Workspace Design Lab | Healthy Spaces, Lasting Impact

Intentional workspace design may be the most overlooked retention strategy in business. In this episode, Syl Vanderpark sits down with Morgan Mosher, Director of Workplace at Furngully, to explore how organizations can use workplace design to reduce friction, improve employee experience, and make better real estate decisions. Morgan explains why planning around headcount often leads to overspendin...

What makes people want to come back to the office? In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, Sylvanna VanderPark sits down with Collin Burry, Design Director and Principal at Gensler. With more than 27 years at one of the world's leading design firms and projects spanning Apple, Pixar, Nike, Samsung, Airbnb, Dolby, and San Francisco International Airport, Collin brings a unique perspective on...

What if hybrid work is not the problem, but the mirror showing leaders what was already broken? In this episode of Workspace Design Lab Episode 15, Sylvanna VanderPark speaks with Sam Sahni, Founder and Principal of Work Transformers, about hybrid work, return to office mandates, workplace strategy, and how to design offices people actually want to use. Sam is a global workplace strategy consultan...

What if the biggest ergonomic risk in today’s workplace is sitting on your laptop? In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl VanderPark speaks with Dr. Nikki Williamson Weiner, OTD, OTR/L, AOEAS, CEAS-II, President and Lead Ergonomic Specialist at The Rising Workplace, about how clinical ergonomics, occupational therapy and human-centered workspace design can prevent injuries before they b...

What should you really evaluate before buying mission critical desks for control rooms, trading floors, and other high performance environments?  In this solo episode of Workspace Design Lab, Syl VanderPark shares a practical framework for choosing mission critical furniture that can perform reliably for 20 to 30 years. If you work in control room design, trading floor design, ergonomic workspace...

What if the biggest mistake in workplace design is starting with the building instead of the people? In this episode of Workspace Design Lab , Sylvanna VanderPark sits down with Stephen Smith, VP of People Analytics at Reworc , to explore how people data can reshape the way architects, designers, and workplace leaders think about office design, hybrid work, and employee performance. With experienc...

What happens when a family business refuses to rely on banks, debt, or outside financing, and builds everything on discipline, cash flow, and trust? In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl VanderPark sits down with Maria VanderPark, VP and Co-Founder of NovaLink, and Tony VanderPark, President and Co-Founder of NovaLink, to unpack the financial philosophy that shaped more than four decad...

Are modern offices actually designed for how we work today, or are we still operating inside outdated ideas? In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Sylvanna VanderPark explores the evolution of workspace design, from ancient Roman offices to Taylorism, cubicle farms, open plan offices, and today’s hybrid environments. Through research, neuroscience insights, and real world observations, she...

Can workplace design actually save lives? In this episode of Workspace Design Lab , host Sylvanna VanderPark welcomes Kay Sargent, Senior Principal and Director of Thought Leadership at HOK. With four decades of design experience, Kay shares how thoughtful design impacts not only productivity but human safety, behavior, and inclusion. This powerful conversation explores real-world stories, the sci...

What happens when your worst gig becomes the spark that launches a global podcast business? In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, Syl Vander Park sits down with David O Gara, founder of APodcastGeek, to explore how a career in radio, live DJing, and a single traumatic christening gig evolved into a thriving remote company built around trust, sound, and storytelling. Broadcasting from his garden...

What’s the real reason your office isn’t working? It might not be the space, it might be the strategy. In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl Vander Park is joined by Kati Barklund, Senior Manager of Workplace Strategy and Global Chair of Workplace Evolutionaries. Kati unpacks what truly makes a workplace “work” and why the future of office design goes far beyond furniture. From cultura...

🧠 Can toys make us better designers? In this solo episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl Vander Park takes a thoughtful dive into how everyday objects, like fidget toys and lap pads, are changing the way we think about workplace comfort, focus, and inclusion. Inspired by a conversation with her 6-year-old daughter, Syl explores how tools often used in classrooms can translate to adult offices...

Is your office furniture silently sabotaging productivity? In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl Vander Park is joined by Jane Sleeth, founder of Optimal Performance Consultants, to explore how workplace design impacts everything from physical injury to cognitive performance. With 35+ years of experience across manufacturing, banking, healthcare, and aviation, Jane breaks down what rea...

What happens when technical excellence meets human-centered design?  In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, Syl Vander Park sits down with Michael Rane Downey, retired architect from Gensler San Francisco, to explore the design process behind some of the most mission-critical workspaces in North America. From data centers to gas operations command centers, Michael shares stories that blend techn...

What does it take to design workspaces that truly endure?  In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Sylvanna VanderPark sits down with Marilyn Simeone, a seasoned leader in corporate real estate and workplace strategy. With over 40 years of experience across Merrill Lynch, Citibank, and Princeton University, Marilyn shares her approach to building office environments that are adaptive, sustai...

In this premiere episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl Vander Park sits down with her father, Tony Vander Park, President and Design Director at NovaLink. Together, they explore the origin and evolution of Series 7.8, a parametric console workstation designed for real-time adjustment, ergonomic precision, and lasting sustainability. This episode captures Tony’s deep design philosophy, manufact...

On this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl sits down with Darryl McCracken, Operations Manager at NovaLink. With over 30 years of experience, Darryl shares the evolution of modular furniture, how industrial design shaped his approach to problem-solving, and the importance of creating flexible, future-ready solutions. From his early days as a CAD detailer to leading operations, Darryl offers...

The best workspaces aren’t just filled with furniture, they’re designed with people in mind. Welcome to Workspace Design Lab , the podcast where we explore the stories behind the spaces that shape the way we work and live. From innovative office design to human-centered environments that support health, productivity, and collaboration, this show uncovers how thoughtful design creates lasting impac...