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Sage Holcombe

The Architecture

of Work

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Why architecture?

Hi, my name is Sage Holcombe, and I’ve been a daydreamer for as long as I can remember.

As an only child, I spent countless hours gazing out of car windows with nothing but my imagination to occupy me. It was during these moments that my fascination with architecture took root…

When I was eight years old, and driving home from Northern California, I found myself imagining new places, inventions, and redesigned spaces. I dreamt of building wings inspired by Daedalus, I envisioned my bed defying gravity(which is when I knew engineers would hate me…), and I conceptualized entire cities modeled after the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. From that moment forward, architecture and design became more than a casual interest; they grew into a defining passion and the foundation for my future career.

For the past two years, I’ve been researching architecture through the Humanities Research Program. Last year, I focused on how gentrification alters neighborhoods. That led me to the High Line in New York City and eventually to St. John’s Terminal, a project by COOKFOX Architects. I didn’t know it then, but this building would become central to my capstone. It sparked a bigger question: What is the role of architecture in shaping the modern workplace?

That question has guided my research, interviews, and thinking throughout this project. And it brings me to today.

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Index

Introduction to Research premise

01

Case studies and Insights

02

History of office Spaces

03

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Research Premise

How office design reflects the evolving relationship between changing business demands, technological advancements, and worker needs.

Examine the influence of early industrial offices on the development of modern workspaces, with a focus on productivity, organization, and the division of labor.

My research explores how office design reflects the evolving relationship between changing business demands, technological advancements, and worker needs. It also examines the influence of early industrial offices on the development of modern workspaces, with a focus on productivity, organization, and the division of labor.

Studying this topic has shown me that space is never neutral.

If there’s one thing I hope sticks with you after today, it is this: The environments we build have the power to support or erode our health, our creativity, and even our sense of self(Now, I haven’t worked a 9-to-5, but I have survived public school...so, I am very aware of the impact an environment can make). That’s why understanding the history and future of workplace design is not just important, it’s essential to preserving human dignity in a rapidly changing world.

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Research Questions

How has corporate workplace design evolved from the 1900s to the present, and what can those transformations tell us about broader shifts in American culture and society?

What must architects prioritize today in order to design workspaces that support comfort, health, and productivity, without repeating past mistakes that dehumanized and harmed workers?

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1900s–1920s: Maximum Efficiency

Office design was influenced by Industrial America and Taylorism, prioritizing:

Efficiency through rigid systematization and mechanical outputs.

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1930s–1950s: The “Office Landscape”

The Bürolandschaft movement emerged:

Advocating for open, flexible layouts that encouraged the exchange of ideas and collaboration among employees.

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1960s–1990s: Rise of the “Corporate Cube”

Robert Probst’s 1968 “Office Action One” evolved into the cubicle:

Designed for personalization, yet it led to monotonous, isolating spaces that often felt dehumanizing.

Sea of Cubicles

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2000s–present: Emergence of “Office Placemaking”

“Choice-based” offices became popular:

Offering employees the flexibility to choose spaces best suited to their tasks, promoting autonomy and well-being.

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Jeff Shelton

As a local architect, Shelton prioritizes beauty, warmth, and human connection:

He creates spaces that feel alive and emotionally engaging.

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Garden & De La Guerra

Chapala & Haley

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“everyone has an innate need and want for beauty, excitement, and mystery.”

Jeff shelton

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Mark Rusitzky - COOKFOX

A studio that prioritizes both environmental and human well-being by:

Blending historic architecture with biophilic design, natural materials, and employee-made art.

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COOKFOX core values:

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Quantum AI campus

This campus reimagines the modern workplace by blending science, nature, and daily life:

It features biophilic design, vibrant colors, open layouts, and amenities that promote creativity, well-being, and collaboration.

Erick Lucero & Eliott Rosenberg

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“The desks are all equal!”

– Eliott Rosenberg

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What Will the Office Look Like in 2050?

As AI and remote work evolve, traditional offices may become optional:

Designs will prioritize adaptability, mental health, and sustainability, blending wellness hubs, biophilic elements, and collaborative zones.

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To move forward, we must learn from the past:

The most effective workspaces are not just efficient, they are human.
Designing for comfort, creativity, and connection preserves both productivity and well-being.

The Future of Office Design

At its core, my research is not just about buildings, it's about people.

We spend nearly one-third of our lives at work, and the spaces we inhabit during that time shape our minds, our bodies, and our relationships every single day.

Looking back, many traditional offices were built for efficiency and control, not for people. They prioritized profit over comfort and structure over soul. But as we face new challenges—technological shifts, questions of labor, sustainability, and mental health—we must not lose sight of what makes us human.

The future of workplace design is a reflection of the world we want to live in. And that choice lies with the next generation of architects.

As someone who hopes to be part of that future, I intend to create environments that don’t just function, but that uplift and inspire.

When we design with empathy and respect for human dignity, we shape not just spaces but the very fabric of our lives, forming the foundation of a meaningful, creative, and connected human existence.

Thank you.

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Thank You