Will Workspace Design See a Change in the Post-COVID World?

Absence of long commutes to work, flexibility of work hours and swift transformation to work from home in 2020 made many believe that ‘office’ would never be back in the post-COVID world. But what we tend to forget is that we human beings function well with strong social connections and while the ‘work from home’ model can accommodate some areas of work, it certainly cannot do justice to all.

For instance, it is very easy to face a creative block at home due to the lack of social interactions. While virtual interactions can be an alternative, they don’t allow the same stimulating and collaborative experience that being in the workspace with your colleagues does.

Such interactions are paramount for us to work efficiently and can only be fostered when in the same space. Hence, it is safe to say that ‘office’ is far from being obsolete and if the trends are to be believed, it is springing back to action in a renewed ‘avatar’.

At the helm of it all are coworking spaces. These shared workspaces are rethinking office design to accommodate the demands of their community. Going forward, one can expect new designs, new technologies and new experiences to be at the forefront of workspace strategies. Let us delve into understanding how workspaces are reshaping the future of work.

Open air workspaces
In the post covid world, offices will have to rapidly adapt its design to address the challenge of creating a safer yet engaging work environment. While workspaces need not go back to compartmentalization like yesteryears, they surely can implement smart designs to aid interactions that cannot happen remotely.

One such design change being introduced is in the form of open air workspaces. This model aims to convert the terraces and open areas of offices into working areas. With access to fresh air and adequate social distancing, this change is proving to be a workable solution which is attracting many takers.

“There is a need to rethink office building entirely so that there is a mix of internal and external spaces,” says Robin Chhabra, Founder & CEO, Dextrus Workspace.

Apart from leveraging open spaces, shared workspaces are ensuring spacious work areas for their community.

More nature
It has now become clear that professionals are looking to work out of spaces that offer them the most of nature. Be it natural light, fresh air or close proximity to some plants, companies are preferring to shun artificial for natural.

Shared offices are now revamping their office designs by installing indoor plants, giving way to large window panes for more sunlight & even finding new locations for their views.

Coworking spaces in cities like Mumbai who face the dearth of space & nature are also trying to bring changes by cutting down on harsh lightings and introducing mirrors that give an optical illusion of more space.

Technological solutions

Since the industrial age, technology has paved the path for smarter and more efficient ways of working. Its impact on the way we work has been exponential & going forward, technology will play an important role in improving the future of work. Some of the innovative technological solutions being implemented by coworking spaces in the post-covid world are:

1. Automatic entrance doors
2. Hands-free office unlocking methods that use user’s smartphones, facial recognition or cards to allow entry of authorised personnel only
3. Introduction of apps & booking software that will help members monitor the availability of meeting rooms, conference rooms & common areas.
4. Investment on high quality video conferencing equipment that make remote meetings easy and hassle free
5. Installation of smart motion sensored lights that turn on and off automatically
6. A centralised office supply interface to check office supplies
7. Touch free technology that can help operate coffee machines and elevators with smartphones rather than pushing buttons

Apart from this, the low touch & high interaction architecture has started witnessing voice based interfaces which are commonly seen at homes in the form of Alexa. It is important to note that most of these innovations were already in place in many spaces, the pandemic just accelerated the existing trends and made them the norm.

Recreational spaces to unwind
Coworkers today want workspaces that will value their emotional, mental and physical well being more than ever. To help them ease into the transition process, coworking spaces are introducing more recreational areas than pre-covid times.

Dedicated zones to unwind with a cuppa and a book, take a nap or simply meditate are going to be a regular feature in coworking spaces. These zones will also witness their fair share of design changes to imbibe a sense of safety. One can expect wider spaces, additional breakout zones which will enable social connection and some alone time without close proximity.

Enhanced safety measures & design changes to meet COVID needs
There is no denying that we live in uncertain times. Safety has always been the top priority for coworking spaces. In the current scenario, with no guarantee of when the pandemic will end, it only becomes necessary to incorporate enhanced safety measures. To reduce chances of contracting of the virus, coworking spaces are doubling their efforts by:

• Installing mask dispensers and setting up temperature check protocols
• Increased sanitisation of high touch surfaces
• Spreading awareness among coworkers about ways to maintain hygiene
• Providing hand sanitisers at every step
• Ensuring access to medical assistance in need of emergencies.
• Installing distanced workstations to maintain social distancing and partitions between two desks
• Changing layouts to facilitate lesser concentration of coworkers in common areas
• Constructing wider corridors and doorways
• Incorporating ample signages and communication via various mediums to indicate safety measures and protocols.

At Dextrus Workspace, we too are taking measures to reinvent our design to help our community work safely and to their optimum potential. Here are some of the measures taken in our spaces:

1. Entry protocols and constant touch with the member community to keep them apprised and engage with them
2. Our space is sanitised at regular intervals. We specially deep clean the high touch surfaces and ensure that all the meeting rooms are sanitised after every meeting.
3. Our new space in Lower Parel, Mumbai has abundant natural light and a dash of green at every corner
4. We pride in being one of the few coworking spaces in Mumbai with spacious work stations and common areas. And we are only keeping up this promise in our new location as well.
5. Our centers are equipped with ergonomic furniture to help our members work comfortably without hampering their health

Designing community driven workspace
Designing a workspace isn’t only about the space and its amenities. It is about building a community driven space that inspires experiences that influence the workplace culture. It is also about striving to inspire empathy, diversity and inclusivity. Coworking spaces, post pandemic, are doing just that by going beyond the aesthetics and creating activities that give coworkers a holistic experience and help them become part of a much bigger purpose.

Thus, one can say that in the post covid world both our flexible model of working and design changes in the workplace will impact each other. Wish to know more about the design changes we are incorporating in Dextrus? Visit our website: www.dextrus.in.

Reach out to us via info@dextrus.in