The traditional office concept no longer works
Six important workplace changes
Due to the significant increase in working from home and the positive experiences that we have had, the workplace in the office will structurally change. The way of working will permanently change, along with the layout of the office environment. The traditional office concept with only basic workspaces and meeting rooms is no longer sufficient. To maintain connection with employees and ensure work effectiveness, adaptation is necessary. The changes are in full swing. There are six.
Six important workplace changes
1 – Basic activities don’t need to be in the office
An office is not absolutely necessary for purely basic activities. These tasks can essentially be performed just as well in the living room, at the kitchen table, or in another home workspace. The importance of space for basic activities will gradually decrease in offices in the future.
2 – Greater need for focus zones in the office
While some people have always appreciated working from home as a sanctuary, for others, it means the exact opposite. Children, housemates, or construction sites can make it hard to find peace at home, and the office is primarily valued as a refuge. Companies are challenged to create more effective focus zones in the future.
3 – Classic meeting rooms less important in the office
Thanks to digital meeting tools, classic meetings for exchanging information can be held with consistent success, regardless of location. The importance of classic meeting rooms will gradually decrease in the future, just like basic activities.
4 – Create co-creation spaces in the office
Effective digital tools are now available for co-creation, but the effect is not the same as in a face-to-face meeting. The importance of effective areas for co-creation will increase, and companies will be called upon to provide these.
5 – Make room for informal exchanges in the office
Real physical interaction does not occur or only occurs to a very limited extent when working from home. Yet people long for it, not only in their private lives but also in a professional context. The importance of common spaces will therefore also increase.
6 – Design a good space for video meetings
Meeting with teams and between teams online, offline, and combined is becoming increasingly important. The design of a space for video meetings involves much more than just the latest technological advancements in audio and video. Both are, of course, important for a successful design of such spaces. But a good design of a video conference room involves much more than that. Think about the room layout, lighting, video technology, audio technology, and the acoustics of the space.
How are things with you?
The importance of basic workspaces and classic meeting rooms will decrease. Organizations will be encouraged to offer more focus zones, co-creation spaces, and informal exchange areas. This development marks a radical change from the traditional office concept (which still prevails in a large part of companies). The traditional office concept works precisely according to the principle of ‘standard workspaces plus meeting rooms.’ In other words, the significance is diminishing for the spaces that are now essential.
Together with our partner Akoesta, we realize effective office environments that respond to the changing circumstances in the workplace. And tailored to the culture and branding of your organization.
Total Approach Expospaces
Expospaces is happy to think along and advise you on your office layout. Want to know more? Please contact us.
