Offices for how people work now

The way people work has changed, and offices are changing with it. For many organisations the question is no longer how many desks fit on a floor, but why someone would come in at all. A good office today is a place to meet, learn, concentrate and belong. This is how we think about it, using our concept for Seven in Manchester as an example.

Start with what people do

We begin, as always, with use. What does the organisation do, and what does each person need to do it well?

Quiet, focused work.
Meetings of two or of twenty.
Workshops and creative sessions.
Informal conversations, the ones that solve problems.
Time away from the desk, to eat, rest or walk.

A good plan offers all of these, and lets a person choose the right place for the task. See also Workplace design.

An office is also a street neighbour

An office building should do something for the street. At Seven, the ground floor is a tall, glazed, lit base with a lobby and café visible from the pavement, so the building is part of the street and not a wall beside it. People who work there, and people who walk past, share a lively edge. See also New buildings in old streets.

What does the organisation do, and what does each person need to do it well?
Offices for how people work now

Light, air and views

People like to work near daylight and fresh air. A modern office works best when:

most desks are close to a window;
floors are not too deep, or have atria or courtyards to bring light in;
windows can be shaded to avoid glare;
ventilation is good, with natural ventilation where the climate allows;
there are views of trees, sky or a street.

Flexibility

Organisations change quickly. A good office building has a regular structure, generous floor-to-floor heights, services that can be changed and floors that can be divided or opened up. This keeps the building useful for decades, whoever uses it next.

Outdoor space

A roof terrace, a garden or a planted balcony gives people a place to work outdoors, take a call or have lunch. It also helps the building stand out from its neighbours.

Materials that age well

An office building will be used for decades. We choose durable stone, brick, metal and glass, with a restrained palette and honest details, so that it stays dignified as fashion changes. See also Choosing materials.

Carbon and energy

Offices use a lot of energy. A good façade with shade and glazing, efficient services, daylight, and the reuse of existing buildings where possible all reduce the building's impact. See also Embodied carbon.

Not just a box of desks

The best offices make people feel part of something. They have a heart, such as a café, a stair or an atrium, where people meet by chance, and they have quiet corners. They are good to arrive at and good to leave.

Seven is a concept design, and its images are visualisations (see our Disclaimers).