2020 Office Trend Evolution
The end of the year is always a great time for reflection and reconsideration. Here at Synergy, we like to use this time to look back at the projected trends of 2020 and see how they actually played out over the course of the year.
Looking back is not just for our own amusement! By tracking the trajectory of these office trends, we will come into 2021 with a better understanding of how to best help our clients keep up with the modern office while not missing out on the tools and techniques leading to workplace success. By tracking where we have been, we will better understand where we are going next.
On February 5, CNBC published an article by Jennifer Liu titled, “From privacy booths to smart parking garages: These photos show what offices of the future will look like”. Using Liu’s article as a guide, we are breaking down six projected office trends and discussing where they ended up at the end of 2020.
First up, Pop-up Privacy Booths. Liu points out the obvious; open office floor plans are all the rage, but it has led to unwanted interruptions, higher stress levels and low concentration for employees. At Synergy, we have utilized Silen Space Phone booths for clients before, but this trend has evolved into the micro-office concept. A micro-office simply takes the average desk space an employee occupies and encloses it. This concept means no extra square footage is required and the end user can work with less distractions and more concentration. But increased concentration is not the only catalyst behind this trend. Keeping coworkers at a safe distance without feeling boxed in is key as we all attempt to social distance. With glass walls and open visibility, employees in the office can feel secure and focused without sacrificing collaboration when needed. Not to mention, as collaboration moves more virtual, having a space to take calls, tune into a webinar or focus on a deadline is more crucial than ever.
Next, we have the projection of Data-tracking smart campuses. Liu describes future offices with smart parking, integrated technology throughout the space and GPS technologies for navigating large office buildings. These may still be applications we see in the future, but in 2020, the implementation of technology in office were more focused on prescreening devices or air/space sanitizers. Cameras and thermometers were able to track the temperatures of anyone who entered an office building to help decrease the spread of illness. Customers requested fabrics that could be cleaned with industrial grade products, signage for space division and screens that could be added to their existing layout. Not the technology advancements many were hoping for, but likely to jump back on track in 2021. Because who doesn’t want a GPS to circumnavigate to the bathroom in a huge office building?
Community spaces that invite opportunity for networking and co-working are next on the list, but as 2020 unfolded, the possibility of working in a space with many unknown people flowing in and out became unacceptable with the spread of COVID-19. Lockdowns and restrictions caused many offices to close their doors and require employees to work from home. Countless offices are still closed, and employees are more hesitant about returning to a crowded atmosphere. But spaces that foster community are not a thing of the past. Not only do employees need locations to come together to work on projects, but when in-person networking events resume, there will need to be larger spaces available to maintain healthy social distancing. Creating areas within the office that can be easily converted from a collaboration space, to an event space, and then back to a workspace will be crucial. Now more than ever, offices must have the ability to change depending on what employees need at that time. Mobile furniture, folding walls, sound masking and screens are all great options for community spaces that need to serve a variety of needs.
A focus on wellness was the following trend Liu explores. “This focus on wellness is translating to the office space, design experts say. For example, Room partnered with the meditation app Calm in October 2019 to create a meditation booth for office use. Other wellness spaces, such as nap pods, have become a fixture in cutting-edge offices,” Liu wrote. This trend is spot on. This year, our team attended a Wellness Program hosted by Ali Oxley, our Nashville OFS rep. Oxley explained the advantages of WELL, LEED and other certifications that buildings and companies can achieve that focus on wellness from all angles. Employees want to feel cared for beyond their performance; they want to know that their mental, physical, and emotional health is a priority to their company. Wellness can be implemented in the architecture and design of an office easily! Motorized shades let in the proper amount of sunlight depending on the time of day, sound masking can help reduce distracting sounds or conversations, sit-stand desks empower employees to stand as needed, moss or live walls bring fresh air and the calm of the outdoors inside, and lounge or relaxation pods or spaces can give employees a place to calm their mind and regroup if feeling overwhelmed. There are millions of applications that lend a hand to better wellness practices in the office, but one this is for sure, wellness is not a trend that is going away any time soon!
Residential, Resimercial, whatever you want to call it, you have probably heard a lot about this trend. Before employees’ offices were fully at home, clients were seeking a more residential feel to their office design. Big comfy couches, rugs, pillows, ottomans, and bookshelves were tacked on to vision boards across town. But when the work from home madness hit, employees began to miss the formal luxuries of an office. The kitchen table and dining chair were uncomfortable substitutes for a sit-stand desk or an ergonomically correct office chair. The desire for more separation between work and home life started to increase. This is not to say that a well-designed, welcoming office with comforts of home will be abandoned, but while working from home continues, workers need better at home office furniture. Did you know we have an online store? Check it out here!
Our final trend is the increase of design as a retention tool. In this time of heavy turnover, Liu states that young professionals value an office with different areas that lend to various styles of work. Organizations are not only designing their offices for maximum efficiency, but to draw in a community that understands their culture and keeps strong employees on their team. It is our job at Synergy to help our clients create a space that increases productivity, but also illustrates the heart of the company at every step. From beginning design, to selecting finishes, we want your team to feel a strong connection not only with their office space but more so with the company culture that makes their team unique.
