Gone are the days of gray cubicles and corner offices, when color palettes and
furnishings were more important to the design of a commercial space than the
environmental impact, social elements, and overall performance of that space. Design
is about layout, psychographics, and function. As a building owner, it is important to
provide well-designed spaces for tenants. Here are some current commercial office
design trends, and why they’re important for your building and your business.
Creating Identity to Represent Your Brand
A company’s brand is a representation of the core factors of their business philosophy.
It’s the culture of the company. It is meant to inspire staff, reassure partners and
investors, and energize clients. Creating an office environment that represents your
brand through construction, layout, and interior design, provides a daily reminder to
employees and patrons of what your business stands for.
Building a sense of identity within an office space emboldens employees by giving
them a better sense of the company’s goals, while modern and stylish designs inspire
creativity. It is important to keep your employees in mind when designing the space,
because it’s crucial that your staff feels comfortable and productive. Take into account
the psychographics (the attitudes, personalities, ambitions, etc.) of your staff to build
an identity which represents your brand.
Using Space to Your Advantage
When designing commercial space it is always important to take into account the
reason the space is needed. Functionality can either entice or repel future tenants.
Activity-based planning takes into account the mental and physical needs of tenants,
while maintaining an open and productive work space. This design moves away from
the cramped cubicles of the last century and allows workers to roam the office easily.
Activity-based and collaborative work environments have been on the rise since the
start of the 21st century, with tech-based companies leading the way.
More open space for employees means less private space for upper management. In
many commercial buildings, renovations are shrinking or outright removing the
classic “Corner Office” in favor of more employee-friendly work spaces. Office
environments that enhance the experience of employees, create a happier and more
productive work space.
This type of operation-based work offers employees different options when it comes
to where, how, and when they work. Various work settings that take into account
different needs and tasks can include collaborative areas, individual concentration
stations, and personalized workstations for your employees.
Go Green in More Ways than One
One of the biggest changes in office space design in the 21st century is that
environmentally conscious building has gone from an optimistic hope to a general
standard. Structures are consistently being built with greener building techniques, but
that only partially makes up creating a sustainable office environment.
Keep in mind the health of your employees and clients when developing design
strategies. Something as simple as developing more attractive stairwells can inspire
tenants to use avoid elevators.
Also embrace recyclable and low-waste materials in your space. It’s often not enough
to build green, designers must create areas where people can live green for years to
come.
Overall, it is not difficult to update your commercial property to the new standards in
office design. Functionality is key, and with offices embracing a more open-based,
collaborative work model, developing spaces which fit the needs of employees goes a
long way. Sustainability is also important, if not expected, when it comes to building
out a commercial space. Renewable and recyclable resources are only part of the
process, as builders need to take the wellness of staff in mind as well. Finally, you want
to make sure that your brand and cultural identity are being represented visually in
your office building. With corporations focusing on the people they employ and the
communities in which they produce, office spaces are starting to reflect that personal
touch.
Contact Hannig Construction, Inc. today for any design/build construction needs you have!