Trends That Impact Office Space Designs

Every year, new research on the built environment emerges, offering helpful insight into how workplace design trends may affect employee wellness, productivity, talent retention, and much more. With the last year's events casting most projections into doubt, we've reconvened, recalibrated, and evaluated 2021's key office design trends, taking COVID-19 into account.

Companies worldwide are implementing more sustainable work practices, technology innovation is pushing change, and a human-centred emphasis on employee well-being transforms the way we live and work. As office design specialists react to these signals, you'll want to keep up with the top 5 office design trends mentioned below.

? Pop-up privacy booths.

The open office floor layout, formerly restricted to secretarial pools in the 1940s, has become the standard. Companies believe that open desk environments may stimulate innovation and cooperation, not to mention the economic advantages of devoting less square footage per employee.

? Activity-based planning is key to space design.

Workers now have more activities to select from despite having a limited workspace. There is now room for a coffee shop, a library, a resource centre, and maybe a café, in addition to all of the small private rooms. A customer in London built a whole wall of these little enclaves. There was a couch, a desk, a chair, a laptop connection, and a phone connection in each room.

? Burolandschaft in the twenty-first century.

We anticipate that the office layout will transition away from straight lines and rows of open plan desking and toward team clusters or neighbourhoods with dedicated, established rooms, places, and resources for that particular team or group.

It's a return to what was known as Burolandschaft, a German notion that translates to "office landscape" and was popular in northern Europe in the 1960s. It advocated for a less rigorous approach to workplace design and emphasised satisfying the demands of the employees. As a consequence, the workplace has become more open, with workstations and teams clustered together.

? A strong emphasis on health and well-being.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management data, the most desired employee perk is health care coverage. This emphasis on well-being is transferring to the working environment. In October 2019, for example, Room collaborated with the meditation app Calm to build a meditation booth for business usage. Other health areas, such as sleep pods, have become commonplace in cutting-edge workplaces.

? Employee Appeal

Recruiting and keeping excellent personnel is a major corporate priority. Millennials, in particular, are looking for jobs that complement their way of life. This often entails occupations with stimulating, enjoyable, and pleasant working conditions. Shared spaces and enticing food offers are popular features. Workout rooms, outdoor break places, and leisure opportunities are also included on the list. When these elements are combined, they communicate the impression that companies care about their workers' well-being. This workplace design trend may make or break their job search for a large portion of the talent pool.

In the Future

In the post-pandemic environment, agility, defined as the capacity to move rapidly and smoothly, will be critical. Occupants of the future will expect more from office space in terms of flexibility and services. The flexible workspace sector, which is known for its customer-centricity, is well-positioned to capitalise on this evolving demand and assist in aligning commercial real estate with changing business demands.