...don't let your boss design the office!

Seems like all the employer wants to do today…is to ‘cram’ as many people in a space as humanly possible. "Tracy, it's all about saving money!" "We need to save in today's uncertain times."

But didn't we learn from our mistakes from the past? Didn't we already do this back in the 20's and 30's?

Back when "they" wanted to save money because of the times....Really?..is it saving you money? Or perhaps you don't know how to "ask" for help from a professional? Space planning is important!

Ask the clients that expect it to be 'free' when working on a complex project. (It's all about saving money....so the vendor has no value any longer). "I can find it cheaper on the Internet Tracy." Well, what if it doesn't fit in your office....or a column is in the middle of an employee's station? Can you imagine? Well, it happens everyday to the employer that knows little about planning....or the "assigned" info-gatherer on the project.

There’s several practical and real return on investments (ROI) that a new or refurbished office could deliver to any business …even in today’s economy. Start with the planning and the rest (even your choice of cheap furniture) will fall into place.

Increasingly people are the greatest asset of a business. An office plays a role in keeping staff, and in attracting the best new recruits. The mechanism does vary but in general people prefer a productive workplace to be efficient….believe it or not.

Just as a data network is vital for computer systems, so a human network makes a business better. An office interior that fosters and frees-up communication can significantly benefit a company. Glass partitioning, low furniture-heights and office 'nodes' that are given consideration and importance all contribute to internal communication.

Offices are including space to create alternative environments away from desks and cellular rooms. These alternative spaces support people to work in different ways. Typical is a space where staff can think and interact. People respond to bright, open spaces with more expansive thought processes, whereas structured and more enclosed areas are best for concentrating on tasks.

Most jobs have a variety of tasks. A desk is good for clerical activities, but when concentration is needed a quiet space might be better. Similarly, interaction within a small team isn't always practical with a few desks in the way. To get the best productivity at work...give staff the best setting for the task. This is the same principle as a factory floor, just applied to the office.

Back problems, sick building syndrome, respiratory illness due to poor air condition...all examples of how an office can have a negative impact. A well designed office will mitigate the problems of absenteeism.

A good office will encourage clients to travel to meet at your location, rather than travelling to theirs. This reduces unproductive travel time, reinforces your company image and adds to the 'buzz' that good offices have.

And finally, the daily tasks of filing and retrieval, accessing company information and knowledge, and printing and copying should all be as streamlined and productive as possible. Poorly designed offices can often sap hours from a working week through inefficient storage, inadequate provision of services and spaces for report collation etc. A good office will underpin any design scheme with the practical facilities everyone needs in a working week, saving time.

And doesn't that save money? Someday...someday....it will be an "employee" market again. Don't you want an environment that 'attracts and retains employees?' (If you don't...you will).