3 trends to consider when shopping for an office space

The Australian workforce is changing. Ten years ago, the office was likely a place with a desk and desktop computer for every employee, a kitchen and perhaps a conference room or two. Now, however, things like 'the Google office environment' have inspired employers to turn their offices into centres for creativity and collaboration. 

Finding a commercial space on the Gold Coast with an indoor slide – like Google has at their global headquarters in the Silicon Valley – might prove a bridge too far, but there are certain workplace trends you should definitely consider when selecting a commercial space for your business.

The open plan office is here to stay

Once an office trend intended to offer workers a space where they could focus without being interrupted by their coworkers, cubicles are now viewed by many office workers as a symbol of creative-sapping isolation. 

In their place is the open plan office, where employees are less separated and are able to move about and communicate more freely. The benefits of open plan offices are immense, including:

• Increased collaboration
• Heightened communication
• Boosted morale
• Better productivity

Further, open plan offices can save you money on the materials it takes to build or install cubicles or section a large office space off into private rooms.

When you look at commercial spaces for your office on the Gold Coast, ensure that the properties you look at either follow an open plan or are at least conducive to some open planning principles. If your office is too segregated, employees will be unhappy and your business will likely suffer.

Less is more – minimalism is in

At its core, modern commercial design is about minimalism. In office spaces, this means clean, simple desks free of the clutter of tangled cords and stuffed cupboards and drawers. You might be hesitant to embrace minimalism because in many ways, all those cords and wires do enable productivity. You should keep in mind however, that an aesthetically pleasing office will not only make your employees happier about coming to work each day, but also impress clients who might visit you on site.

To add a modern, minimalist element to your office, make sure the commercial space you lease or buy has:

• Plenty of storage spaces to help eliminate the appearance of clutter
• Few walls or glass partitions in place of walls
• Simple, clean looking colours including neutrals or raw materials

Mobile-friendly collaborative spaces are key

In the past, employees were tied to their desk by their bulky personal computers that couldn't be moved. This is no longer the case, and a recent report by TechCrunch showed that two in three Australian employees used two or more devices in work daily, including desktops, laptops, tablets and even smartphones.

The ability to unplug your laptop and meet with your coworkers (also with laptops in tow) is a big deal for the modern office employee, which is why many offices are now incorporating collaborative spaces into their floorplan.

When looking at office spaces, make sure you buy or lease one that has ample space for collaboration. Private nooks where you could put comfortable chairs and small tables will be much appreciated by your employees.

Separate rooms that can be converted into multi-purpose areas – and not just the standard conference room – will also be well used by your staff who might want to lead small training sessions, or hold meetings and presentations in a space that has dedicated seating, whiteboards, smart screens, and so on.

Want to find the best in commercial office properties on the Gold Coast? Then reach out to the experts at Ray White Commercial and Industrial on the Gold Coast. Our dedicated team is here to help you find the perfect work environment for yours.