People are more focused on being flexible today. The factories of yesterday used to be unsightly things in the back of the house, but nowadays companies want them to be more of a showroom. Tours of the facility are a major design integration and a major part of the design budget. Big factories in Europe have been that way for a good 10 years—particularly automotive companies like Porsche and BMW. The front-office workers are working side by side with the manufacturing workers. This gives workers a sense of pride, but also for the consumer and client, it gives them a sense of transparency to know what they're doing and also a cool factor of “I can see how my car is made.” We now have livestream video and cameras happening all the time. As architects, we're driving clients to think about aesthetics in the back of the house and combining forces between the front and back of the house.

GlobeSt.com: What can design studios do to meet those needs?

Weidler: It's that openness feeling. If we can get away from two distinct silos of office and manufacturing folk, it brings up collaboration between staff. This is important. We need to think about the factories of the future that will both work for now and be good for future real estate needs. The focal point for me is to make sure we are doing it for future expansion. Be flexible as much as possible. Get rid of the monument, hard walls that can't be moved; leave the center wide and open. That way, if they get a new line of business, it's easier to configure.

GlobeSt.com: How will these needs continue to evolve as STEM-based industries get more recognition as a specialized area of the commercial real estate industry?

Weidler: These kinds of industries are going to go more toward automation in the future. It brings reliability to the product. Europe is highly advanced in automation, as is Asia, and the US is a little behind in that. There will be a move to more robotic manufacturing.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about STEM-based industries' real estate needs?

Weidler: The workers are very skilled and more involved in digital technology. More automation means you need to be more skillful. How we are going to provide that in Southern California? We need to be flexible enough to produce and provide these types of real estate solutions because more and more clients are bringing back manufacturing to the US.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA—The factories of yesterday used to be unsightly things in the back of the house, but nowadays companies are using them as showrooms to market their products, which means design needs are shifting, Carolina Weidler, leader of the new science and technology studio at H. Hendy & Associates, tells GlobeSt.com. The studio will accommodate Southern California's rapid growth in science and technology and provide high-tech corporations with the expertise needed to create high performance work environments. It will focus on design and creative solutions for process-driven industries, including manufacturing facilities, labs, secure facilities and technically challenging environments.

Weidler, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and LEED AP, has international experience creating process-driven environments for high-tech corporations. She has been hired to lead the new division to meet California's growing need for efficient and effective work environments in science, technology, engineering and math-based industries. We spoke exclusively with her about why and how STEM-based industries' real estate needs have changed in recent times and how these needs will continue to evolve as these industries get more recognition as a specialized area of the commercial real estate industry.

GlobeSt.com: Why and how have STEM-based industries' real estate needs changed in recent times?

Weidler: Basically, we have some influences changing the needs for these kinds of industries: the advanced digital technologies, climate change and the market. Because of all of those things, the design has to follow suit with what's needed. The consequences are that the design and processes need to be more innovative and collaborative. They need to be flexible, adaptable and more transparent.

People are more focused on being flexible today. The factories of yesterday used to be unsightly things in the back of the house, but nowadays companies want them to be more of a showroom. Tours of the facility are a major design integration and a major part of the design budget. Big factories in Europe have been that way for a good 10 years—particularly automotive companies like Porsche and BMW. The front-office workers are working side by side with the manufacturing workers. This gives workers a sense of pride, but also for the consumer and client, it gives them a sense of transparency to know what they're doing and also a cool factor of “I can see how my car is made.” We now have livestream video and cameras happening all the time. As architects, we're driving clients to think about aesthetics in the back of the house and combining forces between the front and back of the house.

GlobeSt.com: What can design studios do to meet those needs?

Weidler: It's that openness feeling. If we can get away from two distinct silos of office and manufacturing folk, it brings up collaboration between staff. This is important. We need to think about the factories of the future that will both work for now and be good for future real estate needs. The focal point for me is to make sure we are doing it for future expansion. Be flexible as much as possible. Get rid of the monument, hard walls that can't be moved; leave the center wide and open. That way, if they get a new line of business, it's easier to configure.

GlobeSt.com: How will these needs continue to evolve as STEM-based industries get more recognition as a specialized area of the commercial real estate industry?

Weidler: These kinds of industries are going to go more toward automation in the future. It brings reliability to the product. Europe is highly advanced in automation, as is Asia, and the US is a little behind in that. There will be a move to more robotic manufacturing.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about STEM-based industries' real estate needs?

Weidler: The workers are very skilled and more involved in digital technology. More automation means you need to be more skillful. How we are going to provide that in Southern California? We need to be flexible enough to produce and provide these types of real estate solutions because more and more clients are bringing back manufacturing to the US.