Atlantans are resilient. We are the only U.S. city to be destroyed by fire in an act of war and then we rebuilt. This is the home of The Phoenix, a hopeful symbol for Atlanta who has overcome tragedy and risen from the ashes.
There’s reason for optimism. Atlanta is home to the 3rd largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. and Georgia is once again among the best in Chief Executive magazine’s annual list of the best states for business. This list is based on CEOs’ rankings for every state’s tax and regulatory regime, the quality of the workforce, and the quality of the living environment.
Regardless of trends in technology, commercial office space is not going the way of the dinosaur. Offices must evolve to thrive and we have a few trends that Atlanta offices may want to follow.
Adaptable Office Furniture
Adjustable height tables were designed to fit work that changes daily and meeting spaces. Choose from glides, casters and 2-leg or x-base options. Rectangle 2-leg tables work well in classrooms, offices, and meeting areas. Tables in square, round, or eclipse work surface shapes are ideal for small-team breakouts, podiums in classrooms, break rooms, or adjacent to cubicles.
Bring on the Color!
Ban the all white walled office. After all, indecision is not a choice. Get some color on those walls for the love of design and your employee’s benefit. Look for subtle colors. Think less Chuck E. Cheese and more tranquility. Many bosses choose bold office colors to match their bold personalities when better choices include taupes, tonal whites and warm grays.
We’re still fans of color, but consider the effect each color can have. Blue is good for productivity, green is ideal for those putting in long hours and yellow has been shown to stimulate creativity. We don’t hate red, but we recognize it is best when the users of the space are doing physical activity. One example for red would be a cross fit gym. More color research can be found here.
Flexible Workspaces
This means multiple space types for different working modes. Do you have spaces that cover all activities?
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Concentration
- Chilling Out – Employees with strong social ties at work tend to be happier and more productive. If you don’t have this, your employees will seek it outside of your office, during working hours.
One inevitable trend of rising office rents is less space for each employee. It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that less space = more dissatisfaction.
Do you have a lobby but few clients coming in? Why not transition this into a social space? We’re social creatures and having this space will shift distractions away from crowded, open office layouts.
On a related note, it might be worth it to invest in a great coffee setup. Not only will it save your employees money, but those coffee runs mean less time in the office. Use Starbucks coffee or survey your employees for their favorite locally roasted Atlanta brew!
Planning Interiors can help you envision a future in your commercial office that suits your company’s culture. Give us a call today at 470.545.4906 to set up a consultation.