Why Art is Crucial for RTO Success

Return to office (RTO) is on the agenda for many companies, but will these RTO initiatives succeed? Studies say hybrid work is here to stay and top talent will only return to the office if the experience is worth it.

For RTO to have widespread success, it has to provide value for employees beyond scoring points with leadership. Employees want a workplace that inspires them to do their best.

Research shows high-performing workplaces focus on workplace experience as much as function. And that beauty and art play a surprisingly crucial role.

The RTO Policy is Less Important Than How It’s Implemented

According to a recent McKinsey & Company analysis, simply mandating a return-to-the-office policy won’t magically solve productivity challenges.

Organizational effectiveness hinges on addressing the underlying issues impacting employee experience and productivity, regardless of where work is done.

Beauty Plays a Crucial Role

A global workplace survey by architecture and design firm Gensler reveals that top-performing workplaces prioritize workplace experience alongside functionality. With the most crucial experience factor being beauty.

“Beauty plays a crucial role in driving workplace performance, going beyond aesthetics to shape functionality and impact the employee experience,” Lindsay Roth, design director at Gensler’s London office writes.

According to the Gensler survey, top-performing employees work in environments where beauty significantly enhances their experiences.

“This can lead to users feeling more valued and more aligned with company values. They can feel more engaged and confident when in the space. This was seen across the globe in our data,” Roth adds.

Access to Art is a Differentiating Workplace Experience

Digging deeper into the data reveals that access to art is a central differentiating factor.
Top-performing workplaces provide their employees with twice the access to art and culture as low-performing workplaces. This includes art inside the office, on the exterior grounds and within walking distance in the local neighborhood.

Done correctly, the right art not only adds beauty but inspires and creates a sense of belonging for employees. It can also create opportunities for spontaneous dialogue and collaboration.

We recently completed two projects that exemplify this human-centered approach to office design. In this article, you’ll discover how TIAA and CHRISTUS Health used art and design to craft offices worth the return.

TIAA

Art consultants from Art + Artisans performed art tours for TIAA employees on the first day of RTO at their new office tower in Frisco, Texas.

Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) recently celebrated the opening of their new corporate hub in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Head of TIAA Global Corporate Services Curtis Bodison says the company’s goal was to create a work environment that helps their associates to “win the commute.” A survey of about 600 employees helped inform the layout, furniture and amenities.

The result is a testament to human-centered office design that underscores TIAA’s commitment to their employees’ well-being.

Along with an on-site medical center, pharmacy with at-cost medications, and mental and behavioral health support, over 150 artworks were curated for the property by the art consultants at Art + Artisans.

In accordance with the building’s design concept of Texas landscapes, the collection contains art featuring everything from Big Thicket National Park in Southeast Texas to the Texas Hill Country. Upper floors play off the design theme of “Extreme Shifts” in the environment through dynamic artworks. Outside, large-scale sculptures create spaces for employees to gather or retreat for reflection.

TIAA was also strategic about the transition to the new office. At the grand opening, dozens of volunteers acted as greeters, tour guides, tech support, and more. Art consultants from Art + Artisans led employees on art walks, sharing the stories behind each piece.

Recently Dallas Business Journal named it one of the Coolest Offices in DFW.

CHRISTUS Health

With 50,000 employees in four different countries, CHRISTUS Health has to be intentional about staying connected to their mission and culture.

The faith-based non-profit operates hospitals and clinics in the US and Latin America supported by thousands of employees in North Texas.

In 2021, CHRISTUS broke ground on a custom workspace to house their nearly 2000 support associates in Irving, Texas.

“We were also coming off of the pandemic when most people were working at home and so we knew that in order to entice people to come back to work, we had to build a place that was inviting, that gave people lots of options, flexibility in their workspace, lots of amenities, and in a beautiful environment,” CHRISTUS EVP & Chief Administrative Officer Marty Margetts told us.

They invested in a new, state-of-the-art, 15-story office tower uniquely crafted by architectural firm BOKA Powell to better suit the needs of the employees.

One of the focal points in the lobby of CHRISTUS’ headquarters in Irving, Texas is a floor-to-ceiling monofilament sculpture entitled, “Celestial Beams of Unity.” Each beam represents CHRISTUS’ three Sponsoring Congregations.

Amenities include a chapel, museum, clinic, lobby with coffee bar and outdoor café, indoor fitness center, outdoor fitness lawn, conference center, and food hall with multiple large outdoor terraces. According to christushealth.org, “Every aspect of the building reflects our mission and values, providing spaces for reflection, collaboration, relaxation, healing and revitalization.”

Art consultants from Art + Artisans curated a package of original, commissioned artwork and prints for every floor of the new office. Each piece reflects the employees and rich legacy of CHRISTUS. Architectural themes of Sacred Ground, Poetic Humility and Threads of Light were carried into the art selection. As well as themes of heritage and tribute to CHRISTUS’ founders and the many healing programs and services CHRISTUS operates today.

One piece depicts a pair of hands holding a heart. It was constructed from lab coats, scrubs, and other uniform cloth sent in from across the CHRISTUS Health network.

The building, environment and amenities have received positive reviews from employees, many of whom are staying longer at the office to enjoy the space, compared with pre-covid metrics. The project received the 2024 CoStar Group Impact Award for Commercial Development of the Year – Dallas-Ft.Worth.

Conclusion

The integration of art into workplace design is not merely an aesthetic choice. It is a strategic investment in employee satisfaction and productivity. By fostering an environment that values beauty and creativity, companies like TIAA and CHRISTUS Health demonstrate a commitment to enhancing the overall employee experience. This approach not only attracts top talent but also cultivates a sense of community and belonging among employees, ultimately leading to improved morale and retention. As organizations navigate RTO complexities, art and thoughtful design can transform workplaces into environments that “earn the return.”

Learn More About Why Art is Crucial to the Success of RTO

• When It Comes to Workplace Design, Beauty Drives Performance – Gensler Dialogue Blog
• Returning to the office? Focus more on practices and less on the policy – McKinsey & Company
• Three Design Strategies for Workplace Success in 2025 – Work Design Magazine
• Watch this video of our associates’ first day in the new office – TIAA Careers Page
• Why Quality in Commercial Office Space Hinges on Workplace Experience – Gensler Dialogue Blog
• Work-from-home expert on why return-to-office policies fail – HR Executive on YouTube