Standing room only

摘要

The concept of agile working has become increasingly popular over the past few years as employers strive to deliver workplaces that match today's mobile lifestyle. Desk numbers have reduced and employees are no longer tied to the same regular working hours or office locations. Different styles of working and different types of work activities are changing the traditional office floor as we know it. As a result, offices are witnessing ever tighter desk-to-employee ratios. This approach saves real-estate costs, with another benefit to employers being the creation of busy places of exchange. This type of environment can appeal to younger employees who are drawn to collaboration with others, helping to attract creative millennial who aspire to busy buzzy workplaces. The introduction of this desk space/employee ratio is not a new phenomenon, but the IT revolution coupled with demands for ever greater efficiency is creating a new wave of offices with extreme levels of over-occupation, which in turn, generates design challenges that need to be overcome. It is not just about desk space - fire exits and building systems need to be able to cope with occasional peak demand so people can work in these environments safely and securely.