If you were considering an office-buildout before the pandemic hit, having lived through it can only be considered a blessing. At BE Builds, we’ve seen our clients designing workspaces that are dramatically different than the ones they would’ve designed just 12 months ago. Of course, there are enhanced safety considerations, but the reality is that the pandemic has created a design aesthetic – and opportunity – that doesn’t show any signs of going away soon.
Health and Wellness Tech Re-opening in a post-COVID world means making health and wellness a focus of office design rather than a productivity-enhancing perk, and the tech industry has really risen to the occasion. From touchless control systems and sensors to air purification systems, contactless access control and germ-killing UV lights, these systems work behind-the-scenes to support the health requirements of a post-COVID workplace. And these enhancements are not just a temporary investment due to the pandemic – they’re designed to deliver what every office needs for the long-term; healthier workers, reduced absenteeism due to illness and a workplace culture focused on physical and mental wellbeing. Inventing the Wheel Office design is constantly evolving in order for businesses to best fit the needs of workers, the environment they operate in, and goals for productivity and growth. In response to the pandemic, one innovative design has become a significant industry trend – the hub-and-spoke. In this office layout, a central hub workspace is designed for common use – meetings, collaborative engagement, brainstorming sessions, and team tasks – while smaller satellite workspaces or spokes are set out closer to employee’s homes. This meshes well with the need for socially-distanced office space in which to focus on productive tasks while still allowing employees flexibility and the ability to maintain a better work-life balance. This design is a great compromise on the either-or debate between working remotely or working in an office. Working from home simply doesn’t suit most businesses or employees – it makes collaboration difficult, work is constantly disrupted, and it lacks the stimulation and inherent productivity focus of an office environment. Using a hub-and-spoke design allows employees freedom to govern their time and independence better while providing them with quiet, well-equipped spaces in which to get things done, while still providing a space to collaborate, build relationships and develop a strong company culture. Material Culture Office cleaning has always been an important focus, from ensuring good indoor air quality and a pleasant-smelling environment to creating a neat, hygienic and professional space. Of course, this has moved to a considerably higher level of importance over the pandemic, and the trend of sanitized, germ-free workspaces will be a part of office design trends for years to come. This doesn’t mean just filtering air more carefully or cleaning more regularly, it means a change-up at every level of the office design itself. One way that this is being expressed is in the need for furniture and materials that can be quickly and easily cleaned. Gone are the velvets, leathers and upholsteries that trap dirt and germs and require special cleaning – instead, office designers are focusing on germ-resistant materials and furnishings that can stand up to regular sanitization and still look great. Access to the Outdoors Experts agree that one of the best ways of combating the spread of germs and viruses is as simple as plenty of fresh air. This is a challenge for most office buildings where, for decades, the emphasis has been on sealing buildings against natural air flow to support safety and indoor climate control. Today’s post-COVID office designs are looking for innovative ways to let the outside in, from creating outdoor meeting and cafeteria spaces to ensuring that windows can be opened to allow natural air flow through the space. Of course, this isn’t possible for many office buildings and is going to be a hard sell in the depths of winter or the height of summer, but for those spaces there are other solutions – high-efficiency air conditioning systems with the latest air filtration and purification tech. Build a Workspace for a Post-COVID World with BE Builds BE Builds is an office design and buildout specialist focused on taking the stress and frustration of office construction. Knowledgeable about the needs of modern offices and the post-pandemic challenges businesses face, our experienced team will work with you to deliver a space that is safe, productive and as unique as your business. Visit us at https://bebuilds.com/ Original content is posted on https://www.befurniture.com/in-every-pandemic-theres-an-opportunity/
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If you’re like us, you’ve probably always thought of working from home as a bit of a luxury, filled with visions of staying in your pajamas all day, enjoying the peace and quiet, and skipping all the frustration of a daily commute. But COVID-19 has shown many of us that working from home isn’t the dream we thought it would be! In 2021 companies are reimagining the return to work for sure, but they and their teams are actually more anxious than ever to get back together. Here’s just a few reasons why.
#1 – It’s Lonely Who would’ve thought that we’d miss casual meetings by the water cooler, small talk with clients and chatting about our lives over our lunch hour? But we do. The reality is, working from home is lonely stuff, even with all the Skype, Zoom and Teams meetings we’re constantly having. There’s a lot to be said for in-person conversations and catch-ups, not just in terms of the easy way we can all communicate in the office, but the way we bond, build relationships and create a working community. Chatting to the dog just doesn’t cut it! #2 – Your Work-From-Home Office is a Mess We’re sure there are people out there with quiet designated office spaces in their homes where everything is organized, professional and color coordinated – it’s just that we’ve never met one. Ever. Work-from-home office spaces are usually temporary, piecemeal and crammed into a spot that’s chaotic and difficult to use – your kitchen’s breakfast bar, your living room coffee table, or a corner of a bedroom. Wherever it is, chances are that it doesn’t come close to what you have in your actual office, and spending 8 hours or more there per day is not doing your focus, productivity or pleasure in your work any good at all. #3 – It’s Chaotic If you thought you were juggling it all before the events of 2020, you’re certainly finding out differently now. Working from home just isn’t the haven we all thought it would be – there’s not enough space for your computers, diary and files, you’re being overrun by dirty mugs and dishes, there’s never any coffee ready when you need it, and the noise from your neighbor seems to be perfectly timed for when you’re in a meeting. And if you have children or a partner living with you, then life at home is even busier. Let’s face it – if you want peace and quiet in which to work, the office is the best place to be. #4 – Distractions, Distractions, Distractions Home is full of distractions, that’s just common sense. In fact, most of us spend a lot of time just filling our home with the most wonderful distractions we can think of. Whether it’s a new series on Netflix, a fridge full of goodies, a vegetable garden to tend, videogames or a chance to play with the kids, there’s a lot to do at home that isn’t work. And that’s not to mention the less enjoyable distractions like cleaning, laundry, and supervising remote home schooling. Before you know it, the day is half gone and you haven’t even gotten started. #5 – It Gets Boring – Fast For most of us, the first few days of working from home are pretty fun – but it gets dull quickly after the novelty wears off. Staying home, usually for the entire day, isn’t good for our mental or physical health because there simply isn’t enough variety in terms of what’s going on. Sure, your usual day at the office is probably not a rollercoaster ride of thrilling events, but there’s so much happening and so much to do that the hours go by much faster. There are more opportunities to challenge yourself, to meet new people and work together to create meaningful solutions. Every day is different when you are part of a bustling team and working in a vibrant, driven environment. BE Builds – Delivering Everything You’ve Ever Wanted in an Office BE Builds is a team of office design and construction specialists in New Jersey who are dedicated to delivering exceptional office fit-outs on time and on budget in a post-covid world. We’re ready to solve your office design challenges, handling all the mess and hassle of construction and creating COVID-safe, productive spaces that help your organization thrive. Visit us at https://bebuilds.com/ Original content is posted on https://www.befurniture.com/5-reasons-why-you-hate-working-from-home/ The so called “Open Office Plan” has been a go-to strategy for the development of business environments for literally decades. Its most basic advantages have to do with the lack of barriers allowing easy lines of communication (some might say too easy..), and the layouts typically utilize tighter more intimate desking or short cubicle configurations in an open room, that use less square footage per person. That’s good in big cities and other places where office space is at a premium. Open office when done right, allowed a working environment that was intimate, team oriented and economically efficient.
While many in our industry are loudly heralding the death of open office in a post pandemic world, the team here at BE has a different take. While companies in a post pandemic world may be looking for more hygienic office design and furniture solutions, and looking to redefine the role and size of their offices, the answer is more complicated and nuanced than simply throwing open office into the junk heap of design strategies and putting everyone into a private office. Part of the reason open office gets blamed by so many companies is that frankly, so many companies did it so badly. Before you throw your open-office concept into the dumpster, we’re here to tell you that a thoughtful, more considered approach can help you retain the best of open-office, increase privacy and reduce germ transmission, and reinvent the goals of your office space. Whether you’re planning to downsize your office space, re-task your teaming areas, create workplace hubs, your problem isn’t open office. It’s a problem of office intelligence that can be solved with the right alignment of design with your company culture, health best practices, and a rich understanding of what is out there in the world in terms of furniture and office construction techniques that bring it all together. Here’s a few thoughts on how you can extend your open office strategy to meet the goals of the new world in office design, furniture and construction. Incorporate a Sense of Wellness into your Open Office Strategy In the past, most businesses chose the open office route to maximize the usage of limited floorspace and cut the cost of developing private offices for everyone. With COVID-19 still in play, the first reason has changed because a new mindset has developed. Businesses are now wondering how many people can I get in here safely? We’ve also noticed a shift in location. A lot of cramped NYC offices are now looking to relocate to equivalent or even larger office space in the NJ suburbs. This has a lot to do with current CDC social distancing guidelines but also a desire to expand while keeping costs down. To ensure everyone stays at least 6ft apart from one another while working, there has to be enough square footage per person. Understanding the ultimate goals behind implementing this reinvented layout will help designers focus their efforts on the most important elements of their design. Including the logistics of a functional layout to promote the motivation, health and safety of employees at all times. This doesn’t require one to completely abandon open office, but with increased distancing, better workflow routing, and hygienic partitions and furniture, your existing open office concept can often be leveraged. Choosing the Right Products to Promote Health and Safety Commercial office furniture is an important tool to support the activities occurring within the different workspaces, and needs to be carefully considered in order to promote the most efficient workflow. This means conducting an in-depth survey into each department to consider what they need to return safely to office. Taking this into account will help determine the right furniture and space to ensure employees thrive and feel safe in their work environment. Your workplace should consider solutions that ensure proper social distancing within each workspace, and the hygienic safety of your employees and the office environment. Luckily, there are many COVID-compliant products available that can easily be incorporated into an existing open office layout, such as acrylic barriers, air purifiers, sneeze guards, and more. Or if you’d like a more permanent solution, our construction division, BE Builds can help you design and install an architectural wall solution that is cost effective. Stay Open, to Open Office Open office design plans will continue to have its detractors, however we are here to tell you that the concept is not wholly incompatible with the new office normal. We might suggest however that help from our experts at BE can show you what is possible, saving you money and bringing you the office of your dreams at the same time. To find out more about the office design and construction services we offer, please contact us today at: https://www.befurniture.com/contact/ Original content is posted on https://www.befurniture.com/will-open-office-furniture-and-layouts-change-due-to-covid-19/ |
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