Each generation places its stamp on how we work and how we live. The Baby Boomers lived to work, while Generation X works to live. The Millenials are now blurring the lines between work and life. The younger generation is becoming a larger segment of the workplace with new expectations for work place usage and amenities.
Meanwhile companies are embracing office designs that encourage mobility, provide a variety of work spaces, enhance team work and collaboration, promote wellness, and increase density.
Wellness Features Offered in Newest Office Space Designs
Wellness features are a growing factor in office design. Americans spend 90 percent of their time inside. There is a demand for office space to include wellness amenities such as a fitness center, cafeteria, coffee shops, laundry service, and clinics. The 185,000 square foot work space at Facebook’s New York office has eight micro kitchens throughout the space filled with drinks and snacks. They also have a barista station and full-service dining hall. Facebook also has game and music rooms if their employees need a break to recharge.
Private Spaces Available in Newest Office Space Designs
There is also a trend to provide some private space for focused work and training, rather than only having employees in a huge open work space. All workers at Facebook, including Mark Zuckerberg, have open work spaces which they believe encourages creative thinking and collaboration. Facebook offers a library with cubby desks and quiet spaces if you need to be alone and concentrate.
Flexibility a Key Feature in Latest Office Space Developments
Flexibility is the latest trend when developing an office space. Companies are now looking for room for collaboration, including mountable partitions that can be moved around for maximum flexibility. The old standard for floor plans included 69 closed offices and 0 open workstations with 362 square feet per employee seat. The new standard has 104 workstations, with 1 closed office and 201 square feet per employee seat.
Consulting firms are leading the charge to have adaptable work space to meet the needs of the company, and have recommended space that allows mobility among employees. This approach to office use does not tie an employee to one work space, but shifts them around depending on their schedule and space availability.
New Technologies Available in Many Advanced Office Spaces
New technology allows employers to measure how employees are using their office spaces. Workplace strategists can track where employees are throughout the day, and make decisions about how to structure and use space. They monitor badge swiping on the office campus to determine where an employee is, and how many times a day they are out of the building. If an employee is out of the building frequently for meetings or travel, the space can be configured to change how that employee’s space is used. The trend for office space use continues to evolve, promoting flexibility to meet the demands of a changing business and its employees changing needs.
Caldwell Commercial real estate can help you manage your next building project. Email us today at info@caldwellcommercial.com to get started.
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