Office Space Planning: Maximising Efficiency and Productivity in the Workplace
Office design can significantly impact employees’ comfort, productivity and motivation levels. Therefore, proper planning and attention to detail are crucial for your office space. Good office planning can help you devise creative solutions. These solutions can be used to make the best use of your available space. You can also create a more efficient workplace for the employees.
What is office space planning?
Office space planning involves understanding the required job functions at your workplace. You can create a space that maximises employee benefits based on this information. It also ensures optimal space utilisation. The three main components of effective office space planning are:
- Analysing your current space
- Defining your workplace needs
- Planning your office space
The benefits of office space planning
Office space planning ensures increased productivity, improved communication, boosted morale, and cost savings. It improves productivity by creating a balance between people, space, and technology. You can reduce your rent overheads and save money by reducing floor space.
Through planning, you can evaluate how departments in your office function together. It also helps you decide what could be improved. Employee input and realigning your office space can also help you plan for the future. You’ll be able to determine the point at which a relocation will be necessary for future years.
Our approach to office space planning
Every office has different needs. It looks different and operates in its own way. Therefore, the approach to office space planning should be designed to suit the needs. At Access Interiors, our approach mainly focuses on creating functional spaces. These spaces may be in open, closed, or hybrid designs. We also provide creative solutions for tricky space problems. Following are some examples of functional spaces in modern working environments:
- collaborative spaces
- social areas
- quiet rooms (Zoom Rooms) for online meetings
Identifying Areas for Improvement in Your Office Space
Detailed briefs can be used to identify areas for improvement in your office space. Briefs must take and evaluate the existing office layouts. This will allow you to make effective design decisions. It allows you to create office layout ideas that will be most suitable for your business.
Detailed brief taking:
The brief mentions the key drivers and reasons for undertaking the project. Brief taking aims to understand the key areas where improvements are required. This includes adding extra seating, increasing kitchen facilities, or creating larger meeting areas. Furthermore, it also mentions the critical requirements of your office.
You must focus on factors like your practical needs and occupancy numbers. You should also focus on team allocations and storage requirements. It will be your point of reference throughout the office space planning process. It will help you align the design team with your vision.
Evaluating existing office layout:
When planning your office space, it is crucial to assess your current layout. You should also consider the furniture and equipment. This will help you identify ways to optimise the use of space. It is extremely important to put the well-being and needs of your employees at the forefront.
You might consider surveys and interviews to know more about the employees’ concerns. This way, you can plan your office space around your people’s needs.
Creative Solutions for Making the Best Use of Your Available Space
There are many creative strategies that you can adopt to make the best use of your available space. We will discuss some of them below.
Mezzanine floors:
You can build a mezzanine floor by utilising the empty vertical space. You can use it to create an additional office area. This is especially useful when you have an office space or a warehouse with high ceilings. A mezzanine floor is an affordable solution for your office space expansion. Considering that you won’t have to relocate to a new office.
Furthermore, there won’t be any increase in rental costs. All this while you can have extra office space. You may use this space as storage. Furthermore, this space can also be used as a split-up section for a department in your office.
Operable walls:
Operable walls refer to flexible partitioning. It allows you to create separate areas within an open-plan office. These walls can be made of various materials, including glass, board, or fibre. They are easy to install and cost-effective.
You may choose the material considering your office space planning requirements and functionalities. Operable walls come in various colours and designs. Therefore, you can easily choose the option that complements your brand.
Desk size reduction:
Desks usually take up the most space in an office setting. Therefore, desk size can be adjusted to create more room for other functions.
Employees should be encouraged to follow the permanent clean desk rule. It allows them to extend their desk space. Even a smaller desk can be sufficient if different materials are well-organised.
Visualising and Delivering the Plan
You can draw up a 2D or 3D visualisation of the office space after finalising planning. This will give an insight into what your future office space will look like.
2D and 3D visualisations:
2D and 3D visualization can give you a clear representation of the proposed office space. For effective office space planning, you can seek assistance from professionals. They use state-of-the-art computer programs to visualise the furniture/space layout.
Design and fit-out:
Design and fit-out are the two most important aspects of office space planning. Services like Access Interiors can help you to design and implement the new office space according to your budget and aesthetic requirements.
Speak to the Office Design Experts
Get in touch with our experienced office space planning team today!
Contact information:
- Cambridge Office
Address:
William James House
Cowley Road
Cambridge
CB4 0WX
Tel: 01223 506456
Fax: 01223 506441
enquiries@accessinteriors.co.uk
2. Ely Office
Address:
e-space north
Wisbech Road
Littleport
Ely
CB6 1RA
Tel: 01353 865402
enquiries@accessinteriors.co.uk
Request for consultation:
Request a professional consultation to get the most out of your office space! Access Interiors will help you in creating an environment that suits your needs.
