2020 was the start of a new decade and has been an interesting one to say the least. Each year brings new construction trends and ideas to improve our businesses, but with the current pandemic situation companies are having to plan for things that were never thought of before.
We’re so glad that the construction industry has opened back up and we are working every day with procedures in place to have safe job sites for our employees and for our clients. We are ready to help you plan your next construction project.
In recent years the trend has been to get rid of individual offices and create shared and collaborative spaces. In the new and potentially here to stay era of social distancing, these shared spaces will not be practical. We may see the return of individual offices to keep employees distanced to create a safer work environment.
Commercial renovations may not be at the top of your priority list right now, but what better time to renovate than when your staff is at a reduced capacity, or working entirely remotely? This may be the perfect time for you to complete those renovations you’ve been considering as to not disrupt your employees, and your day to day business.
Customizing and adding modern updates to your space have been proven to improve employee morale and productivity.
Here are a few top trends for your custom office fit outs in 2020.
1) Privacy Partitions
Glass or acrylic privacy partitions can give a great reduction in sound travel without losing your open floor plan. This would also be a great alternative to rebuilding individual offices but still promoting social distancing.
2) Sound Reducing Walls
Building with sound reducing sheetrock and noise reducing insulation will absorb sound and stop in from traveling around to other areas to promote privacy.
3) Acoustical Ceiling Panels
A common trend today is to leave ceilings exposed for a more industrial look. However, high ceilings with exposed metal roof decking can create noise issues. Installing stylish ceiling panels can help eliminate sound without compromising your aesthetics.
4) Smart Office Integration
Technology is an integral part of our everyday lives, maybe even more so in today’s climate. Incorporating items like sensors for lighting and HVAC systems allow offices to be more energy efficient.
5) Mobile Desktop
Working remotely was already becoming more popular prior to the 2020 pandemic. Today, many companies are realizing that this way of working could be permanent for some industries. IT departments are setting up remote access to servers to allow employee to access important files anywhere and everywhere.
6) Server room temperature control
A server room can sometimes be an afterthought until something goes wrong. With advancements in technology and sensitivity to temperature it’s a popular (and necessary) trend to design server specific spaces. These areas allow the server to operate without stress to keep the office connected and running smoothly.