There is a growing force and that is being classified as the ‘Millennial workforce’ in the office and as time progresses and demands things continue throughout the workplace environment, there has been a need for building construction specialists to create versatile workplaces that satisfy the needs of the new booming millennial workforce!

It has been discovered and noted that most recently there has been high demand for the workplace to be more versatile and less “office-like”. People respond well to places in which encompasses, health, calm, flexibility and environment. This is why there has been an increasing demand to construct buildings and offices in innovative and creative ways.

There are many reasons why office spaces and designs have drastically changed over time and continue to change, there are many benefits to updating office spaces and creating a much happier and positive working environment.

Many architects and designers like Elenberg Fraser have adopted sustainable features to the creation of new office spaces by incorporating plants, trees and other open nature-filled areas. To keep promoting the “non-office” like environment for staff.

There are specific reasons why many designers and construction specialists are so pro-nature in office designs, as there are many benefits to incorporating these features into the workplace. Nature, in particular, has many positive benefits to being included in the design of the office and these are:

• Nature offers a sense of calm to staff: Some people find being outdoors very calm and relaxing, winding down for lunch or to take calls and meetings around nature and plants creates a sense of calm and productivity.
• Stress reliever: Nature is a significant stress reliever! According to science and research being around nature, smelling it or hearing sounds of nature can immediately reduce any signs of anger, fear and primarily stress. Making people feel more relaxed and at ease at work.
• Increases creativity and productivity: Studies in the UK found that plants and nature in the office increased staff productivity and creativity by 15%! 

In recent construction projects, the incorporation of nature and plants in the office space has been proven to be not only visually appealing to staff and clients but very therapeutic to staff and it has created a very productive workplace.

In addition, there have been many other office features incorporated into office space designs in 2019, and these include, communal workspaces and desks, sustainable features and upper levels with private sections.

With the continued approach to include communal workspaces into the workforce, many have responded well to this and continue to enjoy being able to work openly with other staff, creating a less stressful and less isolated workplace for everyone.

Communal workspaces offer a larger working environment for all staff, as opposed to a singular blocked off working desk that can create a sense of isolation and overload. Communal workspaces and desks have been proven to create a sense of ease and creativity to the workplace, alongside many more findings like:

• Encouraging more collaborative work: The communal set-up allows staff to keep in regular communication about any concerns issues and shared assignments as well as working closely with each other and sharing ideas.
• Positive workspace: There is more of a sense of inclusion in the open and communal workspaces, everyone feels included and collectively involved without the sense of isolation.
• Easier group presentation set-up: If there is a need for the office to share and present ideas to the whole team, the communal set-up enables an easier way of presenting information on-screen via a projector and to the group, all withstanding up and talking. There is no hassle of calling anyone out of their office individually, everyone is together at the same time!
• Ability to share and engage: Sharing ideas and communicating has never been easier, that is why communal workspaces make it easier for people to share and talk!
• Build on workplace relationships: Overall, having built-in open workspaces can help strengthen and build relationships between all staff in the work environment which can be extremely beneficial to creating an even more positive environment to work in!

In addition, with issues surrounding products that are environmentally friendly and what features in buildings could be more environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly. Major architects, designing and construction specialists have worked tirelessly to better create and include more sustainable features to every build.

There has been a need for these organisations to meet a high rating on NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System). A building that has a NABERS rating of 5 stars is well equipped in supporting the environment with a variety of different kinds of features and installations that are proven eco-friendly.

Building construction specialists in new and improved office spaces, like to adopt sustainable landscaping and air circulation when designing and constructing office spaces. Natural ventilation is very popular as it circulates air throughout offices using natural air from the outside and feeding it out into the office spaces without the need for wires, electrical installations and more potentially environmentally threatening installations.

Adopting more sustainable landscaping, design and construction method also assists with creating a more fresh, positive and eco-friendly office space as well as maintaining a sense of welcome, community and welfare all within one workplace for all staff!