Designing a safe office for employees has become increasingly important. As designers continue to adapt to ever-changing safety guidelines by the CDC, it is important to maintain a productive space centered around employee well-being.  With our design experts, we’ve identified 5 corporate office design ideas with employee safety at the forefront of design.

1. Add physical barriers in seating arrangements

Per CDC recommendations, incorporate the idea of installing “transparent shields or other physical barriers where possible to separate employees and visitors where social distancing is not an option.” Olee Creative offers transparent acrylic panels that can be used as cubicle partitions, wall divider panels, sneeze guards, and more. While transparent panels serve a safety purpose, they can also be created to accent the overall design of the space with beautiful patterns and levels of transparency. Check out some of our transparent panel and barrier installations!

2. Add extra open space

To accommodate everchanging occupancy guidelines, add additional open spaces that can be easily converted into desk spaces, common areas, etc. An open-concept design that addresses facility flow also creates a sense of minimalism and cleanliness. The ability to easily clean any surface, floor, or wall is also important. The less clutter within a design, the easier it is for businesses to keep a clean, open environment.

3. Create clear signage in common areas

Another corporate office design idea is to provide clear directions to employees about designated spaces, distancing procedures, and more. Use wayfinding signage applied to existing walls or create spaces for designated signs to be placed.

4. Include privacy plans in your design

While transparency has become popular within a workspace design, it is important to also consider the need for employee privacy in conference rooms, designated offices, nursing stations, and more. Many employees are now accustomed to the privacy of their home office and are unsure how to transition into a public space. To keep an open floor concept, create glass conference rooms that allow natural light into the space. To add privacy, install privacy window films in varying patterns and transparency levels. This provides needed privacy while also adding a decorative aesthetic to the workspace.

5. Encourage a fun and inviting workspace

Incorporate branding and other design elements that encourage employees to come to work safely and enjoy the office. Ideas such as large wall graphics, magnetic graphics that encourage employee engagement, branded signage, ping pong tables, walking treadmills, and more. A work environment that is inviting and encourages productivity will help retain employees and create a positive space. As a designer or architect, lean into supporting company culture with commercial design.

Looking for more corporate office design ideas for 2022? Contact our design team to discuss other ideas for your upcoming project!

Additional Resources
Reopening: Guidance for General Office Settings