Source: United States General Services Administration
January 25, 2023
Federal agencies invited to test out new furniture and technology solutions
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the official opening of its Workplace Innovation Lab. Located at GSA’s Headquarters, the lab functions as a proving ground where federal agencies can test out recent innovations in workplace furnishings and technology. This effort aligns with the President’s Management Agenda workforce priority, which includes reimagining and building a roadmap to the future of federal work.
”The future of the office workplace is now. We’re imagining it and building it right here in partnership with both industry innovators and our federal customers,” stated GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “This is a space where agency decision makers and their teams can experience the latest technologies, equipment, and furniture that’s designed to empower federal employees to deliver even more effectively.”
Public Buildings Service Commissioner Nina Albert and GSA Chief Architect Chuck Hardy also spoke at the event, as did Lisle Hannah, Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Facilities and Environmental Quality.
The lab features new types of layouts and furniture solutions that support both individuals and teams, as well as technology that enhances connectivity and effectiveness. The lab also features sustainable technology solutions ranging from power-over-ethernet cabling (which eliminates the need for expensive steel cabling) to solar powered light fixtures that support GSA’s drive toward net zero carbon facilities.
GSA is operating the lab as a pilot Federal Coworking Space. Federal employees are able to work in the 25,000-square-foot space and can use the lab for periods ranging from a single hour to weeks. Visitors from federal agencies can request tours and make reservations on a new platform to use the space. GSA will gather anonymous user feedback and data from the lab to improve its offerings and solutions.
For the first iteration of the lab, GSA has partnered with the following six vendors:
- Allsteel
- Cisco
- Haworth / Price Modern
- Miller-Knoll
- Kimball International
- Swiftspace / VOE
As part of the Workplace 2030 initiative, the Workplace Innovation Lab is one piece of GSA’s nationwide efforts to provide solutions for the future of work. For more information, please visit workplace.gsa.gov/offerings/innovation-lab/.
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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people.
For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us on social media.