How Community-Based Design Is Changing the Way We Work
As the workplace continues to evolve, so does our understanding of what people need from their work environments. Enter Community-Based Design, Steelcase’s innovative planning methodology rooted in urban planning principles and focused on building connection, culture, and flexibility within the workplace.
Unlike traditional office design that often prioritizes square footage over human needs, Community-Based Design places people and relationships at the heart of the space. It’s about creating dynamic, multi-use environments that accommodate diverse work modes like focusing, collaborating, learning, and recharging while strengthening the cultural fabric of the organization.
The approach borrows from how cities function, organizing the workplace into “districts” such as City Centers, Neighborhoods, and Urban Parks. Each district is designed with a distinct purpose, whether it’s fostering collaboration or providing space for individual focus, mirroring the diversity and vibrancy of real communities.
Why does this matter? Because organizations with strong workplace communities see real business benefits: improved engagement, reduced turnover, and higher well-being. Community-Based Design responds to today’s biggest workplace shifts—remote collaboration, AI integration, sustainability, and the urgency of well-being—by offering environments that flex, adapt, and connect.
At Custer, we see this as more than a design strategy. It’s a call to create spaces where people want to be, where they feel seen, supported, and inspired to do their best work.
Ready to reimagine your space? Let’s build a community at work.
