How Glass Powers Collaborative Spaces, with Brittney Ricks of Clarus

 

This is Glass is in Session by Clarus, an AEC Podcast on MarketScale hosted by Daniel Litwin.

Collaborative technology is changing the work place, and has been for a while now. 61 million Gen Zers entered the workplace this year, and with them came a technological expectation, having grown up with interactive, responsive tech. However, the magic isn’t necessarily in the wires and software. Combine this with another work environment shift: the growth of co-working spaces, which are increasing at a rate of 16.1% annually. By 2022, employees who work in co-working spaces will have gone from 2017’s number of 1.7 million to 5 million.

This means that designing a traditional workplace means more tech, less walls and more flexibility. What employees are looking for in modern workplaces and in the tech that fuels them is something that inspires creativity and teamwork. Clarus, the largest glassboard manufacturer in America, knows this well. “They’re doing a lot of natural light studies and studies on where people are sitting within their space,” said Brittney Ricks, VP of Brand & Marketing. “They’re getting more visibility to collaboration, they’re encouraging their people and their employees to come together for ideas.” Ricks joins us on today’s episode to discuss how glass has made a comeback in the design of a work place, explaining how simplicity can sometimes foster more customization, creativity and aesthetic charm.

She gives more insight on the explosion of collaborative workspaces and what designers and business owners are searching for in their workplace tech. “You talk about technology becoming obsolete after a couple years, this is a product that’s not ‘smart,’ in fact the ‘smart’ is in the engineering.”

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the AEC Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @AECMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

career
Soft Skills, Real Impact: Rethinking What Makes Talent Stand Out with Client Success Executive Ben Brandon
November 26, 2025

Work feels different today. Conversations about AI, hybrid schedules, shifting career paths, and talent shortages aren’t just industry headlines—they’re shaping everyday decisions for workers and employers alike. As people rethink what they want from their careers and companies rethink what they need from their teams, one theme keeps rising to the surface: the skills that…

Read More
empathy
Why Empathy Matters in Today’s Workplace and How It Builds Better Teams
November 25, 2025

Empathy has become a business competency, not a soft nice-to-have. With hybrid teams, rapid AI adoption, and a workforce increasingly vocal about identity and inclusion, companies are being pushed to rethink what effective leadership looks like right now. Research and workplace trend reports consistently show that employees who feel seen and supported are more…

Read More
pastor
Finding Purpose Through Service: Faith, Leadership, and Legacy with Pastor Arthur James
November 24, 2025

Burnout among faith leaders has surged in recent years, fueled by heavier workloads, complex community needs, and the quiet exhaustion many pastors carry—sparking urgent conversations about resilience, calling, and sustainable leadership. A survey found that roughly four in ten pastors considered leaving full-time ministry in a single year, citing reasons like stress and loneliness—making guidance…

Read More
intuition
Allowing Inspiration to Grow from Intuition: How Inner Guidance Drives Real Career Growth
November 21, 2025

In a workplace culture increasingly shaped by rapid change, rising expectations, and new definitions of leadership, professionals are redefining success beyond titles and output. Empathy, intuition, and inner alignment — once seen as intangible “nice-to-haves” — are now emerging as competitive advantages. As recent workforce studies show that human-centered leaders drive higher engagement and…

Read More