Designing a Post-COVID Workspace

Posted in Articles, on July 10, 2020

When you think of an office redesign, your efforts will focus on furniture upgrades, colour schemes, and adding new features in and around your office space. As individuals are slowly returning back to work post-COVID-19, companies need to rethink their office interior design to reflect the new norm. The question is, how can we design a workplace that is both practical, safe, and aesthetically pleasing? The answer is not to necessarily “fix” what we already have, but instead, incorporate new practices and design into our current space. Proper office interior design can take your everyday normal office space and develop it into something amazing. So what exactly does a POST-COVID office interior design look like?

A Touchless Environment 

First and foremost is to create a touchless environment. Before the pandemic began individuals would not think twice about how many things they touch on a daily basis. From the main doors, elevator button, door handles, to even a fridge door - these are things that we didn’t think twice about. But now, we have to be extra careful before we touch anything. 

Commercial general contractors can help create a touchless environment in your office space. This means anything from soap dispensers to door handles and light switches will all be accessible through touchless technology. This trend will present itself in most commercial spaces where lots of people are going in and out.

Physical Distancing

As many people already know, physical and social distancing is the new norm. So it only makes sense that our workspaces will reflect this change. Not only does that mean you need enough space to walk past your fellow colleagues in the office hallway, but you also need enough space between desks so that individuals can sit and work comfortably six feet apart. 

To enhance the office interior design, we suggest adding high barriers between desks such as plants or a decorative half-wall if your desks are beside or across from each other. Other ways to elevate the space to reflect social distancing, could include coloured mats on the floor to indicate someone’s workspace, modern cubicles, or an increase in single offices. 

Cleanliness

One of the most important factors in designing a post-COVID workspace is the cleanliness of the office. Not only does this mean employees should consistently be washing their hands, but the office itself should be disinfected and cleaned daily. In order to help create a clean environment, you should set up touchless sanitation stations around the office and hire a professional cleaning service to come in and clean your office daily.

Protective Equipment

While we can’t always ensure individuals aren’t touching things, the next best precaution is to wear protective equipment. Using gloves, masks, and sanitation wipes can help protect your employees from contracting and spreading germs. It may be uncomfortable to wear these items throughout the entire workday, so it is recommended to use these items when commuting to and from work, walking throughout the office, as well as during office meetings. 

Working From Home

Despite many individuals slowly making their way back to work, many have also decided that working from home is the better option for them. Since the pandemic, most companies have become quite lenient and respectful to the new norm, allowing more employees to work from home daily. That means there could be fewer people working in the office at a time, creating a more socially-distanced workspace. 

While some offices give employees the option to work from home, others are creating a rotating schedule where half of their employees work from home some days, while the other half is required in the office. Either way, with more people working from home, your office needs to be more equipped for video conferencing and meetings to ensure your business can still run smoothly. 

Sick Days

Normally, employees receive a certain number of paid sick days that they need to adhere by. Because many aspects of the virus are still unknown, ensuring extra sick days can keep germs out of the office. This means that if an employee feels only a little bit sick, they automatically have to take a “sick day” or work from home. 

Goodbye to Shared Workspaces

In many modern offices, the common trend is to have no designated workspace. Employees can work where they want and constantly switch spaces throughout the day. Because of germs and COVID-19, shared workspaces are not encouraged. For more modern workspaces, you can change this by limiting shared desk spaces, assigning a single desk to each employee, and encourage collaboration via work messenger systems.

A Change in Real-Estate

With less inclination for people wanting to take public transportation, relocating and potentially downsizing your office space could help solve this problem. By choosing a location where the majority of your employees live allows them to commute to and from work stress-free. As well, with fewer people coming into the office at a time downsizing may not be a terrible idea. 

Designing Your Post-COVID Workspace With Dancon Construction

As COVID-19 has changed the world around us, it’s no surprise that it has changed the way we interact with our workspace. As our employees slowly make the transition back into the office it’s important to consider these aspects in order to properly prepare your workspace for this new norm. From concept to creation, Dancon Construction is dedicated to transforming your office space into a COVID-friendly environment that will make your staff feel comfortable, productive, and lead to the overall success of your business. Our company can help with workplace consultancy, fit-out&refurbishment, design-build, and even project management. Whatever the project is, big or small, don’t worry about the unnecessary stress of trying to manage commercial general contractors, designers, or engineers.

Dancon is here to make your job easier so you can focus on getting your business back on track. For more information on how to get started, schedule a FREE consultation today by calling 416-827-1225 or email us at info@danconservices.com.