Improving the distribution of office space

The most recent studies carried out in space management and optimization show that at least 50% of traditional workplaces in Europe are, so far, permanently empty. Therefore, the owners certainly want to try to change their current workspaces for more flexible ones where not only the distribution of the space is improved for its greater use, but the change generates convenient improvements in the costs of the investment made in the office.

We know that the ways of working in the office have changed, pointing more and more to remote work, satellite office, and other concepts related to sustainability. This is based on the situation in which the world finds itself due to the global pandemic, and just as the world will not be the same once the pandemic ends, the changes in the offices are adaptations that are thought of as permanent, wanting to give way to a new concept of office and space.

Currently, following these ideas, a kind of ‘menu’ of spaces has been developed in each of the areas where the human being operates, and in the case of offices so that the worker is free to choose a work area freely. According to their needs at the moment: open and closed workstations, individual or team workrooms, and the always important informal or rest areas.

Let’s see some elements to take into account according to the flexible office model that is required:

Prioritize informal meeting spaces. Because the interaction between employees is essential for the work processes to be carried out successfully, therefore, promoting informal spaces to optimize productivity and well-being are key.

Have a variety in the type of spaces. Undoubtedly, the way of working has been transformed, that is why new types of space must be incorporated, such as team areas, confidential areas, workstations in open spaces, meeting rooms. This is the menu of spaces that was mentioned a bit above.

Eliminate large, open work areas where all types of workers gather. These large spaces cause more discomfort than benefits, so restricting the size of open areas to approximately 50 people, for example, increases communication and benefits companionship.

These points can be taken as a guide to begin making the necessary changes to create fully optimized workspaces for the new days, and once the pandemic is over, work can continue to be done at maximum productivity and efficiency.