Nationwide's founders responded to change then as we are now. Early in 1995, Charles J. First, AIA, Nationwide's director of architectural and design services, decided that Nationwide should become directly involved in the creative process. As facility manager responsible for officing requirements, First recognized a need for the office of the future and alternative work environments. Rather than conformity and uniformity, however, the concepts of diversity and creativity would influence the design of the PlanLab in terms of materials, space and less rigid organization. Under First's direction, Nationwide's laboratory continues to unfold as a collaborative and interdisciplinary effort.
All participants have a voice in the experiment.
To date, the participants include 16 people who work in the PlanLab. Consultants include an architect, a graduate student and his adviser, and a professor at Ohio State University. In addition, discussions with the University of Florida and Carnegie Mellon University have given breadth to the study. First continues to expand the list of institutions that are undertaking related research. Design reflects corporate identity In April 1995, a slide presentation to members of the Facility Planning group illustrated how cultural values are encoded within each civilization's architectural artifacts.