simply not as good.” — MAURICE REID, MANAGING DIRECTOR, GENSLER 41
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