A high-performance office space isn’t just a sea of cubicles or workstations. You can have rows of open-plan bench seating or enclosed private offices but neither of those may encourage an atmosphere of goodwill and collaboration.
What can?
Furnishings that fit spaces defined for different needs.
Depending on their moods, many people like to move from one setting to another to finish their tasks.
What are the personalities of your team and how can planning and designing a variety of spaces develop a high-performance office environment?
Because you’re designing spaces that let people adapt to their individual needs.
The Purpose of Office Space
An office is an environment where work is done in support of a company’s goals. Think back to the 1950s and 1960s and you’ll see how drastically offices have evolved.
You may not remember the GM plant in Van Nuys but that’s a great example of an assembly line where the office space supported a highly regimented workflow. The aerospace, automotive, and entertainment industries reigned supreme.
Office spaces were functional with little thought given to personal comfort. The office was more of a one size fits all concept versus a flexible or multi-use idea.
How does your company or nonprofit organization operate? Let’s see how you might incorporate more personal comfort and use different spaces for different stages of product development or carrying out services.
Brainstorming Spaces
Tossing around ideas is important for just about any type of business. If your company in Orange County designs robots, then you’re conceptualizing the uses of a tool like a robotic arm and how you’ll improve the functionality.
If you’re a nonprofit with after-school programs in the San Gabriel Valley, you also have a conceptual phase. That could be identifying how to make your services more efficient. Perhaps it’s how to put a creative fundraiser into action.
Maybe you’re an engineering firm in the Ontario, California area and you’re bidding on a municipal construction contract. You need input on what to include so you don’t miss important elements.
Your bottom line is turning ideas into action and solutions.
What makes for a high-performance office space for brainstorming?
Society has become casual, especially in Southern California. Some communities, like Hollywood, have been re-designed so people can work close to where they live. There’s a co-mingling of our personal and professional lives in ways that didn’t exist during the height of our industrial output.
Photo: Humanscale Element Vision Desktop Light
Plan and design spaces that have the fabrics, colors, and feel of home with the durability of commercial spaces. Bring in accessories like ergonomic lighting, a moveable whiteboard, and office plants to design a lounge that’s both relaxing and offers surroundings for brainstorming.
Photo: Allermuir Kin Chair
You can brainstorm in a traditional conference room setting with the requisite chairs and conference tables, or you can change your options using modular furniture with a personal touch.
Photo: Global Ballara Lounge Seating
Look into the Global Ballera Lounge Seating arrangement. It can fit in an environment like a law firm in downtown LA or a grassroots nonprofit in Sherman Oaks. Want something more playful and just as functional? Try the Arcadia Lounge Seating and Bench. Choose from bold color options and an array of seating arrangements.
Photo: Arcadia Serafinita Lounge Seating and Bench
So what happens when it’s time to get back to the desk?
The Get-the-Work-Done Space
Once brainstorming finishes, each person retreats and focuses on their individual tasks.
Your work may be processing donations, analyzing enrollment data in a university, or project managing complex web designs. You could be designing marketing collateral, troubleshooting issues for clients, or managing a portfolio of sales accounts.
And you need a high-performance office space for focus to concentrate, perform and get things done.
Try the HON Abound Height Adjustable Workstation, designed for numerous configurations that meet the needs for one person or a team of people working together.
Photo: Enwork Cayman Desk
Private offices can use a model like the Enwork Cayman Desk with pleasing lines and the ability to add needed accessories.
Sometimes you need to get away from the desk and have relaxed personal space.
Take a Breather Space
Let’s say you get a call or you’re mulling over a report and you just need to get up from your desk. Stretch breaks can give you the breather you need and so can relocating to modular furniture. It’s useful for arranging into group spaces and serving individual needs, too. The furnishings are made as multi-use solutions.
Photo: OFS Coact Lounge Seating
The OFS Coact Lounge Seating is designed to fit in a private office or a social setting like a café. Plenty of privacy options are available so you can have alone space but not feel lonely.
A lounge space with just a few seats pulled together is also ideal for meeting with clients or vendors in casual conversations. They can feel welcomed but not isolated.
Don’t forget the break room. This casual space can be a valuable area to create stimulating conversations where people can exchange useful insights over coffee or lunch. Get ideas on how you can furnish this space by visiting the 2010 Office Inspirations page and browsing through modern breakrooms.
Now, how about training spaces?
Learning Together Spaces
Need to tackle compliance issues or similar topics?
Establish training spaces that are just right for your team. Resources you can use include architectural walls in open floor plans, specially designed tables for training, and stackable tables and chairs.
Set up a multi-media space for videoconferencing or meeting virtually with clients or employees working remotely.
Rely on Experience for High-Performance Office Space Setups
Plan and design spaces to get the highest possible performance and engagement from the talent you hire.
Contact the team at 2010 Office Space, a company with a combined half-century of experience planning spaces and furnishing for clients who are among Southern California’s most distinguished for-profit corporations and not-for-profit organizations.
Let them know your needs and ask how you can maximize your spaces.
Read Also: Plan Your Office Branding for the Employee Experience
Main Photo: OFS Applause Table
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Allermuir, Arcadia Contract, Enwork, Global, Humanscale, and OFS
