Has your office design gone stale? If the majority of your furniture hasn’t been replaced in years (or decades) and the aesthetics haven’t changed since day one, it’s likely that your work space is in need of a refresh. Though it can be hard to view this as a priority when there’s always plenty of other ways to spend the money in the budget, employers need to recognize the benefits of having an aesthetically pleasing office workspace — and then study up on these tips to revamp your workspace design on a budget. New office furniture doesn’t have to break…
Overcoming Challenges of Open Office Plans Much has been made of the open office layout trend: both for it and against it. Though the science has always been out on the definitive benefits of the open office design, its popularity has never faltered: an estimated 70 percent of office spaces had adopted the popular cubicle-free floor plan by 2014. The plan is far from perfect, but since it shows no signs of going away, it’s time to focus on ways that it can be improved upon. Where did the open office layout come from? The concept of an open office space…
Control rooms are some of the most difficult work environments to design — yet also where intelligent design and planning can make a huge difference. In control rooms at power plants, transportation hubs, emergency responder dispatches, police precincts and more, employees are working in a high-stakes environment with little room for error. They must be able to seamlessly interface with technology (often multiple systems), communicate with others and maintain focus at all times — that’s where control room design and ergonomics becomes essential. When planning a control room, it’s important to consider everything employees will need to work effectively, while…
Just a few years ago, the future of office work seemed clear: it wouldn’t be in the office at all. Large companies began recognizing that having an off-site workforce simplified employees’ lives in terms of stressful commutes and childcare arrangements. It also gave them a larger pool of talent to choose from. Diebold, a company that manufactures ATMs, decided to adopt a telecommuting policy to attract potential new hires from outside the Canton, Ohio area where the headquarters are located. Quickly, they were recruiting talented new employees from Silicon Valley and major US cities. Telecommuting even cuts office maintenance costs…
How Effective Office Ergonomics Can Help to Prevent Employee Fatigue Though it seems straightforward enough, designing a well-functioning workspace carries a great deal of complexity. Paying attention to ergonomics is crucial when it comes to preventing injury, enhancing productivity and reducing fatigue for your employees. Here’s what the science of ergonomics has to say about creating and managing a workplace where your employees can work best. What is ergonomics? First things first — what do we mean by ergonomics? Office ergonomics is the science of designing a workstation to fit the capabilities and limitations of the average worker. It takes into account the…
Designing the Data Center of Your Dreams A modern data center uses good power and cooling strategies to optimize efficiency and uptime. However, power and cooling sufficiency is no longer enough to ensure this result. Designing a Data Center Involves Multiple Components Evaluate the following components when designing a data center for optimal uptime and control. Top designers, like Saraval Industries, realize that there can be no inefficiency or a less than optimal command center to achieve user goals for accuracy and immediacy of access. Best practices demand the maximizing of the following components, at a minimum. Performance Users expect…
Everything You Need to Know About Eco-Friendly Furniture Solutions Eco-friendly furniture now comes in most styles for the home and the workplace. Yet, office furniture lends itself to environmentally-friendly products even more than furniture for the home. If your company wants to “go green” with its office décor, there are numerous good options. Most quality, eco-friendly office furniture comes with long, sometimes lifetime, guarantees. According to Environmental Protection Agency estimates, approximately 3 million tons of office furniture and furnishings are discarded each year. Here’s what you need to know about doing your part. Technical Furniture Some quality furniture organizations, like Saraval Industries,…
Much is made of millennial culture, both good and bad. But ultimately, it doesn’t matter how millennials are judged by older generations or by each other. They’re here to stay, and they’re quickly changing the world around them. As more and more millennials (commonly defined as the generation born between 1980 and 2000) enter the workforce, office design trends are quickly adjusting to fit the preferences of today’s young workers. Companies are increasingly realizing that they need to court talented and educated young people, and one of the best ways to do it is to make their workspaces as millennial-friendly…
As employees, our morale and productivity are heavily dependent on our surroundings. An office that feels streamlined, open and invigorating is directly tied to workers who feel motivated and ready to perform their best. Good organization in the workspace is a key factor in creating this kind of productivity-enhancing environment. When we’re surrounded by clutter, it’s difficult to stay focused and easy to succumb to distraction. From a practical perspective, in a poorly organized office it takes longer for employees to locate things they need, causing unnecessary delays. Interested in learning how to improve office organization? Read on for some…
Office Lobby Design Ideas for Great First Impressions A lot happens in your office lobby. People pass through it all day long — members of your team, returning clients, prospective clients, collaborators. Even though most visitors may only linger here a few minutes, their time in this space will leave a lasting impression. Your reception area is telling visitors a story about your company: is it forward-thinking? Is it confident in its brand? Is it successful? Is it creative and energetic? A well-designed office lobby will serve as a constant reassurance to seasoned team members that they’re working for a great…