The office remains central to the working lives of most people, but the way we are working has certainly evolved, particularly over the last three years. Post-pandemic, it is now the norm to expect a hybrid working arrangement whereby employees divide their week between remote work and in-office work. 

The rapid advancement of technology is also playing a role in the evolution of office design, as connectivity and collaboration are key to modern working practices, where staff may be working across time zones. There is also more concern for the wellbeing of employees and more attention to human detail in the design and layout of office space. 

As some businesses are downsizing their office estate to reflect the trend towards hybrid and home working, others are shifting the focus to adapt to the new purposes of the office. This may be through using the space in a more focused way to encourage creativity and collaboration, with more user-friendly communal areas rather than stately boardrooms.

Office designs are now more frequently tailored to be inclusive to the different needs of the workforce, rather than resemble generic set-ups with little room for flexibility. For example, there is more provision for quiet spaces for neurodiverse workers, and dedicated rooms for religious or break-out purposes. 

This change of focus means that offices now tend to have a smaller amount of desk space, and make more effective use of the space with flexible layouts. This could be through installing sliding doors as room dividers, so that the office can be sectioned off or opened up as required.

This gives staff the freedom to create smaller collaborative spaces for meetings or brainstorming sessions without disturbing the rest of the office, or to create a quiet area when workers need to focus and avoid distractions. When required, the space can be opened up to encourage communication and the free exchange of ideas.

Fitted furniture may be installed to provide integrated digital conferencing facilities and sleek storage units that maximise the available space. This is a particularly important consideration for smaller offices, where standalone furniture can soon clutter up the space and make it less user-friendly.

There is also an increased focus on employee wellbeing, which can enhance productivity and job satisfaction. This might be through the inclusion of more break-out spaces with informal sofas and greenery to encourage social interaction, high-quality refreshment hubs with coffee making machines and a range of healthy snacks. 

Some offices are even offering wellness spaces with yoga classes, gym facilities, or other amenities such as creches and spas. In the era when the upcoming generation of workers will be used to working from anywhere, the onus is on businesses to make the office an attractive and productive place to be.