The 3 Most Common Office Build-outs

 

When it comes to office design, form follows function! It’s all about creating a space that streamlines everyday business activities, aligns with your industry and supports the growth of your brand. COVID-19 may have thrown a wrench into the mix, but there’s still plenty of good reasons why the most common office build-outs are still being used today – although they are evolving to meet the needs of a changing work environment.

The team at BE Builds has decades of experience in the commercial office design and construction industry, assisting businesses in all sectors to develop bespoke, productivity-focused work environments. We’ve put together a quick guide of the most common office build-outs to help guide your office design strategy in a post-COVID work environment.

#1 – The Collaborative Design

Working together – it’s what we do best. We’re social beings and our interactions, conversations and collaborations form the foundation of almost every great business idea, feeding our productivity and drive to succeed. If you want a workspace that promotes engagement, innovation and productive collaboration, this flexible and multi-function design sets the standard.

Characteristics of collaborative office designs

• Several different office spaces or zones differentiated by function or task, including large and small meeting rooms, brainstorming zones, team spaces and private workspaces.
• Furniture and office design is usually modular, enabling people to join in and work together as needed. People can move in and out of different zones as their tasks change through the day or week. This is especially important as workplace flexibility trends gain ground1, allowing employees to work in a highly-productive space for collaborative tasks, meetings and networking away from distraction-heavy home environments.
• Lower distraction levels, as different groups or individuals can move to different spaces as work tasks dictate.
• Reduced costs, as organizational footprints can be reduced to highly-functional spaces that support flexible work environments, reducing square footage and operational costs while improving productivity. This is key in the evolving hub-and-spoke office design2.

Benefits

• It’s easy to communicate over both formal and informal channels, making communication quick and easy, while promoting transparency and sharing of ideas.
• There is a decent level of privacy as walls are used to create spaces for collaboration, as well as spaces for individual tasks.
• It promotes a strong company culture and sense of togetherness, as well as a group focus on shared goals. This is especially critical as businesses develop a balance between the realities of a remote working team and the undeniable need for an office environment. In fact, this is one of the most-cited reasons for employees wanting to return back to the office3.
• It’s easy to change and modify this agile environment, shifting walls and furniture to create new spaces as tasks demand for collaboration and remote employee support without wasting space or resources.

Disadvantages

• Not the most affordable office design.
• Shared spaces need strong hygiene protocols.

#2 – The Open Plan Design

Open plan offices have been with us for many decades, usually in the form of large, shared spaces made up of cubicles and workstations, and limited private offices. It’s a favorite for many businesses because it allows quick, clear communication, easy supervision and a fairly affordable design.

Characteristics of open office designs

• Modular, one-size-fits all workstations and cubicles
• Limited private offices/private spaces
• Few walls
• Lower construction and design costs
• High employee density

Benefits

• Plenty of natural light filters into the space due to the lack of walls. This can be enhanced with the use of glass architectural walls, saving energy costs and supporting employee wellness4.
• Easy, quick communication between teams and colleagues, providing support for teamwork, collaboration and rapid decision-making.
• Exceptional affordability in terms of design and square footage required, especially when working with large groups of employees. This space is also easily adaptable to new functions as they arise, and can be transformed into zones for different departments, multi-use areas and meeting spaces in order to support a flexible work environment.
• Employees are accessible, easy to supervise and there’s increased transparency.

Disadvantages

• The right strategic office design is necessary to ensure that open plan offices are productive, streamlined, functional and quiet. While the design is simple, it is easy to get it wrong if you don’t have an office construction company who understands your business and the demands of a post-COVID work environment.

#3 – The Private Office Design

Private offices are usually viewed as prime office space since they have a long and prestigious history of being traditional. Here, privacy is everything, and this design supports quiet, focused work and the ability to handle sensitive matters effectively. While this design has a lot to offer, it tends to represent a bygone era. This is because it doesn’t effectively align with many modern business environments where collaboration, innovation and teamwork are critical to growth and success.

Characteristics of private office designs

• This design usually takes the format of private offices and conference rooms set along the windows of the space. Often, there are small, open plan spaces set aside for the specific use of different departments.
• Privacy is prioritized over communication, allowing people to deal with sensitive tasks and information.
• These are quiet office spaces where distraction is minimal.

Benefits

• It’s easy to have private client meetings or to handle private matters – for example, if you are working in a law firm.
• There are very few distractions, allowing people to focus on their tasks and improving productivity.
• Private offices convey prestige and power, which many employees covet. It also sends a powerful message to clients.

Disadvantages

• The cost of this office build-out is often high, as each office requires walls and individual furnishings, and each employee has to be allocated significantly more square footage.
• The cost of this office build-out is often high, as each office requires walls and individual furnishings, and each employee has to be allocated significantly more square footage.
• It can be very difficult to get natural lighting into the common or grouped areas of the office space.
• These office build-outs tend to take more time and labor to complete.
• It can affect office culture, preventing employees from building strong relationships with one another and setting certain employees above others in status and accessibility. In a post-COVID workplace environment, these are key considerations. In fact, the need to get one-on-one time, hold collaborative meetings and be a part of the workplace community are cited as key reasons for employees wanting to return to the office5.

Let’s Find the Right Office Build-out for Your NJ Business

At BE Builds, our experienced team has worked for decades with businesses in New Jersey across all sectors. We know the importance of understanding what your business wants to achieve with their office space, from the work you do and the people you employ to the culture you want to create. Together, we can set your brand in a powerful position, creating a space that’s productive, enjoyable to use, and tailored to your workflow. Contact us today and to find out more about our state-of-the-art office construction services.

Originally posted at: https://bebuilds.com/the-3-most-common-office-build-outs/