5 Cutting-Edge Office Designs Shaped by the Pandemic
UK Coaching Meeting Booths Designed by ACI
Working from home has become the norm during the pandemic, but with more and more companies’ imminent return to the office, businesses are starting to encounter fresh challenges in how to adapt workplaces to embrace the new reality.
The pandemic reshaped pre-existing design trends in the commercial sector with offices now having to obey to the six-feet rule for the time being. As we adapt to the post-pandemic world we have seen the return to office as an opportunity to push our creative boundaries to design even more innovative and innate environments, as we leave behind the open plan desk filled workspace.
So what are some of the future proof design principles shaped by the pandemic and how can we help you provide your employees with a safe place to return to?
1. Reinvented Collaborative Spaces
If every meeting required a physically built room before, we are now starting to see an increase in collaborative spaces designed purposefully for teams to use for informal meetings.
Meeting pods and booths are a great example of a post-pandemic collaborative space and they have become a staple of the modern workplace.
As the name suggests, meeting pods are used to create areas within a workplace which most likely aren`t as big or fixed as a board room.
Not only do they provide with some privacy and confidentiality, but pods can also be used as a rejuvenation space where staff can recharge and refresh.
This micro-environment within the wider ecosystem of a work environment seems exactly what we need to offer users a place for distraction-free focus.
Booths come in all shapes and sizes and there are an abundance of features that can be added in terms of colours, texture, fabric and technology integration. If you`d like to know more about which would best suit your work environment, just give us a call at 01423 789678 and we`ll be happy to assist.
2. Quiet Zones
Now that employees have become tuned in to working from a peaceful home, companies will also have to consider the ambient noise levels in offices.
Phone Booths Installed for RDC Aviation
With an increased need for privacy, it is predicted there will be a great request for more semi-enclosed spaces and acoustic supportive products providing insulation for noise control.
Phone booths are another great way to support businesses with a place for their employees to go for privacy, in times when even a simple phone call can feel like an intrusion to your co-workers.
Most phone booths have four walls and a roof, with sound absorbent panelling, active ventilation systems and power for your laptop and USB devices.
As an average business are taking a third less space than they did just nine years ago, the potential benefits of booths and phone booths are very real, as a booth has the ability to turn a particularly wide hallway into a row of short-term private spaces.
3. Natural Features Translated into Office Design
The purpose of bringing the outside in is also translated into office design by the utilisation of biophilic features. There is proven data that these natural accents reduce stress, improve cognitive function and enhance mood and creativity.
An increasing body of evidence shows that incorporating nature into your working environment can help with things like decreasing stress and increasing productivity, creativity and attention span.
Thanks to the pandemic, employers are now realising the benefits of a WELL design workspace and have the chance to create a work environment with their staff’s wellbeing in mind.
4. Breakout Areas
With fewer options for entertainment out there, we have to start to look at ways to use technology and spaces to make the time spent in the office more entertaining and enriching.
We have seen an increase in businesses looking to convert spaces to create fun, connective and relaxed areas for people to have breaks in, chat, play or exercise.
Think TVs and hybrid offices with libraries and cultural labs, rooms for sports, games or puzzles and cosy seating with sofas laid out to encourage productive hangouts.
5. Pops of Colour
As we return to the office, understanding the impact of colour in the workplace and on employees wellbeing is crucial.
As companies are trying to make the transition back into the office as seamless as possible, colour psychology can help ease post-pandemic workplace anxiety.
For instance, including green in your office design can induce feelings of peacefulness and help reduce anxiety in employees, while hues on the greyscale are known for making people feel balanced and calm.
Orange can bring about a feeling of warmth and comfort, whereas white can convey feelings of cleanliness and freshness.
These workplace design principles are the real proof that we are quickly saying good-bye to cluttered and uninspiring working environments, and a big hello to flexible, vibrant and innate environments that support us to work how and where we need for the daily tasks at hand.
Next Steps
The office as we knew it before the pandemic is a thing of the past.
If you recognise the need to adapt your workspace but aren’t sure how, our workplace specialists would love to help you find the right opportunities to move your business and your people in the right direction!
In fact, we’re currently offering a free 1-hour consultation with one of our workplace specialists to help you get the ball rolling. Complete the form below to get in touch and we can get your session booked in!
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