Office space can be expensive, so it’s important that you use the space you have wisely and think very carefully before setting up your office layout.
I believe that the design of an office is much more than where the desks are placed; it is also about where employees will sit and be comfortable while working, what equipment is needed and where it should be located to enable staff to do their jobs efficiently. Office space planning is crucial. The way an office is laid out can not only affect your staff, but it can also influence how customers and visitors perceive your business.
When deciding on your office plan, there are a number of layouts to consider, although your choice should depend on what you want to achieve with the final scheme.
Some organizations may have staff members who require quiet areas to work to concentrate or handle confidential information, for example, a lawyer’s office; a closed office scheme would be more preferable. A closed office layout is where individuals or small departments/groups have their own office space that allows them to isolate themselves from noise and other potential distractions.
On the other hand, some organizations require and actively encourage communication between employees and departments, for example, advertising agencies. In this case, an open-plan office would be preferable, as the open-plan ethos is said to boost creativity. In an ‘open’ office, the layout needs to be carefully thought out as most of the time staff with different job functions will be using the same area. If space is limited, the office layout becomes even more important to make sure the space doesn’t get too crowded. Introducing desk or office screen panels into an open plan layout can give staff some element of privacy should they need it, without losing the open plan feel.
Although open plan offices are great for communication, sometimes there is a need for private conversations and/or meetings. If this is the case, ‘hot’ meeting rooms and/or offices could be pushed against the walls at the perimeter of the space so as not to deviate from the open plan culture. Using a glass office partition to create the bonus room would still allow light to flow through the open plan space.
Depending on the style or needs of your business, you may want to consider having a mix of open and closed plan layouts.
Regardless of the office layout you choose, access and emergency routes should be clearly defined to ensure people can move easily and quickly.
Office rehabilitation does not always involve a large structural work. It may just be to carefully consider what type of office layout best suits your company and make some adjustments. This can only benefit the organization as I believe that the right office design can go a long way in increasing productivity, boosting morale and impressing clients and visitors.
