Announcing the 2025 Next Work Environment Competition Student Finalists

We’re thrilled to announce the finalists for this year’s Next Work Environment Student Competition—and the momentum is undeniable.

This year’s competition saw an unprecedented 700% increase in submissions over 2024, a clear signal that the future of work is top-of-mind for the next generation of leaders. Students around the globe are ready to reimagine how, where, and why we work—and their bold ideas are shaping what’s next.

A Rich Diversity of Disciplines

Entries came from a wide range of academic backgrounds, demonstrating that workplace innovation is truly interdisciplinary. Participants brought fresh perspectives from:

Architecture, Interior Design, and Construction Management
Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Business Analytics
Public Health, Strategic Communication, and Human Resources
Project & Facility Management, Climate Science, and Education Arts

A Global Community of Innovators

This year’s submittors represent a powerful mix of institutions and cultures, including students from:

Columbia University • Babcock University • Miami University (Ohio) • Conestoga College • Florida International University • Breda University • Georgia Institute of Technology • Texas State University • University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka) • New York School of Interior Design • Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität (Germany) • Purdue University • Intec Sup • Arizona State University • Lawrence Technological University • Kansas State University • Texas A&M University • Garissa University (Kenya) • Yerevan State University (Armenia) & more

This growing global engagement reinforces the importance—and urgency—of designing workplaces that support wellbeing, creativity, equity, and adaptability.

Get Ready! The 2025 Next Work Environment PROFESSIONAL Competition Opens next month.

Student Finalists

The submissions below scored high enough through multiple rounds of judging to earn a spot as a finalist.

WORKPLACE CATEGORY

The Anchor, Chiara Archer, Miami University
Flow Autonomy, Aren Homrich, Lawrence Technological University
NeuroNook, Anouk Huijsmans + Izzy Lodge – van der Kooij, Breda University
Twitch Workplace, Alanis Barreiro, Florida International University
Nexus, Jens Bakker + Féline Gilissen, Breda University
Roomlets- Work from 2nd Home, Lana Longworth, Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität
WorkNest: Community Pods for a Connected Workforce, Shreya Sanjeev Yadav, Texas A & M University
Chat Chat, Ying-Han ‘Anson’ Wu, New York School of Interior Design
Seamless Synergy: Redesigning the Future of Work at Fujitsu, Faila Pierre-Louis, Florida International University

THIRD PLACE CATEGORY

The Third Place Workspace — A Home Between Work and Life, Madhawa Wijayabanadara, University Of Moratuwa
The Ultimate Working Environment, Ryan Mitchell, Miami University
The Merge: A Third Place for Purposeful Work and Community, Brody Bernecker, Miami University
Drive-Thru IT– Technology Help On-the-Go, Marwan Shagar + Ibrahim Bilau + Jingyuan Shen, Georgia Institute of Technology
LinkWork, Sophia Padalino + Sebastian Collins, Conestoga College
Bridging the Gap: The Rise of ‘Community Pods’ as the Third Place of the Future, Binuri Bologngna, University of Mortuwa
The Common Ground, William John Matusek, Miami University
Reshaped, Andrew Falk, Miami University

EXPERIENTIAL CATEGORY

Integrated Facility Services Platform, A.W.Rusin Thathsara, University of Moratuwa
NEXT’s Chicago Office, Kaylee Hui, Arizona State University
Re-imagining Room 2120 and Wayfinding Design, Naomi Richardson, Texas State University
A comfortable workplace of the future, controlled by AI, Zhasmin Hayrapetyan, Yerevan State University

PICK A PROBLEM CATEGORY

Tk Hybrid Pod – Redefining Work & Empowerment in Mopti, Adama Traoré, Intec Sup
Designing a Dynamic and Human-Centered Office Space, Grace Tarler, Miami University
EcoConnnect, Odeyemi Mofiyinfoluwa + Judah Moyin-Jesu + Victory Oluwatunmise, Babcock University & University of Ibadan
Mind Space – A Quiet Wellness Corner for Every Workplace, Isuru Priyanjith, University of Moratuwa
Commuter Connect, Rylee Zandstra, Miami University
Studio Kate Design Firm, Katherine Rudini, Purdue University

What’s Next

Finalist projects are currently being reviewed by our esteemed panel of jurors, and winners will be announced next week along with their winning submissions. Stay tuned as we celebrate these students and share their forward-thinking ideas with the world.

Thank you to everyone who submitted, supported, and helped spread the word—this year’s competition has truly raised the bar.

The 2025 Next Work Environment Student Competition is generously supported by the following partners.

Tango is a leading provider of Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS), trusted by thousands of global businesses to optimize space management, lease portfolios, facilities maintenance, and more. As the future of work continues to evolve, Tango’s innovative software helps organizations navigate this change, offering solutions for office reservation, visitor management, energy and sustainability, and construction project oversight. With a focus on flexibility and efficiency, Tango empowers businesses to stay agile in a dynamic environment, providing the insights and tools needed to make informed decisions and drive operational success.

is a leading commercial furnishings company with deep expertise in the Workplace, Health, and Hospitality markets. For over 70 years, our brands have seized opportunities to customize solutions into personalized experiences, turning ordinary spaces into meaningful places. Our family of brands includes Kimball, National, Etc., Interwoven, David Edward, Kimball Hospitality, and D’style.

National, a brand of Kimball International, joined the contract office furniture market in 1980 with a goal to be a standout. Determined to offer customers a better value with shorter lead times, National created a brand by successfully delivering innovative products that were on budget and on time. Today, that foundation still holds true. Our exceptional value, combined with design-driven products, on-time delivery, and our dedication to customer experiences has established us as a leader in the furniture industry.

is the leading digital media platform dedicated to the Future of Work. For over 20 years, we’ve provided in-depth coverage, expert insights, and innovative solutions for professionals navigating the evolving workplace landscape. Our platform serves leaders in flexible work, workplace strategy, HR, coworking, and commercial real estate, helping them stay ahead of industry trends. Through our news, research, and partnerships, we empower businesses to shape the future of work.