Whether you are designing a new space or renovating an old one, it is important to know how to communicate what you want in its design. Because the design of where you work can not only affect employee satisfaction and retention, but also impact many other factors like productivity and financial planning.
So before building your workspace, take a look at some popular words and phrases.
Hot Desking
Unassigned workspaces are often categorized as hot desking. With hot desking, workers have the freedom to make independent decisions about where to spend their day in the office. This autonomy can improve employee satisfaction and may even increase productivity. Hot desking is also known as flex desking, flexible seating, and having an agile workplace.
Flex Space
A flex space is an offsite location where workers can drop-in for a meeting, work alone, or catch-up with coworkers. Often understood through Third Space Theory, flex space is a hybrid of the office and the home. It can help to create flexible working hours and allow for unconventional creativity.
Hoteling
Hoteling is a term used when workstations are reserved on an as-needed basis, particularly when a company has a fluctuation of temporary employees, consultants from out-of-town, or interns. These workstations are sometimes called hotel desks, because of their frequent changes in assignment. They do not technically need to be desks. A hotel desk can be a reserved seat at a shared table.
Modular Walls
Modular walls are versatile walls made from posts or panels. Unlike cubicles, they are lightweight and can be easily reconfigured to meet a company’s space requirements. They are manufactured eco-friendlier than traditional walls and have an inner core that works to reduce noise pollution. These walls, whether leased or bought, can save a company time and money, because they are durable, long-lasting, and recyclable.
Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods, or Neighborhood Seating, assigns one seat to multiple people who work different shifts throughout the day. It maximizes space and saves money by increasing the ratio of people per desk.
Resimercial
Resimercial is a style of design that works to create a more welcoming and comfortable environment. While making the office feel more like home, resimerical design and furnishings aim to inspire creativity, encourage productivity, and retain employees. Factors like lighting, décor, and upholstery all play a role in creating the necessary ambiance of a resimercial workspace.
Stack Planning
Stack Planning assigns workstations by department, rather than the individual employee. It eliminates the fuss of smaller numbers by grouping together the alike. Some companies stack plan by assigning a separate floor to each department, while others group desks together. This organized division encourages efficient collaboration.
