Book Presentation
Tom Ryckaert is a well-known figure in the world of Facility Management and was a founding member of IFMA Belgium’s Board of Directors in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted him to deeply reflect on the concept of work and its impact on Facility Management. This reflection resulted in an English-language book titled: “Disruptive Workplaces – How to Create Your Sustainable and Future-Proof Work Environment.”
“Existing books on our field are far too theoretical and insufficiently focused on today’s and tomorrow’s ways of working, which should be the starting point for developing successful FM,” he argues regarding the need for his own book.
Disruptive Workplaces takes a positive approach to the concept of ‘disruption.’ The book offers a practical vision of modern Facility Management in light of the profound changes in the way we work in the post-COVID era. Ryckaert thoroughly researched individuals and case studies across Europe and the Middle East that inspire and encourage self-reflection on one’s own approach and opportunities within the role. His book is aimed at both novice and experienced FM professionals.
As an author and experienced expert, he distances himself from the well-known but now outdated ‘bricks-bytes-behavior’ concept, because the field of FM has become much broader. The book’s structure is based on the 4 P’s:
- People (first)
- Places (working anywhere, anytime)
- Performance (innovation)
- Planet (ESG!)
This framework much better encapsulates what is now crucial for Facility Managers. The clear structure allows the book to be read according to individual needs, as if it were ‘a book within a book.’
In summary, it is essential to always ask the same questions: ‘Why?-How?-What?’ in order to develop a personalized, sustainable, and future-proof work environment, while taking into account the company’s culture. There are so many challenges ahead, which can only be optimally addressed through close collaboration between FM and HR, with the goal of creating a ‘win-win-win’ for the company, the (FM) team, and colleagues.
‘A Great Place to Grow’
Eddy Debrulle, Group HR Director at AGEAS, was eager to present the new work environment to the attendees. The project started in 2020 with a ‘stay or leave’ decision regarding the old building, followed by defining a vision for hybrid working.
The analysis of various building options concluded in late 2022 with the choice of the Manhattan Building. A survey was conducted among employees to guide the different phases: concept, macro-design, detailed design, and implementation.
“The most challenging part of the project was the change,” Eddy Debrulle reflects. “Suddenly, employees found the old building acceptable again, despite all the prior criticism.” Videos were created to give employees a preview and reassure them about their new work environment. There were also guided tours to help prepare for the change.
The AGEAS office space spans 4 floors in the Manhattan Building. There is ample flexible meeting space, isolated printing corners, and of course, coffee corners. A significant investment was made in the ‘digital experience’ to facilitate top-quality video conferencing.
The office hosts 200 people of 28 different nationalities. “A cozy, homely atmosphere was a priority, as the office environment represents a home away from home for many,” says Eddy Debrulle. “We also work with ‘Kunst in Huis’ (Art in the House), which provides us with artworks that are replaced by others after a year.”
