5 Design Changes For The Post-Pandemic Office

There is no denying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses, particularly its workers and how they operate within their workplaces. In most instances companies had to shift to working entirely from home, collaborating through online meetings and abandoning their office spaces for over two years. Some businesses decided to permanently make the change to a virtual workplace, but for many others online meetings simply couldn’t replace real human interaction. Offices continue to open back ups as pandemic restrictions wane and social distancing fades from memory, but the aftermath of the pandemic makes it clear that the concept of the office space needs to adapt to new public health awareness and keep up with the ongoing popularity of working from home. The lessons learned from the pandemic provide a new template to redesign office spaces to provide a safer and more comfortable office environment and culture, adapting to the viability of working from home as an alternative.

1. Greater privacy

With fewer workers staying in physical offices, there could be more room to implement private nooks. Photo credit: Fennie+Mehl

One of the major drawbacks to the typical pre-pandemic office space was difficulty in providing space that was quiet and private. Open plans are standard for today’s office spaces but the post-pandemic era could see them separated into smaller zones, not in the sense of replicating the sea of cubicles from eras past, but producing layouts that are more reminiscent of a residential environment. This could mean more lounges and private work nooks. Since many employees continue to work from home, there could be enough space in existing offices with reduced in-person workers to implement these intimately-scaled features. Open plan layouts provide more efficient air circulation, but fewer workers returning to physical offices makes it possible to experiment with alternative layouts.

2. Improved connection with the outdoors

Microsoft Germany’s Munich headquarters provides an outdoor terrace for work and collaboration, shaded from direct sunlight. Photo credit: Microsoft

The benefits of a connection to the outdoors can be observed in both physical wellbeing and mental health. We can expect future office buildings to place a higher priority in providing useful outdoor space that connects with the interior as seamlessly as possible. Design solutions such as outdoor terraces can provide opportunities to work outside in warmer weather conditions. Many office parks have underused green space surrounding them, which could be redesigned to create more opportunities for socializing during breaks and to provide space for exercise. The use of passive climate control techniques such as natural ventilation is an option to cool buildings more efficiently and reduce reliance on HVAC systems. Working from home has given workers more of an opportunity to connect to the natural environment which should be replicated in the design of future office spaces.

3. Opening thresholds and reducing hands-on contact

Offices that remain at high occupancy could adopt measures to reduce the amount of physical contact required with places that potentially collect and spread germs. Some bathrooms in public spaces have doorless thresholds that could also be applied to a larger office environment, although this would require more space than a typical office bathroom design. Touchless sensors for lighting and ventilation could also reduce the risk of viral transmission. Designers could also experiment with features controlled by apps on a smartphone, such as smart lifts, lighting and air conditioning.

4. Closer attention to furniture, appliances and finished surfaces

Smaller fridge drawers situated around the office in multiple locations instead of a large communal fridge could be a solution to reduce the spread of germs while also making the space feel more home-like. Photo credit: Vicus Partners

Designers of post-pandemic office spaces should take inspiration from working from home. Replacing the standard desk and chair with sofas has been a popular way to make the office feel more home-like. A traditional pre-pandemic office would usually have a set location that functions as a lunch break area, including the kitchen and a shared fridge and pantry, but an alternative could be an increased number of smaller fridges, pantries and appliances spread out across the office environment. Furniture should also be lightweight, flexible and easy to clean. Microfiber upholstery is a good solution to achieve this, with the added benefits of withstanding heavy usage. Self-cleaning materials should be specified for shared counter and tabletop surfaces to maintain high sanitary standards.

5. Choices in work environment

An office space in Osaka, Japan, connects directly to the urban street grid. Photo credit: Kenji Togo

The concept of monolithic office spaces where workers return every day could soon be a thing of the past. The monotony and restrictions are viewed as increasingly restrictive in a post-pandemic society. Some companies have shifted to renting smaller spaces in different locations instead of leasing single large spaces, beneficial in places such as downtown cores with good access to transit. Some tasks could be better solved in more casual settings such as a coffee shop rather than a cubicle. While assigned seating has its upsides, there is a lot to be explored by providing greater mobility for workers with more freedom to choose in which places to work. Office space interior design could be reworked to provide smaller unique settings for working in, instead of uniform cubicle layouts.

These are some ways in which offices could be redesigned to adapt to the new conditions created by the pandemic, as societies put a higher priority on public health, and as working from home becomes more widespread. Refitting typical office spaces to provide a closer experience to working from home would maintain the sense of privacy and comfort that came from a residential environment, which was lacking in more traditional office spaces. Refitting office spaces with materials that are easier to clean and smart features that minimize excessive physical contact is crucial to maintain a healthy office environment. These measures could help to create a more satisfying workplace for employees where they are adequately supported to do their best work.