We Evolve, So Should Our Office Space!

We Evolve, So Should Our Office Space!

As businesses change, their current workspace often no longer meets the needs of the company’s evolution and the big question of whether to stay put or move becomes a reality. Renting a new office with a blank canvas to do what you want is great if you have the budget and taking a new office that is already fitted out, can be restrictive due to having to accommodate existing fixtures and furniture and it often doesn’t work for you as a company. So, if you are desperate for more space or a change, how do you make a decision on whether to stay or go? Current trends suggest companies are starting to reconsider moving to new premises due to budget restrictions and the costs of moving, preferring to look at options to refurbish and refresh their existing space, whilst continuing to operate, during the changes. 

‘The key metric companies use to measure space—cost per square foot—is focused on efficiency. Few companies measure whether a space’s design helps or hurts performance, but they should’ says a study by Harvard’s Ben Waber, Jennifer Magnolfi and Greg Lindsay entitled Work Spaces That Move People. Many companies struggle with deciding whether they can ‘make do’ in their current space without change, but cost shouldn’t be the only driver. The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace study showed that people who work in spaces with natural features reported 15% higher levels of overall wellbeing. Furthermore, the respondents expressed feeling 6% more productive and 15% more creative at work. If the interior design of an office considers the occupants such as creating both breakout space and social space, improvements are found in concentration, collaboration, confidentiality and creativity. Employees’ emotional health should take into account:

• Collaborative spaces, as well as areas to relax and de-stress
• Add greenery: potted plants, living walls
• Offer flexibility – give options for where and how employees want to work

The research clearly demonstrates how workplace design positively influences employee satisfaction, wellbeing and performance and that can only be good news for companies that are looking for ways to retain staff when budgets are tight! An innovative refurbishment can completely transform an existing office and with thoughtful consideration to current and future needs, a new layout can provide that much needed space! One of the most important factors however is not just the design of the refurbishment, but that the company who delivers it, work closely with you to minimise disruption and ensure you can continue to operate efficiently throughout the changes. If you want to talk about refurbishing your space, Broadway are an award-winning interior design and build consultancy that will advise and hold your hand all the way!    

We Evolve, So Should Our Office Space!

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