New London Architecture

20 tips for office design

Monday 07 December 2020

Martin Smith

Director, Project Management
TFT

People have changed in 2020. Occupiers, employees, and businesses have all changed their requirements, practices and expectations for work and the workplace. Here are my 20 tips to those designing an office building now - happily, and unsurprisingly, the focus is more on people.

Millennium Bridge House, Beltane Asset Management © INK and Piercy & Company
1.     Flexibility: does your design allow for multi-occupation or incorporate the needs of the pre-let tenant. If not, save carbon and ensure no unnecessary waste is created from the life cycle of future tenants fit outs against your base-build or CAT A design. 
2.     Toilets: Large vanity space is key for any gender; ensure there is enough. 
3.     Lighting: base build lighting does not need to be static, dynamic colour changing fittings matching daylight improves mental well-being and connection to nature. Do not forget the stairwell for beautiful lighting design. 
4.     Greening; means more than a few pots. We need connection to nature, whether that is focusing the architecture on external trees, or ensuring natural tones like exposed untreated wood are visible to occupiers
5.     Branded signage: how many times do you walk into the reception, or common parts and see horrible array of fonts, colours, and materials; use a graphic designer in your scheme.
6.     Cognitive diversity: 10% of Londoners’ have issues interpreting wayfinding, is yours design clear enough.
7.     External space: do all tenants have access to fresh air; through openable windows at a minimum an external terrace or courtyard at best.
8.     Fit out guides; make sure these are user friendly and preferably cloud based systems for approval to keep records; this protects tenants and landlords in equal measure 
9.     Front of house; it is not a reception; it is the personal ‘face’ of the building; do they go the extra mile and have the physical space to do this? 
10.  Notice boards: subject to size tenants may wish to share an initiative, or yoga session
11.  Artwork: the best offices do this well; receptions with changing art installations will inspire the users of the building
12.  Storage; online deliveries and takeaways; can your tenants ensure they are notified remotely and there is enough storage leading up to the holidays
13.  External guests; should not be singing in with a ‘pen or paper’ in the twenty twenties - embrace technology 
14.  Event spaces: if your office is large enough, explore the offer of a bookable town hall space 
15.  Community: does your space connect to the local area - this can be done by advertising local bakery deliveries, or offering space for start-ups or community spaces for hire
16.  Active travel: this is changing all the time; do you have provision to charge e-scooters in the cycle storage area; and can these be stored safety? 
17.  Coffee shops in receptions; these must be suitable for the building think more artisan and plant based. 
18.  Filtered water; The WELL Building Standard requires ‘enabled’ buildings to capture many credits. Filter all portable water as standard. 
19.  Occupation density: max packing floor plates with employees seems to be reversing; do you really need to design to these standards? 
20.  Carbon neutrality: in construction and occupation - that is the target and that is what legislation is moving towards. This attracts investors and future proofs the building. 


Martin Smith

Director, Project Management
TFT


Work

#NLAWork

Programme Champion

City of London Corporation

Related

Work expert panel summary

News

Work expert panel summary

Cushman & Wakefield's Richard Goldin and Sitara Bhundia presented their latest research on how workspace and talent need...

Work Expert Panel

News

Work Expert Panel

Our second Expert Panel met recently to explore the workplace in a post-pandemic context. The drive to have people back...

Workplace revolution: what’s next for the office?

Video

Workplace revolution: what’s next for the office?

This NLA Breakfast Talk presented exemplar new projects that rethink the future of the office.

Watch video

Stay in touch

Upgrade your plan

Choose the right membership for your business

Billing type:
All prices exclude VAT
View options for Personal membership