Introducing The Agile Workplace…
Whilst latest trends and industry buzzwords come and go, it looks as though agile working is one trend that’s definitely here to stay.
Written by: Debbie Fogg Photography by: Andrew Wilkinson Photography
So what exactly does the agile workplace look like?
Agile (or activity based) working is a fresh, inspirational approach to workplace design. With hand-held devices, mobile and cloud technology, employees no longer need to be at a fixed workstation throughout their working day. This, coupled with the blurring lines between work, home and social life has resulted in office design becoming much more creative.
The agile workplace is made up of imaginative, flexible (and often quirky) workspaces. These include trendy cafés, pool tables and chill-out zones, which encourage social interaction, creativity and team collaboration.
Soft seating, funky breakout areas and “touch-down” points (for ad-hoc tasks and quick, informal meetings) create a more relaxed, home-from-home working environment. Whilst fixed workstations still feature in the agile workplace for certain tasks, less space is taken up by them.
This way of working empowers employees by giving them the freedom to work in a choice of environments, based on the task in hand and in a way that suits them. It has been shown to improve employee satisfaction and well-being and increase productivity.
With some creative, intelligent space planning and design, this way of working can also reduce the amount of space needed. This is a definite advantage when considering rising rents and a shortage of good commercial real estate. Add to this the positive effect on employee recruitment and retention and you have a win-win situation for both employer and employee.
About COEL
With over 30 years’ experience in office design and fit-out, we create amazing workspaces for our clients. From project concept to completion, our experienced, multi-disciplinary team can take your ideas, needs and wish lists and turn them into an innovative, imaginative workplace…
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