The new office design

Designing an office for the future

Expectations on returning to a safe workplace are soaring, allowing for social distancing and improved building automation: door handles, faucets, high tech equipment, ventilation and lighting controls are some of the functions we want to avoid touching. At the same time the post pandemic office is believed to be a place for interaction and team work, a social hub and the heart of knowledge sharing. All this puts new pressure on architectural design which for instance will now need to consider multiple entrances and exits, functional flows, zones, building in building technologies etcetera.

To deliver on all expectations there are several refurbishment trends to be inspired by, but a new layout will not be the single solution, nor will the indoor climate be so. Nonetheless, ventilation and air quality will be the most challenging task in the new office era. Clear emphasis should be put on achieving optimal indoor environmental quality since it has a measurable positive impact on cognitive performance, strategic thinking and well-being.

Sources: Whitman, Clayton (2020) A look into the workplace post-covid 19: the “anti office” | Architect Today (2021) Going touch free | Mattson, Jan. Fastighetsnytt (2021) Arkitektur post covid: hur ska arbetsgivarna locka tillbaka personalen till kontoret? | Rosenbaum, Eric. CNBC (2021) Amazon’s top doctor on why air quality is the biggest workplace health challenge of this century

New office layout, new criteria for the indoor environmental quality

Depending on the characteristics of the business, different types of office layouts may be considered in the new office era. To examplify, in a “six feet” office distance will be visualised and reduce the risk of carelessness or negligence, but may not encourage or enable teamwork and employee interaction. A hotelisation layout will bring comfort from the hospitality sector and due to the larger size of the furniture create distance by design but still enable coworking. Some might forsake the former ever so popular activity based, space optimised office and consider an array of spaces with a variety of ambient and functional attributes to allow a varied office experience. Others might add new elements such as a staircase, which allows high, airy ceilings and enable chance encounters between colleagues.

What happens though when we change the criteria for the indoor environment quality? Temperature and air flow, inlet of day light, humidity from biophilic design and more have a direct impact on the indoor environmental quality and are important to carefully consider when renovating, refurbishing or expanding the office.

Read our blog What is IEQ and why is it important?

Sources: Wilson, Mark. Fastcompany (2020) Our offices will never be the same after covid-19. Here is what they could look like | WSP (2021) How will covid-19 change demand for office space? | Morgan, Kate (2021) What is the purpose of the office – and do we still need it? | Viscus Partners (2021) 6 office space trends for 2022

The office needs to be a balanced workplace which supports people in all aspects of their lives

Morgan Lovell (2021) The balanced workplace and the office of the future

An office location or a place for success?

The office location has become a subject of discussion as workplace mobility is assumed to become the new normal. Some people are more reluctant to long time commuting and many have found a new work life balance not to dispense. Therefore, some argue that a number of attractive offices might be opening in the suburbs, closer to the employees. The city office then becomes more of a brand statement, a place to appeal and retain talents and customers, to expose products and reflect company values. While some believe in this “hub and spoke”-model, others strongly believe in the survival of the downtown workplace, but with a bit of change. The conception of business districts are believed to become more varied. Offices are thought to be increasingly mixed with apartments, gym and other amenities, wining and dining. Entire areas will turn into highly accessible and vibrant zones of everyday life, destinations with a purpose worth visiting, sometimes called 20-minute neighbourhoods.

No matter the location, creating successful new offices in one shape or another is not just about making change. It will require a new mindset as tenant character may change in a more rapid pace, when competence rather than attendance is hired and the expectations of four generations will influence everything about the workplace. It will be important to get the “placemaking” of the office right, and flexibility is definitely the key to quickly adapt to changing circumstances.

Read our blog Flexibility - a winning concept

Sources: Robinson, Bryan. Forbes (2021) ‘Hub-and-spoke’: the new office model of the future, expert says | Enterprise Nation (2021) Future office: how to shape well-being and work

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