Office design makes a massive impact on the efficiency of a company and morale of their employees.
An office space that is well thought through will encourage workers, while a poorly designed workplace will not serve the needs of your business and will impact on efficiency, staff morale and talent acquisition and retention. The laying out and specification of a workplace is of course, the responsibility of the designer, however a good facilities manager (FM) plays a key role in ensuring the building is not only fit for purpose but is as effective for all stakeholders as possible.
One of the best ways for an FM to improve office design at the outset of a project, is to understand the amount of space required. This might be for day-to-day computer-based tasks, formal meeting spaces and right down to support functions like printers and scanners (remember them)?
If there is not enough space for colleagues to function in their duties, they will feel cramped, on top of each other and demoralised. No one wants to be too close to their work buddy… On the other hand, too much empty space costs money and no one likes waste. It can be difficult to find the right balance, but it is useful for maximising office space efficiency.
At AMH Projects, we pride ourselves on our Space Utilisation and Workplace Analysis service. This helps our clients understand how much and what sort of space your business is using, independently of any walls, floors, or ceilings. This means we can advise you on what sort and how much office space your business needs to occupy to thrive. And we can probably save you a fair bit of money doing so…
The layout of your office is also an important part of the design. This arrangement can have a major impact on the productivity of the office. For instance, the location of the company printer (or company loudmouth) too close to neighbouring employees will cause a noisy disturbance. Employee desks can be designated as quiet working spaces or can be located nearer co-workers to encourage social interaction.
How an FM can improve workplace efficiency
When it comes to executing an office design plan, the best way to get effective results is to interrogate the business on its actual requirements, engage with colleagues to seek their input, and employ a fantastic office designer, who can guide you through the myriad of pitfalls and up the path to best practice.
While any FM has an excellent high-level overview of the work that happens in an office, individual workers know at a first-hand, granular level what works and what doesn’t. Employees will be able to give specific recommendations for how they can accomplish the most work in their space.
Collaborating with staff can help create the best office design for everyone, but it can also help with employee relations. Having open communication with employees also fosters professional relationships and increases morale. Office design is important to any corporate facility by increasing the efficiency inside of it. With these helpful tips, you will be able to maximise your office space.