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The generation known as millennials 鈥� those born after about 1980 鈥� will compose a majority of the U.S. workforce in less than a decade. It’s been said these people have different ideas about what an employer should do for them, and how they should be treated.

Around Portland, architecture, engineering and construction firms are going to greater and greater lengths to meet those expectations.

Shuffleboard and ping pong factor prominently into the design of JE Dunn Construction’s new office in the Pearl. At ZGF Architects‘ space in Twelve West, there are showers for employees who commute by bike and a secure bike room. Many firms are adding mentoring and advising to the list of employee benefits.

These are the modern equivalent of the employee softball team, which at one point was considered innovative in human resources management.

鈥淚t’s a different way to create community,鈥� said Barbara A. Sestak, professor of architecture at Portland State University. 鈥淥ver the last 10, 15 years people have tended to switch jobs more. So being a good employer has meant looking at how to keep good employees.鈥�

According to Sestak, some architecture firms have taken the lead and designed their own offices to encourage interaction among employees, and get 鈥渃reative juices flowing.鈥� Building layouts now even subtly encourage physical activity, for instance, by getting employees to take the stairs.

Management at the construction firm Howard S. Wright gathered design ideas from staff to use in its new office in the Pearl West project. Portland State University graduate and HSW project engineer Caty Head-Skogland said she suggested design features that 鈥渆mbrace the individual.鈥�

鈥淚’ve always been interested in how people expresses themselves individually in their space,鈥� said Head-Skogland, 26. 鈥淚 love the idea that everyone adds value to the whole. Everyone has a role.鈥�

The current layout features a lobby with departmental wings branching out in different directions. Head-Skogland suggested 鈥渕ixing people up,鈥� that is, driving together employees of different divisions 鈥� even the executives.

Especially the executives, she said.

鈥淚t’s been fun to watch my company handle this evolution,鈥� she said.

At JE Dunn, the new office was designed to maximize employee interaction. But an even larger measure of the success might the location 鈥� the Pearl is a far cry from the North Columbia neighborhood where the firm was previously located, said Darin Stegemoller, general manager of Northwest operations.

鈥淩eally, environment and culture are a big part of attracting and keeping good talent. That goes for younger employees as well as older,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s important for employees to have a place where they’re proud to work.鈥�

Aside from a 鈥渇un space鈥� 鈥� replete with ping pong, shuffleboard and darts 鈥� employee tournaments are held with an eye toward bolstering morale. The new digs are just a short walk to the nearest brewery 鈥� 72 steps, according to Stegemoller 鈥� and downtown’s myriad offerings.

With JE Dunn’s staff now settled in, Stegemoller is calling the move a definite success.

鈥淓veryone loves it. It’s created a whole new energy and buzz,鈥� he said.

While JE Dunn keeps about 35 employees at the facility, Stegemoller says his firm is taking resumes.

鈥淲e are always looking for great people,鈥� he said.