## The New IT: Connecting Data + Growth
The days of IT professionals working in isolation are long gone. Today's information technology leaders are emerging as strategic partners, driving business transformation and reshaping how we design and experience commercial workplaces.
**Big data, cloud computing, and advanced analytics** are fundamentally changing the role of IT within organizations. These technologies are pulling IT professionals from behind-the-scenes support roles into the center of business strategy and workplace innovation.
### IT's Strategic Evolution
Terry Lenhardt, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Steelcase, offers valuable insights into this transformation. According to Lenhardt, the evolution of IT is creating ripple effects across three critical areas:
**Employee Experience**: Modern IT infrastructure enables more flexible, connected work environments. From seamless collaboration tools to data-driven workspace optimization, technology is directly influencing how employees interact with their physical environment.
**Business Growth**: Data analytics and cloud solutions provide companies with unprecedented insights into space utilization, employee productivity, and operational efficiency. This information becomes crucial for making informed decisions about workplace design and real estate investments.
**Workplace Transformation**: The integration of smart building technologies, IoT sensors, and advanced computing systems is creating intelligent workspaces that adapt to user needs in real-time.
### Implications for Commercial Design
For commercial interior designers, this IT evolution presents both opportunities and challenges. Understanding how technology infrastructure impacts space planning, furniture selection, and environmental design is becoming essential.
Workplace designers must now consider: - **Connectivity requirements** for distributed teams - **Data security** implications for open office layouts - **Technology integration** points throughout the space - **Flexible infrastructure** that can evolve with changing IT needs
### The Race to Digitize
As organizations accelerate their digital transformation efforts, the relationship between IT strategy and workplace design becomes increasingly intertwined. Success requires collaboration between technology leaders and design professionals to create spaces that support both current needs and future growth.
The most effective commercial spaces will be those that seamlessly blend physical design with technological capability, creating environments where data, growth, and human experience intersect naturally.
