Part of our job as an office tenant rep is to help guide our clients into office space that is ideal for their business. There are many decisions to make along the way. Office space design is one we get involved in frequently. It can make a huge difference to the bottom line. Your office space design is a crucial element in productivity and attracting, engaging and retaining talented employees. A well designed office space is not only functional, but also provides comfortable work stations for employees that are designed to allow them to be as productive as possible. Here are four of the more important consideration to take into account when planning your next office design.
- Convenience Breeds Productivity: For greatest productivity, group employees together in your office space design according to their functions. It creates a sense of community and helps build teams. For example, put the people who process invoices close to accounting personnel. This enables closely related departments to consult with each other as needed without hindrance, thus streamlining your process. When planning an office design, put together a list of key tasks each group of employees performs. This will help you put related groups closer together.
- Efficient Work Space: To maximize productivity, provide work space large enough to allow for placement of any and all documents used by employee as well as their office equipment. Position them closest to the copiers, postage machines, or any other equipment they use often. Provide comfortable chair and proper lighting to reduce muscle aches and eyestrain, which hurt productivity.
- Private Spaces vs. Open Plan: In an open plan, employees work at communal tables or low walled cubicles that allow them to interact with each other. Many companies favor this option because it improves communication and encourages team work and collaboration. It also reduces the amount of office space needed, reducing overhead. If your employees perform tasks which require intense concentration, then private spaces are more optimal.
- Communal and Focus Spaces: Place conference and focus rooms close to employee work stations and allow enough room for the different groups that will use them. Focus spaces are especially important for employees in open office layouts. It is someplace they can go when they need to concentrate; to allow them to be more focused on a task. Make sure informal communal spaces are large enough to hold several employees at a time in comfort and placed well away from formal areas to keep noise from disrupting other meetings.
Following these office space design guidelines will help you make better decisions concerning your next office space design plan and make for a more efficient and productive work area. For more information on any aspect of renting or leasing office space, contact us today. We have local office tenant reps throughout the US and Canada who will help you at no cost to you..