Gen Z Architecture

Gen Z Architecture 

Gen Z has been entering the professional workforce and just as millennials seemed to cause disruption to the traditional corporate way of work– Gen Z seems to be doing so tenfold. There are plenty of reports saying that Gen Z workers don’t want to take on new tasks or move up in the company and would rather stay relatively stagnant in their position. While the older generations tend to take problem with this, the younger generations are focused mostly on work-life balance, and their career not defining and controlling their lives. Gen Z entering the workforce has also come with the rise of digitization of tasks, calls for shorter work weeks, and remote working. While this has changed corporate work life for the positive, Gen Z isn’t just causing disruption to what used to be the standard workflow, but they’re shaking long standing institutions fundamentally and not just through how they work. A lot of this can be attributed to the internet and how connectedness can foster revolutionary change. A pseudo-union for architects has emerged within recent years: The Architecture Lobby. While not being a governing body in the way a union is, it is organized by young architects that want to see change in an industry that’s known for unfair labor practices. The Architecture Lobby emphasizes unity within the profession and approaching architecture so that it’s accessible to all through digital education as well as formal chapters, typically organized by students of architecture. As Gen Z continues to enter the workplace, there’s no doubt that the structure of the profession will face massive change but so will our built environment.

By Kay Kriegel