This episode of Fika Friday at the Office takes us to Seattle, where I sat down with Emmanuel Daniel — a pioneer in workplace digitization, former global head of smart buildings at Microsoft, and now the founder of his own consulting firm, Alosanar. Emmanuel imagines spaces that learn, evolve, and connect with the people inside them.
With over 200 projects across 30+ countries under his belt, Emmanuel has transformed how workplaces are built and experienced. In this conversation, we explore why data alone isn’t enough, why AI needs good architecture (both technical and human), and how the most powerful workplace experiences often begin with a simple idea: treat people like people.
From Microsoft Megaprojects to People-Centered Design
Before launching Alosanar, Emmanuel led the modernization of Microsoft’s East Campus, a sprawling project focused less on architectural showpieces and more on meaningful employee experiences. Instead of starting with space or even services, his team mapped the human journey, building around life stages, not just job roles.
“Needs change. A single person’s needs are different from someone with a family. Over time, you grow, your life evolves, and the workplace should evolve with you.”
It was a radical shift in thinking. They curated over 1,000 possible experience points, ultimately prioritizing 200 that would impact daily life, from when someone leaves home to when they log off for the day. Social hubs, seamless Wi-Fi handoffs, intelligent parking, all designed around actual human behavior.
Why AI Starts With the Right Data
Fast-forward to today, and Emmanuel is focused on what’s next: buildings that don’t just run efficiently, but respond to people, context, and need. And that starts with organizing the data.
With AI at the center of future workplace strategy, Emmanuel sees a massive opportunity, but also a critical challenge. You can’t train useful AI without good data. Buildings that are “alive,” he says, will soon sense and react to our preferences, needs, and habits, but only if we give them the right information to learn from.
Imagine a space that prepares your coffee before you even step inside. Or greets you personally with a “Good morning, Ram.” Emmanuel believes we’re not far from this world.
High-Tech Meets High-Touch
Despite his technical credentials, Emmanuel is a champion of human connection. In his view, the best workplaces blend automation with emotion. A warm hello from a receptionist matters more than a generic robot greeting. And a well-designed coffee corner can drive more innovation than a formal meeting.
He’s equally passionate about hospitality in the workplace: not just amenities, but intentional experiences that make people feel seen. Whether it’s a favorite lunch spot or a curated welcome moment, Emmanuel believes every interaction shapes how we relate to the spaces we work in.
Designing for Life
What sets Emmanuel apart is his focus on the life cycle of the employee. He designs with an awareness that careers, families, habits, and needs evolve. A recent grad craves social learning and peer interaction. A parent might prioritize flexibility and safety. An executive wants clarity and control.
“The only constant is the human, everything else changes. We need buildings that flex with us.”
And that’s what Alosanar aims to deliver: spatial strategies that evolve as people do, integrating physical design, digital infrastructure, and cultural understanding.
Final Thoughts
Emmanuel Daniel brings deep technical expertise, but his real gift lies in how he centers people, their journeys, their emotions, their evolving needs, within the complexity of digital workplace transformation. Whether designing a smart campus or advising on AI strategy, his message is consistent: spaces should think, but they should also care.
If you’re building workplaces that are meant to last, and to inspire, this episode is a blueprint worth studying. From coffee to code, Emmanuel reminds us that great spaces start with one question: what do people need to thrive?
Listen to the full episode with Emmanuel Daniel for a look into the future of experience-driven, human-centered workplaces. Catch Fika Friday at the Office wherever you get your podcasts.
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