Keeping offices at work beyond the work day of 9 to 5

In a way, the corporate office is not exactly a utility paradigm. He sees action from early morning to end after -Monday to Friday. The other 128 hours of a week of 168 hours? It is as useful as Lou Gehrig’s backup.

But now, when the winners of American salaries are slow, but surely, they are transformed from remote workers to premises, building owners study as best to get more value from the “stopped hours” of a typical office. These modalities include hosting the community and non -profit organizations, organizing events or even serving as dining places.

Definition of the office

Among the entities that work to incorporate more utility in the jobs are the Dallas studio of the Perkins & Will architectural company. “The use of the corporate office space for community events is not a new idea, but the trend has had greater significance in recent years,” says Courtney Johnston, general manager of Dallas Studio.

“The leaders of the company and the employees also ask themselves:” What does the office mean? “As we strive to define the role of the office in this new era, the incorporation of multifunctional spaces for community purposes is a means of revitalization. “

Not long ago, the company designed a space for Impact Eventures, based on Dallas, a risk group that offers coaching and cohort to color entrepreneurs, adds Melissa Cooksey, senior interior project manager and director for the Dallas studio.

A major goal “was to create a community -oriented space, which would feel inspired for both employees and outdoor guests,” she says. “Often, when we design community spaces for a corporation, we maintain the more generic design elements. In contrast, Impact Ventures wanted its community space to be brightly colored and strongly marked, so everyone who uses the space felt the connection with the organization. “

Becomes creative

Dallas Studio’s job is another example of putting offices to use beyond the typical work day. Johnston reminds: “When we designed our own studio in the former Dallas high school, we incorporated the old auditorium in our square material and we had to become creative on how to make the large usable space. Over the years, we have had an extraordinary amount of external interest in using the space. I hosted Evens for that, various non -profit and even city officials. “

The company allows employees to request subsequent use of space. Also, many of its customers and even people unprecedening with the company get to use the space. Offering the space in this way allows the company to spread the word about its work, she says.

Spectgroup, based in New York, a global architecture, interior design and main planning company, has learned that companies are looking for fresh and innovative ways to use their offices after working hours. As a result, the way the company designs the commercial office space had to change, says Scott Spector, the company’s director. “For many of our customers, this means creating dynamic, multifunctional spaces, which can perfectly host everything, from client events to art exhibitions and film projections,” he says.

Areas of hospitality

Spectorgroup offers the spaces of its clients “areas of hospitality” attractive and that allow them to stages events for both the workforce and the wider business community. The company strategy group of the company uses the discovery period to team up with customers to identify the many ways in which their space could be used.

“We focus on details, such as adjacent and flow, to make sure everything works without problems,” says Spector. “We intend to create spaces that remain active and intentional, adapting effortlessly to the needs of change throughout the day. Although it is less common, we see the unexploited potential for companies to monetize the underlying office spaces, offering the rental permit. With a suitable design approach, the possibilities are endless. “