Quite a contradiction considering the working public has singled this out as the most important. In an attempt to address this, we are trying at Nationwide a new concept called Environmental Communication. It uses the facility to communicate to its employees the core values of the company, or department. Most lobbies and work areas of typical offices in Corporate America are neutral in both buildings and furnishings. Gray is the color of choice, and the spaces do not clearly convey a company's products, services or core values.
Neutrality governs everywhere, in the work areas, in the corridors, even in the public lobbies.
While this approach is missing in modern facilities, we can find examples in past generations. Cathedrals of the Middle Ages built extensive religious value messages into their windows, walls and sculpture. Before that, early Egyptians covered their columns and walls with pictures of the important work of their culture. Even the caves of Altimira showed signs of recording important survival activities. To apply the concept of Environmental Communication to real life office spaces, three remodelings were built over the last two years.