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Q&A with DEGW's Bernice M. Boucher: 'Technology is changing the face of the workplace'

BUILDING DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2009
Bernice M. Boucher joined DEGW, an international design consultancy specializing in work and learning environments, in 2008 as director of North American operations. Previously, she served as workplace strategist for Deutsche Bank in the Americas and as global account manager and finance industry team leader at Steelcase, where she earned the company's Stewardship Award. She holds a BA in fine arts (in design) from George Washington University and participated in the Harvard Graduate School of Design's Executive Education Program.

BD+C: How is the economic slowdown impacting the workplace?
Bernice M. Boucher: In the past, if a company was growing 20%, it added 20% to its real estate. With today's high unemployment rate, there's quite a bit of surplus office space, and many organizations are struggling with leases that will soon terminate. Should they renew? Should they relocate? Should they own? Should they dispose of a building? Unpredictability can force corporate real estate executives into bad decisions, which can have a lasting impact on a business, so they want to make smart decisions.

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