The Importance of Function in Commercial Space Design
In this article, we will explain why the intended function of your commercial space plays such an important role in creating a space plan and design scheme that best works for your company and suggest a few considerations to keep in mind during your office space planning, such as:
In architecture and interior design, “programs” simply means the various functions that a space needs to accommodate. Most offices in NYC, LA, San Francisco have some combination of the following:
Desks (Open Office, Private offices, cubicles, hoteling)
Meeting and Conference Rooms
Cafeteria/Lunch Room
Restrooms
Phone Rooms
Lounges and/or Breakout spaces
Entry Space/Reception
If you are considering a commercial space new build or renovation project in Manhattan or Brooklyn, the best way to begin is to choose a NYC interior design or architecture studio. Even before your first meeting, you should start thinking about the intended function of your new space. You’ve probably heard the term “form follows function.” This means that the interior design and layout of your new office should correlate to its intended function.
Your interior designer or architect will create a design “program” based on a research and decision-making process that identifies the scope of work. This program can range from broadly identifying your goals and objectives for the project, to defining its precise details. It is an important first step that begins before the office planning phase, and remains an essential tool throughout the project, guiding your team from concept to construction documentation.
The Vision, Goals, and Objectives of Your Project
The vision, goals and objectives of your project should support and reflect your company’s own mission and vision. Here are some issues to address when talking to your architect about the goals of your renovation or new build project in Manhattan or Brooklyn:
What functions will take place in the new space? How will it be used?
Who will the users be and what are their activities and schedules?
How many people need to be accommodated?
What are your aesthetic preferences?
What is the project’s total budget?
What level of quality are you looking for?
How will this project accommodate your company’s short- and long-term goals and predicted growth?
What is the relationship between the aesthetics of the space and your brand?
What Specific Rooms and Areas Are Needed?
To create your architectural program, your office space planning service should have an understanding of the specific floor space you need for designated activities. Most offices in New York City and around the country include at least some of the following:
Entry space/reception
Work/desk area
Meeting and conference room
Cafeteria/kitchen
Restrooms
Phone rooms
Lounges and/or breakout spaces
The type of office layout that fits your company’s needs will be discussed during this phase. The number of employees, your design aesthetic and your ideas about what constitutes a safe, healthy and welcoming workspace, should all factor into how and where your employees do their work. Here are a few options for the configuration of your office space:
Open plan
Private office(s)
Cubicles/workstations
Desk hoteling
Flexible workspace
Sustainability Goals
Your commitment to sustainable practices is an important consideration when space planning, and should be considered at the beginning of the design process. Here are some of the factors that may be part of your sustainability objectives:
Sustainably sourced materials: These include furniture as well as fabric, flooring, lighting, window treatments and finishes.
Energy efficiency: One way to make your office environment as energy-efficient as possible is with lighting. Examples include the use of LED bulbs, smart lighting, and reducing your dependency on artificial lighting by having your workspace layouts maximize natural light.
Efficient water usage: You can invest in low-usage fixtures such as faucets and toilets to improve your water use efficiency.
Efficient use of floor space: Floor space that is either not used or under-used still requires heat, air conditioning and electricity. Unused interior space can be repurposed to make your office more efficient.
A sustainable office design will save on utility bills and contribute to employee satisfaction. Good air circulation, biophilic elements, and lots of natural light can have a major impact.
Wellness Goals: Another priority in commercial space planning is the creation of a sense of physical and psychological safety to create greater satisfaction and employee productivity. These days, minimizing the spread of infection is a top priority, especially as people are becoming increasingly aware of how their workplace can create health risks. Smart office space planning can provide long-term solutions such as the following:
Indoor air quality: You may be required to modify your HVAC systems to upgrade filters and bring in more air from outside. Your office design service or project manager can help you navigate available installation services in New York. Natural ventilation and access to outdoor space should also be prioritized.
Office layout and density control: This may involve increasing space between workers to maintain social distancing and reduce density, creative cubicle and workstation design, the use of desk partitions, and placing desks so workers are facing away from each other.
Use of antimicrobial materials and office divider panels: Glass partitions can replace traditional walls to optimize much-needed space, create necessary barriers and maximize natural light.
Designing for the Functions of Collaboration, Flexibility and Privacy
The work environment of 2022 and beyond will no longer be where the worker goes to sit at a desk all day. Beyond seating, it will be a place of movement, collaboration, and interaction, where employees can connect with colleagues and feel a sense of shared purpose and belonging. The creative design of office spaces that foster collaboration is a necessary part of your plan.
Flexible space planning enables you to rearrange spaces to accommodate varying numbers of employees and to change with your company’s needs. This can be accomplished by using moveable partitions, carts, proper office furniture, and walls. Movable glass walls and partitions allow spaces to be modular and adaptable to how and where people work. Multi-use office space can accommodate different types of activities and numbers of occupants.
Because workers have a proven preference for privacy, options for private offices and spaces should be part of your space planning. It is a requirement rather than a luxury. They can be created in an open floor plan with the thoughtful use of cubicle design, office divider panels and desk partitions.
On a final note, relevant codes are an important part of your office design program. Items such as zoning requirements, and local, state and federal codes, may have an effect on the design, function and costs of your project. For example, some building codes mandate the amount of square footage that must be allocated per employee. These factors need to be identified at the beginning of the office space planning process.
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