More and more New Zealand businesseses are seeing the value in creating collaborative workspaces. It may be that you want to promote a flatter hierarchy for your team, where management and staff are able to easily chat about projects, share ideas and work through solutions in an easy-access environment. Or it could be that you want to create sections within a larger space dedicated to intensive project work.
Whatever the thinking behind your decision to design your commercial fitout to include collaborative workspaces, we can help. We have put together a few points to consider as you begin the design process. These ideas may have you leaning towards utilising more shared space in your work environment.
Before we get into why it is important to explore collaborative spaces for your business, we will run through what that can look like in terms of interior architecture for your property. You will need to consider several key factors and elements, and it will be essential to engage a construction team with experience with this type of commercial fitout. Here are a few pointers to get you started.
Before you get started, it’s important to gather input from employees at all levels in your organisation, as they will have a working knowledge of what is needed to ensure that your new commercial fitout will be fit for purpose. You can discover their challenges with the current layout and ask them what they think would work better to boost productivity.
Creating spaces where lighting can be adjusted is a smart move; you can create a sense of privacy with clever lighting, or you can brighten a space in ways that will spark a productive mindset. By utilising intelligent lighting design, you can designate zones within your space with the turn or flick of a switch.
If you want to break down barriers and help people feel more comfortable sharing ideas, you can incorporate cosy nooks or lounges into your commercial fitout. Think about how you can use modular seating, mobile tech and easily shifted whiteboards of different sizes to feed administrative equipment into breakout spaces.
Understanding the load-bearing capacities of existing walls, floors, and ceilings is important, especially if modifications like partitioning, mezzanine levels, or heavy installations are planned as part of your commercial fitout. It pays to get a qualified NZCB-approved builder on board right from the initial planning stages so that you don’t have to pivot unnecessarily, as this can be expensive and blow out your timeline.
If you are used to working in a commercial space where everyone has a designated office or cubicle, you may not have thought much about the benefits of collaborative spaces. However, they are on the rise because they can make a positive difference in the culture and productivity of your workplace. Here are a few factors that might help you understand how important it can be to provide collaborative space for your employees.
Providing open physical spaces in your commercial fitout is a great way to promote teamwork, equality and inclusiveness in the workplace. You may also find that communication becomes easier when your team can chat things through in the moment rather than emailing back and forth.
What’s that old saying? A problem shared is a problem halved? Think of the effect of sharing problems with the whole group! Opening up spaces where people can get together in a non-threatening environment can be a great way to break down barriers—and problems. Identifying solutions rapidly can positively affect your bottom line when it leads to happier staff and greater client/customer satisfaction.
Being able to switch from solo, small and large groups, and hybrid workspaces can create a more flexible, adaptable mindset across your team. This can lead to better knowledge sharing, a more agile approach and dynamic, action-based thinking that can effect change, boost morale and ultimately increase your productivity.
Providing spaces in your commercial fitout where your team can gather in a more relaxed manner can help boost engagement and build strong working relationships. If you can also integrate smart technology into these spaces, you will be able to add remote staff into the mix easily, allowing them to feel like their contributions are important.
If you are ready to create a sense of ownership and contribution towards shared goals, and you want to open up a seamless collaboration space that promotes teamwork and elevates morale, let’s talk!
The QBS Construction team are experts when it comes to commercial fitouts. We are NZCB members and we have a strong portfolio of commercial work from across the Auckland region. Whether your business is a small local operation or a major international player, designing a collaborative workspace can create a positive upswing for your business.
Get in touch now to chat about your vision and book your job.
