“The first place is your home, the second is your work and your third place is a space for community.” Ray Oldenburg
“A major trend from 2016 we expect to continue into 2017 is embracing the third place. The third place is an area of the workplace designed more similarly to a café or lounge than a traditional office. Separate from permanent workstations, the third place offers a relaxed, informal environment for workers to either work alone when desired or collaborate with others. A well-designed third place becomes an in-office retreat, providing workers with the change of scenery they need to spark inspiration while allowing them to avoid the inconveniences that can come with working away from the office, like lack of connectivity and fewer amenities.” (Coalesse)
Workers are facing longer hours, stress, and feeling tied to their desks. Workers are also looking to combat dull offices and favoring healthy workspaces that provide a change of pace. Third spaces provide a place to:
- Have impromptu meetings/presentations
- Relax and interact informally with co-workers.
- Be inspired/brainstorm/research.
Stand-up meetings
Insights from 2016 Workplace Index reveal employee sentiments about their offices:
- The three most frequent terms workers used to describe their office environments are “standard”, “plain” and “dull”. This included open office layouts.
- 64 percent of respondents say their workplace has contributed to stress and 13% have taken a stress related leave of absence.
- Most respondents actually feel most productive at their office desk. Yet when it comes to being inspired the preference for the office desk goes from 65% to 36%.
- Roughly 50% of respondents eat lunch at their desk. 50% also reported sometimes feeling they can’t get up from their desk for a break.
- 3 out of 4 respondents say their employers do not give them access to the latest technology to help them do their job more efficiently.
Open Plan layout
What are employees asking for?
- Designated collaboration spaces and public spaces play a bigger role for inspiration than productivity.
- Not just millennials prefer these type of third spaces – respondents found lounge areas the 4th most interesting features in an office. The first 3 were natural light, private spaces and standing desks.
- Food as part of the workplace: Even in a wellness program the number one thing that employees look for is fresh foods. This was valued more than having a gym onsite.
- 83% of respondents feel that having a well-stocked break room leads to happier employees.
- 80% said they feel more productive after a break.
What can we do to enhance the experience in the office?
Increasingly, workplace “third spaces” are taking their cues from the hospitality sector — hotels, lounges, restaurants, cafe’s; places people associate with relaxation, refreshment, and social interaction. Unlike the buttoned-up nature of the meeting room, these informal spaces draw people in and encourage them to slow down for a moment, thereby creating an opportunity for that chance interaction with a co-worker. What does hospitality mean? Lodging, comfort. Here, a holistic attention to materials (textured surfaces, plusher seating), lighting (warm and ambient, and more decorative), and amenities (food and beverage; reading materials) is essential. (dlrgroup)
Sources:
