In recent years, the traditional office space has needed to evolve rapidly to keep up with the way businesses now occupy the workplace.
The option for flexible and hybrid working has largely influenced the rapid changes in what defines an ‘office space’, and now it is essential for companies to respond to these new demands and reconfigure their work environments.
The Office for National Statistics reported in 2022 that 84% of workers who had to work from home throughout the pandemic planned to continue hybrid working in the future.
Where offices were previously designed to be used 5 days a week from 9am to 5pm, the workspace must now be optimised to be a hub for employees where they can come to collaborate, meet with clients, and socialise in person rather than online.
Companies no longer require assigned desks for each member of staff and are now focused on re-evaluating their current office space and re-designing large floor plans to get more out of the space, reduce their overheads, and create a flexible, productive working environment.
Office space planning, put simply, is the optimisation of your workplace environment through maximising the existing available space to meet the needs and demands of your staff.
During the process of office space planning, it is important for businesses to firstly analyse how their staff use the office space, and how the current office furniture and technology fit into it.
Through taking the time to understand how your staff operate within the office environment, and how your technology functions within it will allow you to create an office space plan that maximises the existing space and benefits the business and its people.
Where there has been an influx of companies now embracing a hybrid working model and implementing agile working solutions, there has been an increase of businesses looking to downsize their office space and restructure in order to reduce rent and save money. As well as this, office space planning provides many other benefits, including:
At Building Interiors, our in-house expertise and experience allows us to understand all of your requirements and needs. Define, Design, Deliver is the 3-step process we use to ensure we create a workspace that meets the demands of your business and its staff.
Taking the time to understand your vision, values, and goals is one of the top priorities in the design process. Whether you are moving into a new office, or simply looking to re-design your current one we will work with you to understand your office requirements and your company brand and culture to create a new office design that is bespoke to your needs, and will provide maximum return for your company.
Creating an effective office space whilst keeping within the restraints of a budget is key to achieving success in the eyes of all stakeholders.
After the define stage, we bring together the best designs and the highest quality products to create a space that works for your business, staff, and clients, all whilst keeping in-line with your budget.
At this stage, our priority is delivering your new office design on-time and within your budget.
During the process, we take care of you and your building by planning and managing the implementation of our designs effectively and with minimal fuss. Our attention to detail is unparalleled, allowing us to guarantee high-quality work and health and safety adherence, all whilst sticking to your budget.
As working practices continue to evolve, companies are being forced to re-evaluate their current office space and look at more ways to optimise their working environments.
Though office trend predictions in 2023 suggest that more staff will potentially look to migrate back into the office on a more regular basis, it looks like hybrid working will continue to be popular for years to come. If this remains to be the case, companies must consider how they will make the most of their workspace whilst occupancy remains low.
Through analysing your current workspace, and assessing how it is used, you can use this evidence to inform design decisions to ensure you are maximising your office space. To get a real, first-hand insight into this, it’s important to speak to your staff – after all, they are the people who will be using the space the most.
Speaking to a workplace consultant or office design expert will also be important to ensure your ideas are implemented effectively into your office design. If you’d like to speak to one of our friendly team members, you can call us on 0113 388 6522. Alternatively, you can also email us at contact@buildinginteriorsgroup.co.uk.