Category Archives: Office Space Planning

Open Office and Closed Workspaces – Why Choose?

Posted on by

Office space planning sketchIn recent years, many professional experts and studies have devoted themselves to advocating open office spaces and how they improve office productivity and employee morale. It was put forward that open work spaces encouraged more collaboration, as well as removing constricting walls that made some office workers feel more like drones than employees. Soon, office space planning was overloaded with open work space designs. Gone were the square cubicle of past decades- now employers were investing in bright, open spaces and shared desks. Unfortunately, when it comes to office space planning, it is no longer a one size fits all concept. In 2018, we began to see an increasing attention to what works for employees, not what particular trend is being pushed by these “experts”.

Open Vs Closed Office Work Spaces

While many businesses were quick to embrace an open floor plan for their offices, it may not have been the best choice for all industries, or even for all employees. Open floor concepts can work wonderfully for collaborative teams, where a group of people are working on one project to achieve the same goal. It makes it easier to discuss ideas, compare different aspects of a project, and share information.

However, no matter what industry you are in, open work spaces can also run the risk of distractions, noise, and unhappy employees whose different work styles may not mesh well. With this in mind, we are seeing an emergence of a different kind of closed workspace. Individual workstations, as well as a smart use of space are becoming more and more popular. We are also seeing the rise of designated room spaces, like lounges and cafe-like setups where employees can enjoy a quiet space that is respected by everyone else. This provides a welcome respite from a co-worker who has to constantly be on the phone, or to get away from whatever collaborative process is taking place elsewhere.

Considering Your Industry and Your Employee Needs

Not every industry should or can embrace the open office space concept, for varying reasons. For example, a financial advising company who deals in confidential information and deals would not be wise to indulge in such a concept. With so much confidential information floating around, they might consider putting their own spin on it, such as glass barriers and formal meeting rooms to ensure privacy. A marketing agency, which can have different departments and considerations, can consider dividing their departments in a way to fit their needs. Many companies that are concerned with a professional demeanor and appearance can find open offices to be too chaotic to present to clients, therefore sticking to grouped cubicles or different types of enclosed offices.

Office Space Planning Should Be About More than Open or Closed Spaces

When it comes to how you want to handle office space planning, it is much more complicated than choosing cubicles or shared desks. It is about your employees and they way they work, your industry needs, and your own particular taste. At Indoff Commercial Interiors, Kim Gregory will help you decide not just what office chairs and desks will provide the face you want for your business, but she can also help you analyze and choose the best way to organize your office space for maximum productivity and employee morale. Give us a call today!

The Changing Tides of Office Space Planning

Posted on by

beautifully modern office space with glass partitionsMost people might not consider the fact that smart and successful companies take great consideration in how they organize their employees within their office space. The configuration of workers within a work space can profoundly impact productivity, office morale and culture, as well as fostering territory for creativity and problem solving. At the same time, office space planning reflects the changing trends in how people work and how they feel about their work. Here at Indoff Commercial Interiors we study these changing trends and how they help companies thrive, grow, and prosper.

The Early Stages

Early work spaces tended to put a greater emphasis on strict efficiency and often crowded workers in an open environment while the higher ups watched from an office behind closed doors. This was reminiscent of factory setups where the boss watched the workers from an elevated office. These early spaces focused solely on action and gave workers very little private space, individuality, or room for growth.

This then evolved into the well known cubicle. This was an era of office space planning focused solely on conserving space and resources. This led to rows and rows of square shaped areas separated with modular walls. These setups are infamous for creating a dull, robotic, and monotonous environment where the water cooler was the only respite from the isolating and impersonal spaces of the cubicle.

Modern Changes

The modern office world has made an attempt at tackling these traditional layouts, breaking them up, and integrating the need for a freer exchange of ideas. Many of the new concepts in office space planning include words such as co-working, cross-pollination, an incubation. All ideas that promote creative thinking and a richer environment that propels workflow and progress. The art of office space planning today is a delicate balance between privacy and communal work spaces that allow for more collaboration and engagement.

Design Productivity

Turn your office into more than just a place where people work.  With the right arrangement, your office will not only look great, but it will incite your employees to be more productive, creative, and propel your  company forward to better fulfill your mission and objectives. Call Indoff Commercial Interiors and join the revolution of creative office space planning and transform your business today.