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Following the publication of the latest Occupier Density Study for the British Council for Offices Mark Leeson, Director of Design at McBains Cooper says: “Let’s now put the actual utilisation of office space at the heart of office design to derive more sustainable solutions”
“The report is timely reminder that in order to develop the most efficient designs for new office spaces, we need to get to know our occupiers’ businesses better to be more focused on what really happens inside offices rather than applying ‘standards’ in a blanket fashion without much thought about the practical consequences”, contends Leeson.
“The BCO’s aim is to define and drive excellence in office design, and the BCO Guide is the reference point for the industry in how to achieve this. However, this research has once again highlighted that the office sector is a very diverse one, with varying demands. The on-going debate about future proofing versus initial capital outlay needs to be re-focused to consider the effective density generated by a potential user group.”
Leeson believes this goal involves looking at the de facto number of employees that will work in a given space - based on effective density rather than workplace density – which merely defines the number of desks in a space. “We need to encourage more debate about the most sustainable level to set specifications based on real usage patterns, not theoretical ones,” he says.
“At the end of the day, what counts is creating new office space that inspires and functions perfectly whilst allowing change and meeting commercial aspirations,” opines Leeson. “In the private sector, occupiers leading the way, such as PWC, are targeting 80% utilisation with built in room for growth and flexibility. In the public sector, there is a drive now for higher and higher densities (at least 10sq.m per person) for their estate to squeeze more and more use out of existing stock. In order to achieve these targets, a more in depth understanding of actual utilisation is critical.
“The best office spaces have played and will continue to play a significant role in assisting companies to attract and retain the very best talent, and the extent to which offices are occupied, how they feel when occupied at higher densities and what is required ‘behind the scenes’ to achieve this is more important than ever in a highly competitive market. Overall, the study provides an essential guide and important context in relation to this debate, and should be key to any discussion about the specification of office spaces moving forwards
Fore more information on the British Council for Offices
Article written by ThisWeekinFM | Published 13 September 2013
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