Hybrid working has been one of the pandemic’s most enduring legacies: in a recent LinkedIn poll by People Management, a third of respondents said they now work in the office just once or twice a week.
Many companies are attempting to entice staff back by making improvements to their environment and facilities. Gone are rickety swivel chairs and anonymous desks; the modern office boasts squashy seating, luxurious loos, and dedicated dining areas that encourage a proper lunch break.
The phrase ‘office peacocking’ has been coined to describe this trend, but we at LA London believe that an office overhaul is more than just for show: it has meaningful benefits for staff, clients and your business.
Here are some of the key advantages of a thoughtful and strategic office refurbishment:
Greater productivity
Discreet meeting booths in our project for Motive Partners in Canary Wharf
Catering to employees’ comfort in the workplace can only have a positive impact on productivity. It’s easier to work in a space that’s well lit, heated and air-conditioned, where external noise is minimised, and where the furniture is comfortable, robust and ergonomically designed.
Well-equipped kitchens and fully stocked fridges mean staff can fuel their focus with nutritious snacks and meals, while access to coffee facilities may even boost brain function. Healthy and tasty buffet-style lunches and barista-standard coffee helps to ensure that employees don’t need to venture out.
Better communication
One of companies’ key reasons for wanting team members back in the office is that it facilitates collaboration and idea-sharing. But when staff work at individual desks or in separate cubicles, it can be easy to adopt a one-track mindset. Likewise, we can assume a colleague is too busy to talk when they’re focused on their screen. So we leave them in peace – or send an email instead.
Office layouts that incorporate informal communal areas, like our recent fit-out for fintech company Motive Partners, encourage greater collaboration and more effective communication. Those 10-minute breaks from our inboxes can be precisely when the best ideas strike.
The space was designed to offer a range of options for collaborative working – on a café-style table with a coffee, in a sound-proof nook (maybe with another colleague online), in a small auditorium with white boards, or in an electronic ‘ideas lab’, supplemented with a post-it-note display.
Our fit-out for Motive Partners in Canary Wharf.
Brand value
A thoughtful office refurbishment has the power to enhance your brand. We are currently renovating a wonderful listed Victorian warehouse in the Menier Building in Southwark, working hard to retain its magnificent original features while still meeting modern standards of function and safety.
The space, complete with the exposed original brickwork and cast iron columns, imbue it with a rich heritage that the future tenants can use to reinforce their brands with their customers.
A visual for our current office refurbishment in the Menier Building, Southwark.
Talent retention
Just as an attractive and comfortable environment can enhance your brand and impress clients, it can also have a favourable impact on staff. If your team members feel happy and at ease in their working environment, they are less likely to look for opportunities elsewhere.
One firm recently approached us wanting their office space redesigning to make it a nicer place to spend time than their team’s own homes. In doing so, their team will actively want to spend time there, even for socialising in the evenings with the help of a bar, pool table and large screens to watch movies and sport. Some companies even offer gaming stations and sleeping pods, and outdoor roof garden space is always a big draw. And when it comes to recruiting new talent, it always helps to offer incredible surroundings with facilities that cater to quiet concentration as well as collaboration and socialising.
More space
Our skill as designers allows us to make the most efficient use of the square-footage available. Creating a sense of space even in smaller offices not only adds to the comfort of staff, it can also support privacy and discretion where necessary.
Maximising the space available also allows your team to grow within your existing premises so you can avoid – or defer – the cost and hassle of an office move.
An office space in the refurbished Menier Building.
Overhead reduction
As part of our ongoing commitment to the environment, we take care to ensure all our projects are as energy-efficient as possible – and nowhere is this more important than in the workplace.
Buildings that are well insulated and that incorporate renewable energy technologies such as solar power are not only better for the planet but also cost less to run, reducing business overheads and increasing your profit margin.
If you’re considering upgrading or refurbishing your office space, do get in touch for an initial consultation.