The way we work has been transformed. While this is mainly due to the restrictions brought about by the pandemic, heightened concerns around the environment and a focus on wellbeing have also brought about significant change.
These shifts have directly impacted office design. Whereas trends and ideas for unique office spaces would previously be design-led, now the focus is on accommodating different working patterns and practical layouts with a nod to branding and trending style.
ONLEVEL provide a range of glass hardware solutions, glass partition and sliding glass door systems, frameless glass balustrades, Juliet balcony screens, and glass post railing systems. Our work gives us unique insight into how office design is evolving. Here, we take a look at some key trends and ideas for 2022.
Flexible and hybrid working
The most significant recent change in the way we work is having greater choice of where and when we put in the hours. Many of us have been offered flexible hours and the choice to work from home or adopt a hybrid approach.
As a result office design now needs to focus on flexibility. If only a percentage of staff are working in the office at any one time, less floorspace is required because it is no longer necessary to allocate a desk to every worker. Instead, co-working spaces are now an intrinsic element of office design that workers can use on an ad-hoc basis, along with collaborative areas for task-focused sessions and social spaces for colleague interaction.
Wellbeing
Currently a primary consideration across so many aspects of our lives, wellbeing has become a major consideration in the design of offices. As part of a duty of care for employees’ mental and physical wellbeing, businesses must be seen to be human-centric in the provision of office space with consideration for layout, natural light, ambiance, ventilation and safety.
Glass partition walls have become particularly popular in office design. Glass partitions open up spaces and prevent workers from feeling cut off from colleagues and what’s going on around them.
Our Startrack office partition hardware facilitates easy sectioning of offices to create smaller spaces without losing light. The Startrack partition system is quick and easy to install with minimal hardware to ensure the ‘all glass’ look.
Sustainability in office design
Employees are increasingly seeking assurances that their employer is operating sustainably. Likewise, businesses are keen to reduce their carbon footprint with many seeking sustainable accreditations.
In the design and build of offices, certifications companies can aim for include BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method), SKA (Skansen – from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Sustainable office design aims to reduce the office building’s waste and energy usage. This can be achieved with measures such as high-efficiency systems, LED lighting, optimum use of natural light, passive ventilation, the use of low-emission materials and the repurposing of furniture and fittings.
Office refurbishment and space optimisation
In 2022 many businesses will be keen to attract workers back to the office. One way to tempt them is through an office refurbishment that is fresh, welcoming and which optimises space. The quality and versatility of that space is vitally important.
Sliding doors are a popular option for optimising office space. They provide privacy when required and open up spaces for collaboration if there is a need to do so, or to simply create a bigger room. The Banana Slide range of glass sliding door hardware offers a choice of ceiling or wall mounting. The range includes a 50 Complete Set and 80 Complete Set for ceiling mounting, and a 50 Complete Set and 80 Complete Set for wall mounting. The 50 complete sets are available in lengths of 2000 and 2500mm, with the 80 complete set also available in 3000mm lengths.
Find out more
ONLEVEL are specialists in fittings and systems for glass balustrades, juliet balconies, glass partitions and numerous glass hardware solutions. For further information, please contact us using our online form.