When looking for new office furniture or workstations, most desire to have a space that will function efficiently and look beautiful at the same time. However, many miss the mark when buying corporate furnishings because they focus on the lowest price which suddenly tosses their true requirements right out the window. We suggest you ask these important questions below in order to gather information about the way your work force operates. The team at EON Environments can use this information to help you implement an impressive, inviting and productive work space for your business. And believe it or not, you don’t have to break the bank to do so.
- Does your organization have a physical & efficient operational workflow? This is layout of who does what, with whom, where and when. Layout your traffic pattern of employees who must collaborate or physically interact with each other in order to operate your business. You may want to develop a flow chart that shows this process from beginning to end. You can then structure your new floor plan around actual traffic patterns that will increase productivity for employees based in their physical location.
- How much collaboration is required between workers? If your operation requires a high level of human interaction then you may want to consider open cubicles with very low panel walls. Open workstations can be easily designed with varying levels of privacy while still allowing for comfort and effective usability. This will also create an “inviting” space that will prompt idea sharing and easier communication. For areas where maximum privacy and quiet, “heads-down” work is needed, you should install higher panel walls or consider private offices. Additionally, in these areas you can use glass panels, sliding doors, and translucent screens to divide space and add privacy. EON Environments can help create a balance between privacy and open space to ensure that your layout caters to efficient workers of all types.
- Did we allow room for expansion? This is a common shortfall that gets lost in “analysis paralysis” when businesses move into a new space. While growth can always be a positive factor in any business, one of the downsides is placement of new staff in irrelevant areas because of physical room constraints. Your new office plan is a wonderful opportunity to hit the “reset” button on this situation, so do not lose the opportunity to take advantage of it. Sure, your layout may accommodate your staff and business model today, but if you plan to grow your business, you need to allow space for that growth. Do not forget this when choosing new or used cubicles; many forget that one of the advantages of modular workstations is that re-configurations can be done easily to add more staff. Ideally, starting off with big work areas for staff will help down the road should this become necessary.
- Do they really need a private office? Forget about who wants a private office. Instead ask who really needs a private office? Typically, senior management has private office space. The CEO, CFO, HR or anyone in charge of sensitive documents usually have a private office. Don’t forget to allow space for a conference room (or two) that your staff can use for closed-door meetings, sales calls or presentations. Ideally you want to allow for all of your staff to be able to fit into a conference room as there are always “all hands” meetings at some point. Don’t forget that instead of installing a large whiteboard in your conference room, you can now make your entire wall a dry-erase board with IdeaPaint!®
- How much space does everyone actually require? This is based on 2 simple factors- desk space and storage space/capacity. These are very important considerations that can actually be combined and layered in many different ways. There are several storage configurations available, such as pedestal filing cabinets, overhead storage cabinets and wardrobes. Small collaborative spaces, shared storage, and even shared work surfaces can help create a more social environment and improve worker well-being. It has been statistically proven that an inviting, appreciated workspace leads to higher employee morale and increased productivity.
Now that you’ve answered all of these questions, what’s the best way to layout your office? This answer is simple- call EON Environments! Our experienced team can help you with interior design, artwork, graphical design layout, furniture style, accessories and more. Our CAD software makes space planning easy so you don’t have to worry about dimensions, sizing and installation. Let us do the work for you, call us today at 720-570-5400
