With the ongoing shift to remote work, office buildings must continue to adapt to stay viable in a changing corporate environment. One way to accomplish this is to make sure that employees are more productive on-site than they are at home.
With this in mind, commercial spaces must take advantage of modern architectural trends to maximize employee productivity in their corporate office.
1. Open Spaces to Allow the Free Flow of Natural Light
Many corporate buildings choose to use large windows, fewer walls, and modern office partitions to allow natural light flow as a means of limiting electric light use and lowering utility costs.
However, natural light has also proven to improve employee productivity on a number of levels. First, natural light increases employee morale and positive associations with the work environment, as the vast majority of professionals say their work is improved when they are near a window or have a view outside.
Second, employees overwhelmingly say that natural light is easier on their eyes than artificial light, as they are less likely to squint and have to take breaks due to headaches or concentration problems when working in a naturally-lit space as opposed to one that uses electric lights.
Finally, extended exposure to artificial light is proven to negatively impact sleep patterns. As modern professionals are consistently exposed to computer screens and smart devices, adding to this artificial light exposure will only make the problem worse. Therefore, balancing employees’ screen time with a healthy dose of natural light is a great way to help professionals get a healthy night’s sleep.
2. Add Customizable Areas for Employees to Take the Initiative
Modern professionals do not like the idea of being stuffed into pre-assigned, drab offices and/or cubicles. They prefer spaces that are more versatile, creative, and indicative of who they are as unique individuals.
Remember, modern offices must compete with home offices, where employees have full power to design the space in the manner they choose. As such, the most productive contemporary offices give their professionals the opportunity to design their work spaces in their own creative fashion.
Individuals or teams can use furniture, decor, and creative partition for offices ideas to section off spaces and establish work environments that help them arrange their zen space.
3. Use Exterior Screens to Limit Noise
One struggle that most commercial offices must engage in is the battle between keeping a peaceful and productive work environment when the exterior of the building is in complete chaos. Loud traffic, bustling pedestrians, and swirling debris are just a few of the distractions that most office buildings must deal with.
Therefore, modern office buildings are increasingly utilizing the benefits of architectural grilles and exterior screens to help mitigate these distractions. Some of the benefits that these structures offer include:
- An aesthetically pleasing aspect in front of the building
- An initial barrier for exterior noise and debris
- The ability to better control the flow of light
4. Choose Repurposed or Recycled Furniture and Decor
Modern professionals place a high premium on sustainability and ethical responsibility. The bygone days of the cutthroat corporate mission simply will not fly in 2020, as professionals want to know that they are working for an organization that cares for something above and beyond profits.
One of the best ways to do this is by choosing office furniture and decor that is sustainably sourced, with a premium placed on those materials that are recycled or used in a new and creative way. When employees know that their company has values similar to theirs, they will be incentivized to do their best work.
Conclusion
As office spaces battle to remain viable in the era of remote work, it is essential that they take advantage of modern architectural trends to maximize employee productivity. Open, well-lit spaces; high customizability by employees; and creative exterior screens are a few of the trends that offices can use to make their space as productive as possible for professionals.
Mandy Lee is a contributor to Innovative Construction Materials. She is a blogger and content writer for the building materials industry. Mandy is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that increase property value, maximize energy savings, and turn houses into homes.
