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If you are looking for ways to differentiate a typical office floor, why not stick a library room in the middle? All of sudden, office meetings feel more like the start of a murder mystery tale set in an English manor house.

Couchsurfing

Living up to its name and business, Couchsurfing’s office space is seriously cool and laid back. Looking more like a teenager’s basement than the office space of a global business, Couchsurfing employees enjoy sofas, swings and plenty of open space.

Inventionland Design Factory

This office is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. This office is designed with 15 different sets, ranging from pirate ships, race tracks, faux caves, red carpet walkways, a castle and a giant robot. Not only does the space have fun, creative decor, but the facility also has a state-of-the-art sound/video/animation studio and fully-equipped workshops for creating working prototypes of inventions.

Dropbox

The mission of the popular file hosting and sharing platform Dropbox is to make it easy for people to work comfortably from anywhere. So when it came time to design office space, Dropbox wanted the space to do the same thing. It’s an office that Dropbox likens to a city plaza: a mixture of public and semiprivate spaces that encourage workers to find their own personal bliss.

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At Loc8 Commercial, we know offices and have compiled a collection of office images giving an insight into how far office design has come.

Office Design in 1950s

Large heavy filing cabinets filled with paperwork could be seen as large pieces of furniture taking up space in small workspaces. It was common to find two people sharing a desk with an interior that consisted of chunky desks, carpet flooring, the odd picture on the wall and cream coloured décor.

Office Design in 1960s

The rise of G-Plan furniture in the home and office allowed workspaces to become more colourful, playful and contemporary. Offices moved from carpets to wooden floors with slightly more comfortable chairs. Desks were designed to allow easier cleaning in and around the workspaces. Large filing cabinets were still popular but the rise of personal desk storage and filing meant workers had more freedom and trust.

Office Design in 1970s

Major office developments in the 70s included wall colours and personal workstations.  Workers had more space to themselves and were often at their desk most of the day using the typewriter. As you can see in this office they have opted to go back to carpets but the desk designs still allowed cleaning to happen easier. Office plants and telephones are the other two new additions to offices in this era. Offices were still full of paperwork and storage cabinets.

Office Design in 1980s

Some would say the best decade to have been alive in. As you can see the 80s didn’t really deliver on office design innovation. The introduction of personal computers on each desk along with more ergonomic chairs and slightly more private working spaces summed up this era. Personal storage space was important and workers often brought in photos of their friends and family which were left in the office. People had their own desks which allowed for personalisation. Due to the increase of technology, offices were full of wires and health & safety began to creep into people’s conscience. Orange chairs were very trendy during this time!

Office Design in 1990s

Not much changed in the 90s, computers were still big and heavy taking up a large amounts of space on a desk. Telephones, keyboards, mobile phones and integrated personal storage in desks with the odd plant, photocopier, fax machine and more wires oh and along with very unstylish carpet sums up the 90s work environment.

Office Design in 2000s

Computers became thinner and more light weight taking up less desk space. Mobile phones were smaller and emails were the main form of communication meaning less paperwork for the first time. Offices became slightly more casual with people hanging their personal items on the backs of their chairs. Chairs were more ergonomic as people become more body and health conscious. Exposed brick walls became popular adding character and style along with white boards and artwork decorating the walls. Wood flooring proved to be more hardwearing and became the number one choice of office flooring.

Office Design in 2010s

Creative, casual, fun, engaging, colourful, interactive, inspiring, comfortable office environments can we found in every city across the country. Furniture that doesn’t match or is upcycled has become cool and contrasting colours are the norm. Break out spaces where employees can work or play are expected with laptops allowing people to work wirelessly from anywhere with access to food and drink on tap. The integration of plug sockets in the floor, walls, ceilings and sofa’s mean people can charge their phones and computers anywhere whilst hot desking. Having a fixed formal desk and workspace is seen as old fashioned. If you’re working in a coworking space then it is likely you will be working next to someone from a completely different company with clients in a completely different time zone.

If your looking for a modern, inspiring office solution then give us a call on 020 3031 8563 or search via our website https://loc8commercial.com

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For most of us the office is not just a great place to work or get motivated. You may have worked in an office that has tired old brown carpets, furniture falling apart and desks with coffee stains on that have probably been there for 10 years.

 
The rise of tech companies has famously tried to buck this trend, showing their employees they have the ‘best’ work culture and environment to maintain their interest for long enough that they won’t have their head turned when headhunted on a daily basis. From start-ups to MNC’s they are furnishing staff with all the free food, pool tables and ‘music jam’ rooms they could possibly want. This certainly isn’t for everyone and if you are wondering what the hell we are talking about. Read on……

If you are passing Hoxton Square in East London make sure you detour to see the TREExOFFICE for yourself. It’s an ‘unsocial-able social-able’ space that shouldn’t work but does. It not only works but people have reportedly been more efficient and driven in this space. Some say it’s down to the lack of disruption although if someone in the room is on the phone it’s fair to say you will feel involved in the call.

This urban office is built on stilts around a tree. The pop-up has eight seats with power and wifi available to rent. You can also book this space for small company meetings or pitch opportunities to impress prospective clients. However, if you need the loo, well that is one mod con you won’t find here. There are of course lots of public places nearby but if it’s raining or snowing you may get wet. “It is made of compressed paper with see-through plastic and translucent polycarbonate,” says architect Kathryn Timmins. This is good for the environment, but also helps workers feel at one with nature.

 
Perched above a converted warehouse called Village Underground in Shoreditch is one of the most unusual and exciting workspaces in London. On a disused underground train. If you are fortunate enough to visit this space you surprisingly won’t feel as trapped as you could in an office.

 
The trains were stripped of their mechanical parts, then carefully lifted on to the building by cranes in 2007. It was part of a project to make affordable working spaces for artists. As we all know Shoreditch is very well known and respected as an area for creative and artistic types and seems to be growing with all sorts of interesting characters.

Since 2007 many have seen the advantages of leaving the coffee shop environments for these special places. Working in an open, creative and unusual location can be inspiring if not scary at times.

 
People that work in these spaces don’t conform to the typical 9-5 jobs. It wouldn’t be crazy to see a member of staff arriving at 10.30am and leaving at 9pm with lots of ‘creative’ breaks throughout the day. It has been suggested these locations are more relaxing environments and allow you to ‘get in the flow’.

 
One question we have, how good is this space in the middle of winter?

 
For those that get the train to work then spend 8+ hours a day on a train for work, we are keen to hear from you and if it’s as cool as it looks?

Multi-National Companies like Google have taken this concept and expanded it on a much larger scale. They also offer soft benefits that will make you want to never go home, these range from free meals, free gym membership, free coffee, ride to work schemes, discounts off Google products oh and being the first in the world to know how they are helping change the world with technology.

Whether your business is looking for something funky and unusual or something a bit more traditional Loc8 can assist in finding you the perfect office for your business. Give us a call to discuss on 020 3031 8563 or alterntiavely get your search started here

The post The UK’s most unusual Workspaces appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

Sitting in an office chair for between 4-8 hours a day can definitely cause low back pain or worsen any existing back problem. The main reason behind this is that sitting, in an office chair or in general, is a static posture that increases stress in the back, shoulders, arms, and legs, and can add pressure to the back muscles

A few simple tips to implement today include:

• Push your hips as far back as they can go in the chair.
• Adjust the seat height so your feet are flat on the floor and your knees equal to, or slightly lower than, your hips.
• Adjust the back of the chair to a 100°-110° reclined angle.Make sure your upper and lower back are supported. Use inflatable cushions or small pillows if necessary. If you have an active back mechanism on your chair, use it to make frequent position changes.
• Adjust the armrests (if fitted) so that your shoulders are relaxed.If your armrests are in the way, remove them.

Many of us have sat on our sofa’s at home for hours on end without any problems over the years so why does it matter sitting on the right chair at work?  On average we will work at 5 different companies in our work lifetime.  Each office will have a different culture, lighting, desk size, computer, chair and expectations that all take a toll on your mental and physical ability.

Whether you are starting your first job at 18 years old or close to retiring this article applies to everyone. As we know our bodies are all different so if one person doesn’t suffer any ergonomic issues in your office it doesn’t mean you won’t.

We spend the majority of our time at work or behind a desk so it’s important to look after yourself.  The media have made us realise the importance of eating well at work and if we don’t take a lunch break then to make sure we eat well at our desk.  Historically you would have taken an hour’s lunch break but with the ever growing trend of eating at your desk you are spending on average an extra 5 hours a week sitting down eating.

Even at the point of writing this blog we are fully aware we aren’t sitting in the right position and are 100% guilty of making the above mistakes.  Ask yourself a simple question today.  Do I sit like the ergonomic images suggest?  If not what can I do to make a small change?

Other factors that contribute to an incorrect position are computer height, keyword access, foot rests, screen glare, heat from computers, food, home environment and more.

Loc8 Commercial are by no means health or body experts but as we are experts in helping you find the right office space, we also want to take responsibility in making sure you are comfortable in your new office which starts with the chair.

Please feel free to contact our team to discuss any requirements you have or take a look at our website www.loc8commercial.com

The post Office Chair: How to Reduce Back Pain? appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

Quality office space brings many benefits to a business and when it’s done well it can create a positive environment where teams can flourish. In a recent article on Fast Company, Kay Sargent, director of workplace strategies at infrastructure solutions provider Lend Lease said, “In the last four to five years, we’ve all been focusing on sustainability and the impact technology has in an office. During this time, we’ve forgotten that we’re designing for people. Now there’s a real focus on trying to maximise human potential, performance, and productivity.”

OFFICE SPACE WITH PEOPLE IN MIND

Designing office space with people in mind has taken a major leap forward since 2014. According to Miguel McKelvey, cofounder and chief creative officer of coworking office space WeWork, productivity is about enabling collaboration in the workplace.  He said, “With the popularity of open floor plans, it’s certainly important for people to have a sense of privacy. People need a space that they can go to make a conference or Skype call.”

One important reason to make sure your office space is well designed is the rise in work place stress. According to the Office of National Statistics one in five employees is suffering from work related stress. Leading US expert on workspace, Monica Parker from Morgan Lovell said, “Every decision in the workplace has a profound impact on workforce wellbeing, and an office is the living, breathing representation of a company. It should be the duty of any socially responsible employer to create a healthy, engaging environment for their staff. And, while the recession has tightened purse strings, showing people how they are valued in hard time’s results in less sickness, higher retention and ultimately better performance.”

The increased cost associated with better office locations can often be outweighed by the considerable benefits that employees will find from easier access to transport links, often reducing journey times to work and the added benefit of great local amenities like cafes and shops. Improvements to the work-life balance can reap huge rewards for businesses that place their employees at the heart of the decision making process when seeking new office space.

REMOTE WORKING IS THE NEW DESK SPACE

Many businesses are embracing remote working, but not everyone wants to work from home, preferring to travel to a place to avoid the usual distractions around the house. Peter Thomson from the Henley Business School said, “People still need to meet to exchange ideas, so the office has to change to be more like a place to have meetings, rather than just doing the work.”

He went on to say, “Not everyone can or wants to work from home. Many of us actually enjoy travelling to a separate workplace, which can offer an opportunity to socialise, to make friends and, in some cases, even partners. Yet business owners would be wise to learn how changing their office environment can make their offices more happy, productive and creative.”

One of the more diverse elements affecting productivity can be smell. In 2014 office provider Avanta commissioned a team led by Ruth Mastenbroek the former president of the British Society of Perfumers, to create Ascent, a bespoke scent designed to improve brain activity. “Smell is the most powerful of the senses, and is best able to influence brain activity,” says Mastenbroek. “Aromatherapy probably isn’t the first tool you’d think of to stimulate your business productivity, but perhaps it should be.”

So the real cost of badly designed and not well placed office space can be the huge impact on productivity and staff retention, two important issues that can have a significant impact of the sales of a business and ultimately customer satisfaction.

This year we have looked extensively at both office location and office space design, highlighting the importance of both to the success of businesses all over the UK.

FURTHER READING

You can read our articles on location and office space design by clicking below:

Office Location, Office Location, Office Location

Top Tips for Choosing the ideal Office Space

About the Author

Stephen Moore is a writer and marketing consultant supporting businesses in the commercial property sector. Find out more about Stephen at Google+.

The post What are the Real Costs of Poor Office Space? appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

In its 20^th year the survey looks at the number of new office developments that have started in the capital.  The latest suggests that more than 51 new office buildings have begun construction in the last six months, putting building work at a 20 year record.

Chris Lewis head of occupier advisory at Deloitte said, “Availability is the lowest it’s been for 15 years. The amount of development we’ve seen feeding through over the past five years has been below average, and as a result there has been very little space completed,” he said. “It is a surprise to see this many new schemes.”

He went on to say, “the pendulum is swinging away from landlords back towards tenants, with greater choice leading to more opportunity”. These record increases suggest demand has not slowed down over Brexit fears for the UK economy.

So what is currently under construction in London?

New Buildings in London

By far the largest building to start in the last six months has got to be 70 Farringdon Street right on the fringe of the area known as Midtown. It’s a colossal 843,000 square feet and due for completion in 2017. It is one of a number of new developments in this part of town which has seen prices soar. Availability has become limited as businesses look for alternatives away from the West End.

However, topping 70 Farringdon Street is the 40 storey 100 Bishopsgate building which at 867,000 square feet is located in the heart of the City skyscraper belt close to the Gherkin on St Mary Axe.

So these along with many of the other 51 developments are already 42% let at this early stage. Proving popular with a mix of businesses across the technology, financial and media sectors.

Interestingly, the London Tall Building Survey 2016 listed 94 tall buildings submitted for planning consent in the last year. Making a total of over 200 high rises waiting to start construction. By far the tallest of these is One Undershaft at 73 storey’s it will be the City of London’s tallest building and the second tallest in London after The Shard.

We will keep you posted on developments over the summer as new buildings launch and others start construction.

Main photo by Alamy

The post London Office Space Construction At An All Time High appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

According to a recent article by Business Zone one of the biggest reasons people leave are feelings about their working environment. This reason has a broad number of factors that include not only company culture but the quality of office space people are asked to work in.

The connection between good office design and productivity has long been a topic of conversation. The move away from bland “factory” style offices has reached new heights in the last few years with interior designers working to improve the look of office space to make them better places to come to work in. Providers like WeWork, Landmark, BE Offices and LEO amongst others have all used the services of leading interior designers like Oktra great effect. And the occupancy figures of these locations speak for themselves.

Large corporates like Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Yahoo have been strong advocates for the move towards well positioned office space that’s close to good transport links and designed innovatively to help motivate their teams with modern, fun and well thought through office design. For many these famous businesses have led the way with funky interiors that have included slides, snooker tables and slot machines, balanced with inspiring places to eat and grab a coffee.

Why Work-Life Balance is important to Office Workers

Dr Travis Bradberry published a recent article on Linkedin were he explained that people are more likely to place their work-life balance higher than financial remuneration and seek out businesses that are in an accessible location, offer flexible working hours and foster a participative culture.

And if that wasn’t enough proof, an extensive poll by Accenture came up with similar findings with more than 75% of those surveyed saying having good tech in their office space allowed them to have a more flexible work schedule and 80% said having a good work-life balance was more important than financial rewards.

Nellie Borrero, managing director of global inclusion and diversity at Accenture commented, “The fact that finding the right approach to integrating career and life demands continues to be critically important to employees is significant for employers. Companies that can help their employees navigate both their professional and personal lives are likely to see strong employee engagement and enjoy an advantage as they recruit and retain high performers.”

Many serviced office and flexible workspace providers have started to embrace the importance of the many factors that provide the perfect place to work. One of the first considerations for any workspace provider is location (read our article “Office Location, Office Location, Office Location”) and as its one of the most important considerations for business owners it’s no surprise that it’s just as important for employees who do not want time consuming long journeys to work.

With the many factors contributing to staff turnover it’s easy to lose sight of the things you can change. If we concentrate on the physical elements, companies can easily start to reduce the number of people who leave the business:

The Well-Being Checklist:

1. Location – Easily the most important factor that allows you to be close to your clients and just as important for your employees to have a number of transport links and not too far to walk.
2. Office Design – We already know that innovative design can add a real spark of creativity to teams and help to increase productivity.
3. Amenities – Having an office with great breakout facilities and a place to eat lunch are important to employees. Who wants to sit outside in December to eat lunch?
4. Beverage Kitchen – The importance of a good cup of coffee shouldn’t be underestimated. Businesses that provide access to free tea and coffee facilities help to save time and help bolster productivity, team interaction and the general office feel-good factor.

If your office space ticks all the boxes on our checklist, you can be sure your team shouldn’t be leaving any time soon. It’s important to remember that Accenture mentioned that company culture also goes a long way to reducing staff turnover.

In 2016 financial benefits are no longer at the top of employee’s job and career priority lists. When combined with the main factors we’ve mentioned, a positive and empowered workforce helps reduce the headcount turnover and can go a long way to improve productivity.

Sources: Dr Travis Bradberry via Linkedin, Accenture survey 2013

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