The office is more than four walls and a roof. It’s like another employee. It facilitates work, takes care of your team and hosts all the tools you need to get things done. So when you’re considering opening up an office space, you need to give it the proper interview and the tools it needs to be effective. Here, we’ll look at the ‘questions’ you should be asking your office to make sure it’s doing its job.
Space
Well, of course, an office needs to have space. We know you thought it. But did you think about what kind of space, exactly, it needs? It’s best to start with these questions before you buy or start renting the space. Look, first and foremost, at your employees. Who needs their own office? Who could do with some communal space? What kinds of partitions might that communal space need? How much communication is needed, how much privacy? People might need to sometimes work in their own world, whereas in other times, a group space can help people collaborate better. These are the lists of wants and needs you need to build when looking at how you use a space.
Pic sourced by Agnieszka Palmowska
Equipment
Every office is going to have its fair share of electrical equipment. These costs tend to go higher than a lot of startups tend to realize. The equipment stage of getting an office space can be a bit much for business owners. This is why many rely on advice from commercial electrical contractors. You may already know about all the IT you’re going to need. Your computers, servers, and network system might already be in hand. But what about getting the right HVAC setup for the space? What about autonomous lights that help you save energy and keep the office lit up? Even emergency lighting to keep people safe in evacuations and the like? It’s not just about buying the equipment but getting it fit to standard, as well. Making sure that everything is certified and compliant.
Furniture
Everyone’s going to need a chair. That’s the observation you might make at first, but the choice of furniture goes a lot deeper than that. It needs to fit both their health requirements and their need for utility, as well. Desk sizes and chair types play a big role in health factors that can really get in the way of work. We’re talking about the oft-dreaded repetitive strain injury and carpal tunnel. At the same time, it might be easier for employees to manage their personal collection of files with desks that offer storage space as well. Of course, you also need to buy furniture that you can keep in the office space without making it too cramped.
The right space, the right equipment, and the right furniture. These are the three physical aspects of office design that will help you build a better workplace. One that offers your employees the right environment, a safer, more useful, more engaging place. Don’t underestimate the importance of the office. Get it wrong and you’re risking the motivation, their health, and your future.
Thank you for sharing all this info!