7 Simple Ways to Improve Space Design

It is a well documented fact that the physical design of a workspace has a direct effect on job satisfaction, productivity and profitability.  Companies with workplaces that encourage collaboration outperform those without intermingled workspace.  The architectural firm, Gensler, recently conducted a survey – demonstrating that workplace affects attitudes about work and makes companies more competitive, as proud workers show off their workspace to important customers.  Additionally, positive workspaces can promote health and well-being. 

A potential relocation offers the following opportunities for companies in New York City: 

• Market Leadership – a cutting edge space design can signal to clients and community that a firm is a step ahead of their market and potentially, create some publicity for their office.  Think of all the free publicity Google has gotten for their space at 111 Eighth Avenue.
  
• Culture – having a hip and positive work environment will encourage employee collaboration and extended work hours, and will make a positive impression on recruitees, visiting clients and other guests.  Again, think of all the prospective employees banging down the doors at Google. 
• Efficiencies – there are two elements to efficiency – energy efficiency and space efficiency.  It is well documented that a sustainable or ”green” environment improves productivity at minor cost increments.  Furthermore, a space efficient, or open-plan environment can improve collaboration and productivity. 
  
• Technology – A relocation is a great opportunity to upgrade technology.  Some possible suggestions are: a wifi network, mobile laptop computer docks, centralized printers and document production, improved lighting, electronic white boards, web-based video conferencing, paperless office, etc.
  
• Design – the creative use of color schemes can create and emphasize cultural elements of an environment: creative, fun, welcoming, etc.

If a company is offered the opportunity for a landlord’s “turnkey” installation, why accept a landlord’s paradigm of what an office environment should look like.  If you look at how your firm actually works and at your client workflow itself, certain types of functional work areas might enhance your process and client service.  For example: 

1. Tight bullpen layout with central storage & production areas – to foster collaboration and greater awareness of other’s project work, elimination of “horizontal storage”, i.e. countertops;
   
2. Small conference room(s) – with some exceptions, the largest internal meetings are oftentimes never more than six people.  This capacity could be met with smaller rooms, including informal, “breakout” rooms;
   
3. Telephone Booths – during the day many conference rooms are used for private phone calls, this function could easily be replaced with smaller, one- and two-person phone rooms;
   
4. Client Incubator – How about one or two “guest” private offices to incubate clients in transition?  Think of what a loyalty builder this could be…;
   
5. Reception/pantry – Think of the definition of the word reception… Is that what your company’s entranceway suggests? How about a welcoming area at entrance for guests to sit, use the restroom, have a beverage.  Such a space, if designed appropriately, could also serve as the location for actual “receptions” in the form of hosted events;
   
6. Auditorium/theater – in lieu of a large conference room; the focus would be on a state-of-the-art information communication and presentation area.  Create a “home field” for hosting prospect meetings and presentations; 
7. Workflow/process – this is more conceptual, but there has to be a physical way to demonstrate a company’s workflow process and to use the presentation as a selling tool, similar to a retail environment.  Looking around your office, do you get any indication of the product or service that your company sells?

In working with our clients, we recommend a very detailed and specific process when advising them about space needs.  Most often the recommendations involve engaging an architect or space planner to observe, interview and program the work environment and to translate it into a physical footprint.   A relocation can be a huge and positive marketing event which can tie into many of the other efforts to build and grow a client base and market awareness.  It starts with the recognition and definition of corporate culture and the implementation of that culture into the workspace.

This entry was posted on April 24, 2007 at 4:16 am and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.