Key Considerations -
The first and most important consideration when designing an office is exactly what type of work will be done in the space used. Next you will need to consider the ‘comfort factor’ for your employees, after all this is the place where they will spend much of their time.
Personal space is also important. Each employee should be provided with a certain amount of it. Sound barriers and clever office design can create adequate personal space and prevent distraction and interference.
Maintaining Communication -
It is also important to maintain a level of communication between office workers... a happy balance between privacy and a communal environment. Providing areas like open plan meeting rooms and conferencing areas can assist this requirement.
When looking at the most suitable workstation design it is best to consult those people who will be using them. Although you can work to a certain degree of standardisation, everyone’s requirement is always slightly different.
Key Points when making a choice -
Nature of work: thought should be given to the position of the employee within the office. For example, a receptionist is ideally placed near the entrance to the office in order to deal with any enquiries. Those involved in communication with clients via the telephone should have a more secluded position so that they can deal privately with their contacts.
Natural and artificial light: ideally, each employee should be near to a window to provide some natural light. Where this is not possible, daylight effect ceiling strip lights can be used to provide the next best thing.
Space: each worker should have ample space to tackle their tasks, without the distraction of other workers.
Adaptability: employees should have a certain amount of freedom to adapt their workstation to their own personal requirements. They should also have input in the location and position of their workspace.
Technology: consider the technological requirements of your employees. Most will require a telephone, and also a separate line for connection to the Internet (if applicable). An adequate number of mains power sockets should also be available.
