We heard how technology enables workers to create environments for themselves in the relative absence of employers. As corporations pull back on staffing, we’ll see more liberated workers trying to get things done in a more volatile environment. It’s a case of “who moved my cheese” but also “wow, look what I can do with these constraints removed.”  Those reviewing the state of work need to be diligent about highlighting new work products and work-patterns as they emerge.

Duffy’s presentation framed most of the discussion, drawing on material from his recent book “Work and the City.” He stepped through a brief history of how Frederic Taylor’s Scientific Management principles separated work into discrete explicit tasks, broke down the secret knowledge of the workers, and kept control of the factory floor. He contrasted it with the “social democratic” concerns of Post-War Europe, which created large campuses of office pods that nurtured and insulated the individual at the expense of collaboration and efficiency. Finally, Duffy asked what can be achieved in a 21st Century environment of “ubiquitous access to networked resources.” Do the old requirements of worker co-location and synchrony apply?

In response, Duffy argued that the current complex of real estate interests, architectural firms, and construction companies now creates its Class-A real estate according to accumulated conventions but without much thought of workers’ real present needs. Duffy challenged all parties to rethink the status quo: for successful workspaces to take shape, workers needs will have to regain priority in the building process.

The other speakers both corroborated and challenged Duffy’s analysis. Nicole Russo of the Downtown Alliance spoke of the real-world success transforming an office building in the Financial District into residential housing. Even these difficult spaces can be reclaimed and repurposed. If zoning is prescribing, rezoning is ‘re-scribing’ what these buildings should do. Laura Forlano pointed to an increasingly mobile workforce’s practical successes transforming public places into usable workspaces.

Audience members weighed in from the conservative side (it’s very hard to translate new ideas for a clients “looking for a certain amount of square footage on a certain piece of dirt”) to the progressive (new workspaces and work-patterns, such as coworking, are out there looking for more academic and media attention).

Looking forward, these concepts and problems get some real-world testing this summer during the Breakout Festival starting September 12 through the work of the Architectural League, DEGW, the Downtown Alliance, and NYCwireless (including yours truly).

The views expressed are those of the author only and do not reflect the position of Urban Omnibus editorial staff or the Architectural League of New York.

Rob Kelley manages technology projects that connect mobile, social and local space. His past experience includes JetBlue Airways and WeightWatchers.com. He serves on the Board of NYCwireless, helping to make New York City a better place.