Post Pandemic Office Design Trends…
With the return of the office just a matter of days away, companies are under pressure to provide their employees with a work environment that trumps their sofas.
The office is no longer considered just a place to work. It is now destination that should provide both professional and personal satisfaction.
Throughout the pandemic we have continued to help businesses understand what it is their employees need, in order to help them create spaces that are worth commuting for.
Offices will now need to work harder than ever before, and our designers have faced some of their biggest challenges yet to ensure all requirements are considered.
So what does the post-pandemic office look like? Our designers share their thoughts based on the various trends they have seen surface within the last few months:
Employers now need to show a true understanding of their employees professional and personal needs.
- Profiling your staff to gain insights into their personality nuances and requirements (This doesn’t mean profiling what their job means they need, but their needs outside of this based on who they are and how they behave).
- How comfortable they are in loud environments? How physically able they are? And how often they want to be surrounded by people?
If there is one thing the last year has taught us, it’s the importance of having a change of scenery. Not everyone wants to be in the same place every day, and employers need to cater to this.
- Workspaces must provide people with a wealth of environments to support their different working needs. Whether it’s an open plan breakout space for hot-desking and employee interaction, phone booths for those head down moments, or a large events space for company-wide presentations – Variety is key.
- Flexibility and agile working is a trend that’s been around for a while, but they have never been more important for attracting and retaining staff than than they are today.
Future Proofing :
- How can we design a space that adapts to the unknown? Every detail needs to have flexibility in mind.
- We will never know what the future holds, so business owners and designers will need to work together to find solutions that allow for future scenarios.
- Design adaptability is not just about moving furniture. It’s about the building infrastructure, the mechanical and lighting systems, as well as the materials and aesthetic elements.
Employee wellbeing:
- This is a trend that has been around for many years now. However, the pandemic has accelerated this to the forefront of office design and other industries alike. Businesses must show their employees that they are valued and cared for – and our environments are vital in supporting this.
- The pandemic has reminded us of the importance of work/ life balance. Mental health figures have hit an all-time low, so businesses now need to do what they can to support their employees and enable them to be the best they can be. After all, how much more productive are we once we have had a recharge and some down time?
Technology/ AV:
- Zoom calls are not going to disappear over night, and technology’s role in connecting us with one another has never been more significant. Businesses need to ensure they have smooth and easy to use processes in place to support their people in doing their jobs to the best of their abilities.
- Smart offices are here, and they are here to stay – So business owners and operation managers will need to evaluate their technical facilities and ensure their workspace is up to speed.