How to Design a Flexible Workplace

The way everyone thinks about office design has changed drastically. This has been spurred by the pandemic, the Great Resignation, and the economy.?

The in-house Workspace Design Team at Vari has created over 6,000 unique designs for clients trying to adapt their offices to the “new way to work.” Through this process, we have identified three core concepts for future office design, with flexibility coming out on top.?

First up is flexibility.?

A hybrid model is about more than just the location of your team on a given day. We’ve seen more companies make efforts to rethink their traditional office spaces. Just like employees had to make design changes in their homes to allow for remote work, like adding a dedicated workspace, companies must also make design changes to their offices to accommodate hybrid work.?

Simply put, put your team first when designing the space. Office designs need to cater to the office's new role. With a clear distinction of value, employees will be motivated to come in and use the space for its re-envisioned purpose.??

Ultimately, your design needs to be unique to your team. Here are some questions to consider:

• Are you only in the office a few days each week?
• Do you have employees in the field or traveling often?
• Is only a portion of your space needed for hot desks??

Not sure how to design a flexible workplace? Download our guide.

Carefully consider what the goal is for time spent at the office.

• Is this a collaborative group?
• Are they coming in for structured meetings or presentations?
• Is there adequate space for focus work?
• Are they looking for informal places for one-on-one meetings??

The office must account for each of these topics to be flexible. These responses will shape your design approach but can vary company by company and team by team. Designing with the freedom to change allows you to play around with your space as you get the right setup and create a place people want to work.?

Another element of flexibility in the workplace is energy. Be sure to create energy intentionally. Here are some questions you can use as a starting point.?

• Do you use music in public areas to help set a tone or energy for a space?
• Does your team need a space or privacy booth to make phone calls or video conferences?
• Have you considered sound-dampening materials in your space?

The key is to implement wellness concepts at multiple levels. For example, in our experience of working with design firms and directly with clients, we’ve seen the impact workspaces can have on employees' physical and mental health.?

The office, by nature, is a passive space, and we’ve seen the ailments that can result from sitting for hours on end every day. Therefore, incorporating movement into the workday supports employee well-being and comfort.?

Remember, wellness is best implemented when it’s well-rounded—factoring in your employees' mind, body, and spirit. Each element needs to be considered, from comfortable working conditions and positive team morale to physical and mental support.?

Keep an eye out for more office design ideas here. If you’d like to be the first to know about these workplace trends and dive deeper into flexible workplaces, download the Vari Workplace Design Guide: https://bit.ly/Vari-Design-Guide