Benching, desking, and (mostly) paper-free: Report identifies top trends in workplace design for 2016

Ted Moudis Associates, an architectural and interior design firm with offices in Chicago, London, and New York, recently released its 2016 Workplace Report in which it identifies current and future trends and strategies for using office space that are currently being adopted by various organizations and firms.

The report analyzed 39 separate projects that accounted for 17,084 total workspaces and 2.5 million sf. It includes data from workplaces across four industries throughout the U.S.: financial, professional services, consumer products, and digital media.

Here are some of the top trends being exhibited throughout workplaces in these industries across the country, according to the firm:

1. Open plans and more communal workspaces were trends seen across all four industries examined. Coming along as a result of these open workspaces are a drop in the area per occupant, the usable square feet per seat, and the number of private offices.

2. More offices are moving toward desking or benching, creating shared amenities and alternate workplaces out of what was once individual space.

3. Companies are using less paper than ever before. Less paper means fewer file cabinets. Fewer file cabinets mean more space for human-centered purposes.

4. Sharing is a common theme. Alternative seats—seats that are not assigned to a particular individual—are becoming more prevalent. These seats can be used as meeting, amenity, or focus spots.

­These design trends don’t just affect the aesthetic of a workplace; they affect how employees move through it throughout the day.

Here is a breakdown of the trends relating to usable square feet per seat, workspace types, and workspace seats vs. alternative seats in relation to the four separate industries.

For a look at the full report from Ted Moudis Associates, click here.

All images and photos courtesy Ted Moudis Associates