Office Design & Construction Trends Your Business Should Watch
What factors are becoming increasingly popular in buildings and in office spaces? And what factors should you be aware of that might change or impact how you are using your office space?
To help answer those questions, we’re distilling down a few of the top trends in office and workspace design for you to know about:
1. Fresh new colors are being used to boost energy
Pantone’s 2019 colors can be indicative of both emerging trends and trends we’re experiencing right now. The resourceful palette is a blend of blues and oranges, which suggests that popular colors will be ones that keep things fresh, energetic, and even bold (1).
Another palette they hone in on: the intricacy palette which consists of neutral metallics. This might be a fit for companies looking to position themselves as future-looking, edgy, and modern. You don’t have to do an entire color overhaul in your office, but you may consider these colors when it comes to storage pieces, furniture, accent walls or lamps, fabrics, chairs, or even carpet or rugs (1).
2. It’s all about collaborative spaces
It’s no wonder that co-working spaces have been so popular: they naturally allow people to work together in a way where they can foster teamwork, but they can also break away and have their own private space when they need to.
It’s no wonder this is being deemed the “open collaborative space.” Those words are fitting!
Outside of coworking spaces that might already have the right structure in place, workspaces are being redesigned and even upgraded so that they can be more collaborative in nature.
While 10 years ago there might have been a major focus on completely open design, today spaces are all about various forms of collaboration.
So what does that mean? Think of larger, shared spaces where people can work alongside and with one another. At the same time, rooms are being structured in a way where there is more privacy (and less acoustical issues) than with a large open space that’s shared by everyone (2).
3. Offices are taking green to a whole new level
Today’s offices are stepping it up when it comes to recycling, energy efficiency, and even investments in more eco-friendly elements in the office. Having a look and feel in the office that’s more “natural”—imagine bamboo, lots of plants, and more wood—this trend is only set to continue. After all, that kind of nature-friendly environment has been shown to keep people calm, creative, and even happier (1).
Other options to keep an eye out for:
- Decision-making aimed at reducing waste (such as no straws in office kitchens)
- Renewable energy systems for powering the office
- Green web hosting
- Locally-sourced food for employee cafeterias
- A focus on outdoor spaces for meetings
- Indoor walking spaces, parks, and even greenhouses (1)
4. Office flexibility is becoming a “must”
Not only are office workers looking for more flexibility in how and where they work, but building owners and business leaders are looking for the ability to be able to adapt their spaces.
Translation: business owners are looking for lower construction costs and lower tenant improvement costs (2).
5. Tech is delivering personalized comfort
One side of tech improvements and accessibility means workers are more equipped to work from anywhere and they are able to have greater access to hotspots, leading-edge video conferencing technology, screens for presentations, things like data ports, real-time collaboration tools, and even wireless charging stations. All of these things can mean greater productivity for teams.
On the other hand, technology that’s built into the building’s infrastructure also can mean employees are more equipped to do their best work—both comfortable and ergonomically.
With more and more done via timely automation, powerful sensors, and other smart technology, a “one size fits all” office may be outdated soon.
Said another way, watch for it to become “the norm” to have smart technology that can give each and every person the kind of work environment they are best suited for—temperature wise and air quality wise, among other factors.
The great part is that for facility managers and building owners, it should also translate to greater efficiency and optimal savings.
Your Expert HVAC Company
We’re here to help you find a solution so you can have reliable comfort in your office, facility, or building—whether that smart technology, or not. Whatever your commercial HVAC needs are, know that GC Home Services Heating & Air Conditioning is here for you. Call us today at 859-491-4915 or toll free at 844-491-4915.
Sources:
