By Dorothy Rogers-Bullis
The keyword in workspace design for 2024 is going to be “flexibility.” Employees and employers alike are looking for solutions that give them an array of design, construction, and furniture options to choose from. A few examples:
Operable walls for multi-use spaces
In today’s work environment, putting 22 chairs around a conference table and only using the room for that one purpose is a waste of space and ultimately money. Instead of dedicating office square footage to a single function — like a large conference room — a more cost-effective option is to find multiple ways to use that same space, and operable walls are one simple solution. These walls are easy to move and can be reconfigured to utilize a space in many ways. Turn an area into a multifunctional space for work, meetings, dining, parties, or even a multimedia room.
Recreate your downtown office at home
Few good things came out of the pandemic, but many employees would argue that there is one: the flexibility to work from home. More and more people are working remotely or in a hybrid environment where they are in the office for part of the week and working from home the remainder. Given that an increasing number of work hours are being spent in home offices, people are putting a greater emphasis on functionality. In some cases, hybrid workers are even recreating their “downtown” office at home, using the same furniture and design esthetic so that on a video call, customers wouldn’t know if they are at home or in the main office.
Coworking for the win
Working from home isn’t a dream come true for everyone, however, which is why flexible coworking spaces are an increasingly popular solution for a variety of scenarios. For people who were compelled to work remotely full-time — but who don’t relish solitude — coworking offers the benefits of an in-person work community at a reasonable cost. Coworking can also be an option for companies with leases coming to maturity that aren’t ready to make the leap to full-remote. The flexibility of a coworking space enables them to rent only as much space as they require — perhaps even allowing two hybrid workers to share one desk on alternating in-person workdays. It’s also an ideal, economical solution for scaling a new or growing company. Learn more about Saratoga CoWorks at saratogacoworks.com.
As we head into this new year, we at drb Business Interiors are cognizant of the opportunities and challenges created by this desire for flexibility with work and office design. Companies must design their work spaces and policies around what is best for their business but also remain mindful of how they can retain top employees and grow at the same time. It’s a delicate balance.
If you would like to discuss flexible solutions to your business’s workspace design challenges, while meeting the needs of your top asset — your employees — contact us at drbbusinessinteriors.com or call 518.306.5233.