As COVID-19 travels around the world, the future of office space utilization and layout will be altered in this new era of social distancing.
At Altus, we specialize in technology workstation solutions in the healthcare, education, and office sectors. We are in constant dialogue with industry leaders and continue to focus on how we can support their needs going forward in this new world. Read on to learn 12 office design trends we expect to see in 2021 and beyond.
Trend #1: Accommodating Remote Workers
One of the most obvious changes is telecommuting. As employees shift to working from home predominantly, office spaces will need to provide optimized spaces and technology.
Spaces
Office workers will need a quiet space with good internet connectivity to converse virtually with their team members. Designated rooms with soundproof walls, privacy, good airflow, and little distractions will give employees a productive space for meetings.
When remote workers do visit the office, flexible seating arrangements are necessary. Office desks with wheels can transform any office by allowing employees to bring their work from room to room or stow away when unneeded to save space.
Technology
Virtual teams rely on web-based productivity and collaboration tools. To deliver a meaningful and impactful virtual experience, offices need to provide adequate tools such as a web-based platform to work simultaneously and a virtual stand with a webcam that can show the entire room and whiteboard.
Trend #2: A Focus on Ergonomics
Telecommuting gives employees a high degree of comfort when they report to the office, such as wearing what they are most comfortable in and even working from the comfort of their bed or couch if they wanted.
Comfort at the office is just as important as it is at home. New office design can combat this perk by focusing as ergonomics onsite. Height-adjustable desks allow the employee to work sitting or standing and that can help create a positive experience.
Trend #3: Touchless Workplace
Shared equipment and tools such as a kiosk, lobby map, digital whiteboard or any other computers with non-secure access control will replace touch with a gesture. Waving your hand or hovering an RFID badge to open a door or choose a folder with eliminating the need to physically touch a screen, button or handle.
Trend #4: Contactless Interactions
Digital solutions and platforms have already eliminated company communications, guest check-in, conference room scheduling, recruiting, food delivery and more. In 2021 and beyond, there will be a decrease in stores and meeting centers and an increase of eCommerce websites and virtual meetings. More and more offices will take advantage of these touchless interaction technologies as social distancing becomes the new norm.
Trend #5: Office Cleanliness
COVID-19 has sent every organization to reevaluate and improve their cleaning procedures. Offices will not only see an increase in janitorial services but will focus on better cleaning protocols and equipment that can withstand cleaning solutions. Equipment that can be disinfected with healthcare-grade cleaning disinfectants proven to eliminate a virus without diminishing the surface will be a must going forward.
Download this sell sheet to learn more about Altus' mobile carts that can be cleaned with EPA approved disinfectants against COVID-19 without diminishing worksurface quality.
Trend #6: Voice Technology
Along with turning touch into gestures, the future will bring even more voice-controlled technology within offices. Virtual assistants are already the norm and integrated in-home devices allowing owners to control temperatures, open garage doors and turn on lights. In a workplace setting, employees can use voice control to unlock their office, schedule meetings, book a conference room and order lunch. Future offices need to invest more in voice technology to make mundane work tasks easier and create a positive work experience.
Trend #7: Configurable Furniture
As offices begin to shift away from high-density open layouts to prevent the spread of infection, there is a need for furniture that can be configured easily and quickly. A mobile desk with a small footprint is a good solution for employees to bring their laptops to the room to room and stow them away when not in use. With no more unassigned seating arrangements, a dedicated lightweight piece of furniture for each employee will help provide a better experience to this new environment.
Trend #8: Food Delivery
Many employees that are in the office will order more food delivery as they’ve become accustomed to it during the stay-at-home orders. In the past, the majority of companies did not have a formal food delivery process. The future of office design will be included cubicles in the lobby or lockboxes in the front of the building to support contactless delivery. Its likely on-site food services such as workplace cafeterias will become less important to employees.
Trend #9: Personal Devices
Offices will not only move away from shared spaces but give employees a personal desk, smart devices, and space. Personal workspace and tools greatly reduce the chance for a virus to spread via touch between individuals or devices.
Trend #10: Facial Recognition
As employees go back to the office, facial recognition software and equipment can increase security and save on resources.
Security
Requiring no action from the employee, facial recognition can grant employees access to the building and data track for not only crime purposes but can help track a virus path.
Resources
Recognizing who’s coming in, learn their movements and adapt to the space needs of the people who are in the space at that time. Employee behaviors and remember their preferences. Rooms and ever floods can turn themselves off during infrequent use. Ergonomics
Facial recognition software identifies who is coming in, learn their behaviors and eventually can set up automation. When AI learns employee preferences, it can improve the employee experience by adjusting the lights, ergonomics, and temperature as soon as the employee walks down the hallway or enters the room. This leaves the chance to save on resources – by shutting down rooms or entire floors when there are no employees present.
Trend #11: A Focus on Wellness
Office design in 2021 will focus on employee wellness first and efficiency second. Instead of offering an onsite gym and health food options, offices will start looking at healthy spaces and equipment.
Healthy Spaces
Office leaders and builders will focus on lighting, materials, homely touches and colors to create an optimally healthy environment that makes employees feel safe, comfortable and productive. A social – yet distance – area for employees to feel connected will help combat loneliness.
Healthy Equipment
Office design will emphasize ergonomic furniture and equipment to help people perform tasks and work in a healthy way.
The Future of Work Facts & Figures
- Global Workplace Analytics estimates "25-30% of the workforce will be working-from-home multiple days a week by the end of 2021."
- In a Bay Area Council Survey taken by top executives, 89% are planning at least partial remote-work policies.
- In the beginning of the month, Twitter announced the entire company would remain remote “forever”.
- Facebook estimates it will be half remote by 2030.
In 2021 and beyond, office design trends will concentrate on adaptable solutions and employee wellness will play a big role in decision making
Remote work is having a serious moment and office design trends will soon reflect that. Although mostly seen as a positive transition that would happen eventually, COVID-19 has forced offices to transition quickly to accommodate remote work and has created many challenges. It’s going to take leadership to come together to focus on employee wellness first and efficiency second. Many initiatives are already in place to make office work more attractive to qualified employees.
This decade is going to change the landscape of not only office space design but organizational structure as a whole.
