Today’s most productive and efficient corporate workspaces are not run-of-the-mill, generic environments that are heavy on function, but limited when it comes style, sophistication and stimulation. Rather, as noted by the UK’s Guardian newspaper, “the smart modern office is an all-round sensory experience designed to make people feel good and more creative”.
In light of this vision, here are 5 best practices for corporate office design that you may want to incorporate into your refresh, redesign, or re-invention plan:
- Enable Collaboration
Many office layouts and designs ironically prevent teams and workgroups from collaborating, and as such there is a proliferation of silos and islands. An open office concept (sometimes called a collaborative office) can dramatically improve knowledge sharing, problem solving, communication and cooperation.
- Bring in Natural Light
As noted by Forbes, adding windows so that employees can enjoy a view of the outdoors correlated to a 16 percent boost in performance. If this is not possible or financially feasible, then putting up soothing artwork and other esthetically-pleasing visuals can also help.
- Optimize the Temperature
According to a Career Builder survey, 23 percent of employees think their office is too cold, while 25 percent think it is too hot. What’s more, 20 percent of employees have argued with colleagues about the temperature, and 18 percent have covertly changed the temperature to make it more tolerable. Obviously, as Abraham Lincoln sagely observed, “you cannot please all of the people all of the time.” However, you can certainly upgrade (or perhaps just fix!) your environmental systems so that the temperature is optimized and comfortable.
- Focus on Space Optimization – no Maximization
Many corporate offices focus on space maximization – i.e. getting the most usage out of existing rooms, corridors, etc. However, it is much more effective to focus on space optimization, which takes into consideration traffic and workflow needs. Including this fundamental consideration as part of your office design can significantly improve productivity and performance.
- Use “Homey” Elements
Employees typically spend more time at work than they do almost everywhere else – and in many cases, this includes their home! As such, you can enhance corporate culture – and of course, boost performance, productivity and results – by adding “homey” elements, such as couches, bean bag chairs, kitchen tables in the lunch room, and so on.
Learn More
To learn more about corporate office design best practices to consider and potentially adopt in your environment, contact the team at Key Interiors today. Your consultation with us is free.
