Over 60 percent of U.S. workers believe the square footage in their offices is being used inefficiently, and about a third of them believe the fix is as easy as a better floorplan, according to a recent survey by Coldwell Banker Commercial Affiliates.
In addition to a more efficient use of space, survey respondents said they desire private spaces within the open floorplan, with 79 percent saying a place to temporarily withdraw from the shared workspace would help them feel more comfortable at work.
Besides wanting to move the furniture around, survey respondents reported ample parking and more diverse onsite dining options as their top two desired workplace amenities. Outdoor spaces such as rooftops, outdoor patios, and gardens were another feature desirable to 41 percent of respondents.
The trend toward convenience and community seems to be driven by the younger Millennials, which Coldwell Banker Commercial Affiliates defines as the younger than 29 crowd. "Workers are demonstrating that they want to eat lunch with their colleagues rather than eat alone, and they want to spend time in outdoor office lounges rather than at their desks," says Fred Schmidt, president and chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker Commercial Affiliates. "Offices are becoming a center for social activity, and it is important for office commercial real estate to accommodate this."
The survey, was conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Coldwell Banker Real Estate. The survey sampled over 2,000 adults, from ages 18 to 69, to identify worker attitudes toward their current physical workplace and better understand how office space can be optimized to meet worker needs and comfort.
This Quick Read was submitted by Naomi Millán, senior editor of Building Operating Management. For ideas on how to create a more efficient office space, check out www.facilitiesnet.com/17119bom
