Office design has changed dramatically in the last few decades. New generations of employees and managers have different ideas of what an office could and should look like.
After many decades of office design staying more-or-less the same, current trends in office design are getting exciting. Here are three office design trends worth looking into.
Current Trends in Office Design: Biophilic Design
Biophilic design is based on the idea that, for 99% of human history, humans have lived in response to the natural world and only recently have begun to live in completely human constructed environments. As such, our minds and bodies have not evolved to exist so separately from the natural world. Biophilic design aims to bridge the gap between metropolitan and natural environments to improve workplace wellness and reduce stress.
There are rules to hardcore biophilic design that disqualify some designs from being considered true biophilia:
- Biophilic design should focus on environments humans have evolved in successfully. For example, an office theme based around the deep ocean or the moon, (even though that does actually sound kind of cool) despite incorporating natural elements, wouldn’t actually be biophilic, because those environments are inhospitable to natural human evolution.
- Biophilic design needs to be constant and repeating. For example, one plant in the corner of the lobby of an office building does not count as biophilic design. The entire design of the office needs to follow biophilic principles.
The Modern Office: Where Tech Meets Design
Technology has changed the practical needs of certain office design as well. As devices get smaller and different machines go wireless, the ability to transform the office has grown. Design thought leaders like Apple have been emulated in different spheres. A more minimalist, open-concept design has grown popular. But, beyond that, many modern offices are expected to take the ubiquitousness of the internet, WiFi, and electronic devices into consideration when designing their space.
When each employee (not to mention visitors from other companies) arrives needing to charge three different devices at once, well, you get the idea. Video conferencing technology, screens for presentations, wireless charging stations, data ports, smartboards, and anything else that helps facilitate working digitally are all useful in the modern office.
Going Green: Environmentally Friendly Office Design
Many businesses today are looking for office space that will help them reduce waste and engage in environmentally friendly business practices. In 2011, just 27% of Canadian building owners, architects, and contractors said the majority of their new building projects were green buildings. But in 2017, that number jumped to 50%, and it is only expected to increase. Not only would it be good to prepare for this trend by getting into environmentally friendly office design, not doing it could be detrimental to your business. Offices that don’t meet certain environmental standards will increasingly be frowned upon by the people who work in them.
But switching over to a green office doesn’t have to be a daunting prospect. Envirotech offers large selections of remanufactured and refurbished furniture options, which help keep waste out of landfills because they are built with reused pieces and parts. Office furniture alone is a huge cause of waste and reducing it will go a long way towards making your office a more environmentally responsible workplace.
References:
https://www.metropolismag.com/architecture/what-is-and-is-not-biophilic-design/
https://www.cagbc.org/cagbcdocs/resources/CaGBC%20McGraw%20Hill%20Cdn%20Market%20Study.pdf