Office/workplace

Project managing the office of tomorrow

Office design is undergoing a paradigm shift due to COVID. Working from home has challenged conventional office design.

The move to open-plan space, with hot-desking and denser occupancy levels, 1 person per 10 square M moved towards 1 person per 6 Square M. Flat screens, laptops, reduced paperwork reduced the need for space-hungry desktop P.C.s and filing trays.

I.T. has changed too. From the wired networks of the 80s, needing raised floors to 0.6M deep, wireless networks have reduced the need for raised floors. Now the demand for more fresh air contradicts recirculating the air for green energy efficiency.

Aesthetics have also changed with the acceptance of exposed services, the opportunity to create a higher floor to ceiling space and a more modern environment.

L.E.D. lighting has come a long way and helps to reduce the amount of heat load added to the cooling requirement.

Careful project management will ensure the design team balance good design to suit the client use. Tomorrow's office is still on the drawing board as the market reacts to the sudden embracing of technology and working from home.

Desk space can cost up to £16,000 p/a in Central London and but desk utilisation is rarely above 55%. With the average U.K. worker spending 54 minutes commuting to work, there are exciting times ahead in the provision of office space.