A new report issued by the Washington-based American Institute of Architects notes that new office design and construction trends this year are expected to see a greater emphasis on what is called “dynamic flexibility.”
Defined as being able to convert space within an office setting depending upon the needs of the moment, dynamic flexibility includes “indoor-outdoor access through garage doors, mobile green dividers, and available seating in any corner.”
Multi-purpose spaces have proven particularly effective since the advent of smart and multifunctioning lighting systems and ergonomic elements that are “adapted now to the limitations and capabilities of a worker for any space and purpose,” notes the report, Office Building Trends You Should Know About.
The study also reveals a growing preference for wood in new office design and construction, noting: “Wood has always impacted employees both psychologically and physiologically through its naturalness, warmth, and cozy appeal.”
But the desire for more wood elements in office design is expected to also see an increase due to the simple fact that members of the Millennial Generation, now the largest workforce in the nation, are the most interested in “green thinking and sustainability ideologies.”
This will mean more wood floors, wood walls, and wooden furniture in office settings, all designed to add a “necessary warmth and calmness designed to boost motivation or creativity and protect against noise pollution.”
The report also predicts a greater coming emphasis on sustainable design that uses “recycled materials, smart lighting systems, and energy-saving resources that are well-developed to establish a decent relationship between nature and office buildings.”
By Garry Boulard
