Making the Most of Multipurpose
Commercial offices have changed a lot in the last several years as remote work became the new trend. As a result, offices became smaller as less space was needed. This trend evolved as companies embraced a hybrid style of work requiring a certain percentage of time to be spent in the office. People could share space as they only had to make an appearance a few days a week. Large gatherings and conferences that used to take place in person have largely become digital via conference call services and the need for large meetings and multipurpose rooms dimmish. These spaces still exist but to best utilize them we must think of outside of the box.
Rethinking its Purpose
Large multipurpose spaces were originally created to host conferences, meetings, or hand-on training events. These spaces needed to have the ability to reconfigure themselves quickly and needed to be versatile. One day you could be hosting a training session, the next day a lecture series, and the following day a small vendor presentation. The worksurface and seating needs for these events differ greatly. As a result, we learned how to move things around to make the most of what we had. This feature of the space allows us to rethink how we can use it. If employees only come to the office once or twice a week, they do not need a dedicated desk and are likely to have company laptops. A great way to maximize use of a modern multipurpose room is to set it up for these people to use. The default configuration of a multipurpose room could become a space where remote works set up a few times a week. This allows the space to be unitized when it is not needed for larger gatherings.
Having the Right Furniture
To maximize the utility of multipurpose spaces it is necessary to have to have to right furniture. Modular training tables are a must. These tables come in many sizes and can be set up in many ways. They can be used as tables for conferences, training, and even small private workspaces. Using them as small desks enables you to have more employees in the office than traditional desks available on a particular day. Having a quality seating option is also important. Basic stacking chairs work for training sessions and short meetings but are not great options for daily tasks. In contrast, traditional office chairs are bulky and not easy to store when not needed for an event. A great choice is a nesting chair. These chairs can fold up and slide together to save space but are often more comfortable than a traditional stacking chair. They are not as functional as dedicated office space but will work well for someone who only needs it once or twice a week.
Being Open Minded
When rethinking how space is used you will get many opinions and detractors to ideas. People are comfortable with the norm and often resist change. Leaders need to be willing to take risks and need to be willing to not succeed. That being said, no one wants to invest in new furniture or supplies needed for a concept that will not work. The easy solution to this problem is to try a new concept with what you already have and learn from the experience. Your existing tables might work while your chairs might cause complaints and issues. Create a dialogue with the people who will use the spaces and ask them what works and what doesn’t. This will give you a basis to make changes and decisions. You can learn what needs to be improved and even what might not be necessary. The only thing that is certain is you will learn nothing if you do not try something new.
How we use space in the commercial office is always changing and evolving with time. Multipurpose rooms need to evolve to stay useful just like traditional office spaces like cubicles have done. Take a little time to see how much space is needed and think of ways to use this space to fill new needs. If you need any help deciding what furniture will make your space more useful feel free to reach out to us at sales@furniturewholesalers.com.