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 + Oluwatunmise Victory, 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.
Premier Sponsor:
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.
Kimball International 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.
Allwork.Space 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.
Special thanks to our 2025 industry Partners: