Page 34 - Designing Ways 302

OFFICE SPACES

espite their value, collaboration
Designing Collaborative Office Spaces spaces are often the first to go
Dwhen companies are looking for
by Stienie Greyling ways to repopulate the workplace.
The workplace environment
communicates with the people within
it, both consciously and subconsciously.
Incorporating collaboration spaces of
different sizes and types, open and closed,
tells people that collaboration is valued and
encouraged by the organisation. Proximity
and ample availability make collaboration
easy to do, and more likely to happen.
Collaborative office spaces are evolving
to prioritise flexibility, employee well-
being and a mix of collaborative and
focused work areas. Key themes include
the rise of hybrid models, the integration
of biophilic design and the need for
intentionally designed, rather than just
open spaces.
In the aftermath of the pandemic and
the resulting shift to remote and hybrid
work models, many organisations have
reduced their real estate footprint, in some
cases significantly. Today, as more and
more companies look to increase office
presence for employees, they are having
to rethink their workplace strategies to
accommodate a greater daily population.
Collaborative workspaces have gained
popularity for a reason: They are designed
to breakdown barriers, both literal

34 Issue 302 • dw