| Working
it...
New Office Design
The
interior design of office space is one of the
busiest segments of the profession, thanks to
the constantly evolving configuration of economies
(whether growing or shrinking), the fact that
most are leased rather than owned, and the near
impossibility of companies remaining in a state
of stasis with regard to needs. At the top reaches
of the market, in grade-A buildings commanding
the highest rents, tenants almost always splash
out on serious renovations and design, understanding
that the quality of their workplace reflects directly
on their corporate image. In recent years, especially,
good design throughout the spaces - not just the
executive suite - has been appreciated for its
contribution to employee satisfaction and job
performance. What now seems a truism, that happy
people work better and nice-looking offices make
people happy, was not always understood. This
fact, no matter how important, will necessarily
always be balanced against budgets and overheads.
Even large, fabulously successful companies don't
like to spend money recklessly, so every office
interior project in the world works against the
limitations of the bottom line. If anything, companies
can be stingier on themselves than retailers or
residential clients might be. But the fundamental
lesson of the rewards of good design, and the
tangibility of it, has been learned across the
globe.
|
