Optimizing office space is highly valuable for businesses. Following office space planning guidelines allows you to create a space that is safe, productive, and inspires creativity. Space planning isn’t just about arranging furniture. It’s creating a dynamic environment that supports your employees’ needs, helping them become more productive, and ultimately boosts your business. Whether you’re looking to foster collaboration, improve focus, or future-proof your workspace, our expert tips will help you create a more efficient and inspiring work environment.
Top Office Space Planning Guidelines Factors:
- With the right expertise, it is usually possible to rearrange your office space to be more productive for your employees.
- Code compliance is key to ensuring a safe workplace, and must be taken into consideration when planning your furniture layout.
- Creating various zones to promote different types of work (collaboration vs solo work) helps your team make the most of your office space.
- Prioritizing furniture-proofed design and layouts can help make your office more efficient and creative.
- KV Workspace can help your business with your office space planning needs.
Understanding Office Space Planning Needs
Assess Your Current Office Space
Before improving an office layout, we must understand how the space is currently used. This is the first step in our office space planning service. When working with an established office space, the first things to consider are the specifications of the space which include:
- What is the current floor plan and dimensions of the office space?
- What currently works well in this space?
- What isn’t working in the space?
- What do you want to see in this space?
It can be especially helpful to talk to your employees before redesigning an office. Gather feedback on their needs and preferences, and what they would like to see in your newly redesigned office.
Define Your Space Planning Goals
It’s important to specify what you want to achieve with your office. Some offices need to improve collaboration, others need dedicated work zones for their employees. This is particularly important to understand before jumping into the nitty gritty of office space planning guidelines. If you need more collaboration, you’ll likely want conference tables or breakout rooms. For solo work you may want to add individual cubicles or meeting booths to give a quiet place to take a call.
Ensure Code Compliance Guidelines
One of the most important aspects of office space planning is ensuring code compliance. Office space planning guidelines ensure that your office is safe. Proper compliance could be easily overlooked when designing your own office space but is second nature to our expert designers. We take code into consideration for all of the office spaces we design. Some office space planning guidelines include:
- Means of Egress: Skilled office designers can ensure clear and unobstructed exit routes while maximizing space efficiency.
- ADA Compliance: ADA compliance in office spaces ensures accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Current ADA compliance guidelines can be obtained from the U.S. Access Board.
- Fire Marshal Requirements: Your office design must adhere to fire safety regulations, including the placement of furniture and equipment. Fire code guidelines can be purchased from the National Fire Prevention Association.
Space Allocation Standards for Office Planning
Industry standards usually allow for 100 square feet per employee but this can vary greatly based on your business type, employee roles, and office layout. Consider whether your employees require space for solo administrative work, or if collaborative space is more important. Factor in larger space allocation for team members whose jobs require larger machinery or technical equipment.
Create Zones Within Your Office Space
When planning the layout of an office, especially an open space office, creating different work zones is needed. To do this we divide your office into distinct zones based on different activities. Depending on your needs this may look like this:
- Reception Areas: Do you have clients that come to your office? Where do they wait for a meeting to start? Offering a comfortable space to wait is important and possible even in open offices.
- Collaboration Areas: Spaces for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and group projects. This will use larger tables, and whiteboards, and may require integrated power for charging computers. Collaboration is one of the most important reasons to use your office space!
- Focus Zones: Quiet areas where employees can work on tasks that require concentration. This may be cubicles, meeting booths, or individual offices.
- Social Spaces: Areas for casual interactions, such as break rooms or lounges. We love making sure there are social spaces in offices – this is a big perk for employees.
The above photo is a great example of this. You can see a small meeting table in the center front, a solo workspace to the right, and a multi-use social or solo workspace behind. This is made functional with the use of visual screens and sound-dampening products like the Openest Double Booth.
Optimize Furniture Layout
The most important part of planning an office? Working on the furniture layout! To guarantee that we’re following office space planning guidelines and codes, we use CET 3D visual tools to visualize office layout. This allows us to move around furniture within a virtual space before needing to do so in person. Our clients love being able to “see” their new office space before the furniture goes in, and 3D office tours allow us to give several options for the same room. This gets us on the same page before installation begins!
Our Office Space Planning FAQs
- What is the size of a typical private office? 9’ x 11’
- What is the size of a typical workstation? 6’x 6’ – 6’ x 8’
- What is the size of a typical conference room? A typical conference room is 10–25 sq ft, suitable for 8–10 people.
- What is the appropriate size of an aisle width? 44” minimum
- What is the size of a 36” door clearance when open? (Which is helpful to note in smaller rooms.) 31”- 32”
Employee Wellness Guidelines in Office Design
Employee wellness is a wide-ranging topic from ergonomics to walking initiatives. Ignoring these concepts can contribute to employee dissatisfaction, stress injuries, migraines and more. By incorporating light and supportive tools, your office space can make a big difference in your employee wellness programs.
Incorporate Natural Light
Natural light is vital for a healthy and productive work environment. When designing an office space, keep in mind how light flows through the space. In The McCalman Building we wanted to ensure that the whole office made use of their natural light. To do this we built out their central conference room with transparent switch glass that allows for privacy when needed but allows light through to common areas the rest of the time.
Offer Task Lighting
Task lighting gives employees more control over their work experience. We love offering employees a choice in a desk lamp! It allows the employees to feel more ownership of their space, and helps to create a more “homey” feel to their workspace. Additionally, task lighting allows your employees to control their level of light. Some employees may want or need more light to work productively, while others may like a dimmer light. This choice of lighting can help to reduce eye strain and customize the employee work experience.
We recommend the LIM360 lamp for most desk workers. This lamp is fully dimmable, uses long-lasting LED lights, and swivels 360 degrees for perfect light control.
Open vs. Private Spaces
While open-plan offices can foster collaboration, balancing them with private spaces is a must. A completely open office may make it difficult for an employee to take a call that is personal or with a client. Others may find they need a space to focus without distractions. Consider incorporating soundproof pods like the HushHybrid Pod, pictured above, small breakout rooms, or establishing quiet zones to give employees options based on their tasks and preferences.
Consider Technology Integration
Modern offices rely heavily on computer work, so it’s crucial to integrate tech solutions seamlessly into your workspace. We like working with corporate office furniture that includes integrated power. This allows employees to plug in without needing to scramble under desks. Planning power in advance also helps you avoid dangerous extension cords in busy areas.
Bring The Outside In
Incorporating natural elements, especially plants in your indoor space is referred to as biophilic design. We all thrive when we have access to sunlight, fresh air, and beautiful plants! Biophilia in Office design is best when planned in advance. This living plant wall at Scale is a beautiful example of this! Other ways to include biophilic design are potted plants, hanging plants, or using planters that also can help to divide up a space.
Guidelines for Future Proofing Your Workspace
Businesses evolve, and so should your office space. We design with flexibility in mind to accommodate future growth and changes. This might involve using movable walls, flexible workstations, and adaptable furniture.
Movable Walls
One of the easiest ways to make a huge impact on your office space without huge construction? Incorporating movable walls. In the Son of a Saint Headquarters, we used Haworth Enclose Frameless Modular Walls. These glass wall panels come together easily to create movable offices. These movable glass walls also offer power and data integration!
Classic Design
Want to ensure that your office design will last for years to come? Opt for tried and true classic design elements. The WDSU Boardroom is a great example of this – we chose neutral tones and lots of storage to hide away clutter. There are always trends in furnishings – one of the best ways to make your space look fresh is by adding in pops of trending elements, like artwork, decor, and personal items that are easy to change if ever desired. With a classic backdrop, pops of color really shine!
Office Space Planning Guidelines Takeaways:
Effective office space planning guidelines cover so much more than just arranging furniture. It’s about creating a space that supports your employees and aligns with your business goals. At KV Workspace, we’re dedicated to helping you achieve just that! By following these guidelines, you can optimize your office space, enhance productivity, and create a work environment that inspires success.
Reach out to us at KV Workspace for expert advice and tailored solutions for your office space planning needs. Let’s work together to make your workspace work for you.
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