What should managers consider when replanning the office?

Hybrid work is here to stay, and replanning the office requires clear answers before any renovation. As CH3 sees it, facilities managers have to work through a set of questions that shape the design.

The questions this case raises

• Is the remote work experience the same for everyone? Conditions at home vary, and that changes the need to come in.
• How and when should employees be asked to come in? The answer defines the office's real occupancy and avoids calling people in for no purpose.
• What costs are involved in keeping an office?
• How can you make sure the return to the office will be a pleasant and productive experience? This is where architecture and design come in.
• Are space occupancy studies and management a trend for large companies? Measuring occupancy helps size the space and decide on renovations or a move to new headquarters.

Why these questions matter

They connect two topics that are usually treated separately: the role of the office and the changes in society. Managers need to establish clearly why and when teams should be on site, and only then think about layout and furniture.

From diagnosis to construction

Organizations that chose to bring their teams back to the office had to adapt their workspaces, through partial or full renovations, and even by moving headquarters and relocating. In one of these projects, CH3 renovated an office with several relaxation areas, a gourmet area, massage, a mini beach, a solarium, video game areas and billiards, among others. The goal was to make the workplace experience as appealing and pleasant as possible for employees.

For your company, the suggested path is the same: answer the questions above with data about your team and, from there, define the scope of the work on the space.