⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

Office Design in 2017 Will Once Again Focus on the Employee Personalized and active offices are key to worker engagement.

By Nina Zipkin

entrepreneur daily
Shutterstock

You may not realize it, but your work environment -- from where your desk is located, the temperature, even how long you are sitting -- can all factor into how industrious and collaborative you and your team are.

Stephanie Douglas, director of workplace strategy at Teknion, a design firm that specializes in office spaces, says that going into 2017, "much of the dialogue around workplace has focused on the 'things' -- space, furniture, technology, policies -- and we're seeing the conversation shift to really focus back on the employee."

This emphasis on the employee's experience -- especially with regards to health and wellness -- is going to inform many of the workplace trends in the year ahead.

Related: 5 Reasons Businesses Should Favor Function Over Flash

Communal and collaborative space
Jennifer Busch, vice president of architecture and design at Teknion, says that she sees more offices making it possible for employees to not be restricted to one desk or office. Busch views this trend as an embrace of the ethos of tech-driven remote work habits. Depending on the needs of your workforce, she says that swapping out individual cubicles for more communal space can not only save money, but increase employee engagement.

Personalized lighting
"Lighting can have a dramatic effect on productivity in the workplace," says Steve Delfino, vice president of corporate marketing and product management at Teknion. He's taken note of an increased emphasis on companies that are interested in providing ways for workers to be able to make lighting brighter or dimmer.

Related: Office Design? You Need to Do These 3 Things To Reduce Employee Distractions.

Staying active
Another trend on the horizon is more of a push toward standing desks. Teknion conducted a study with the University of Waterloo and found that the optimal ratio for activity over the course of the day is 45 minutes of standing to every 15 minutes of sitting. However, if you are just starting, Lisa Barday, Teknion's director of industry analysis, recommends starting with standing for a quarter of your day and sitting for three-quarters of it, then working your way up.

But beyond just sitting and standing, "work environments should be programmed and designed to promote movement," Barday says.

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.