There are eight principles that guide workplace design, implementation and management.
When planning new office space, seek out sites that offer large floor plates as this will help reduce the physical distance between teams as well as being more cost effective. Fewer but larger floors reduce the duplication of infrastructure that is characteristic of sites with multiple small floor plates. Preference should also be given to floors with minimal building core (eg lifts, fire stairs) and columns protruding into the usable workspace.
Open-plan work areas should feature as much natural light as possible by being situated around floor perimeters or close to atriums. Where possible, enclosed spaces, such as utility bays and meeting rooms, should be located in the core of the building, to maximise the use of those artificially lit areas.
Centralise facilities (large collaborative ‘hub’ spaces, utility areas, kitchens, meeting rooms) on each floor around the main entry, lifts or stairs to create opportunities for staff to have spontaneous interactions and ‘impromptu meetings’ and to reduce the disruption to individual work areas.
The area shaded green in the diagram above indicates office space for quiet, focussed individual work. The area shaded red indicates space for active, collaborative team work.