Selecting the right building and layout for your new office space requires careful consideration during the early due diligence stages. While brokers and architects play a crucial role in determining space requirements, involving employees in the decision-making process is equally important.

Unfortunately, many organizations limit discussions about real estate moves to the C-Suite, neglecting valuable input from their employees which can lead brokers to finding the wrong space and architects designing insufficiently. Let’s face it, the ivory tower doesn’t always know what’s going on in the trenches.

This article highlights the benefits of including employees in the space due diligence visioning process to ensure that the new office space meets the needs of all business units.

1. Tapping into Diverse Perspectives: Employees possess unique perspectives and insights based on their day-to-day experiences within the organization. You can harness their diverse knowledge and expertise by involving them in the early stages of planning. Employees can provide valuable input on functionality, spatial requirements, workflow optimization, and user experience, offering insights that architects may overlook.

2. Designing for Users: Involving employees in the visioning process ensures that the office space design caters to their specific needs, preferences, and work processes. By prioritizing a user-centric approach, you increase the chances of creating a workspace that supports productivity, collaboration, and overall well-being. Employees’ firsthand experiences can guide decisions about the layout, amenities, and overall design aesthetic.

3. Fostering Ownership and Engagement: Employees who have a voice in determining space needs and architectural design develop a sense of ownership and pride in the resulting workspace. Their active involvement fosters greater engagement and commitment to the organization’s goals. By empowering employees to contribute to the decision-making process, you can enhance job satisfaction, morale, and productivity.

4. Unlocking Innovation and Creativity: Employees often bring forward creative ideas and suggestions that can push the boundaries of traditional architectural design. Including them in the visioning process opens the door to innovative solutions and fresh perspectives. Employees may offer insights that enhance the office design’s size, functionality, and aesthetics, leading to a more inspiring and efficient workspace.

5. Streamlining Implementation: Early involvement of employees in the design process promotes better communication and understanding among brokers, architects, designers, and end-users. Employees can provide valuable feedback, identify potential challenges, and contribute to problem-solving. This collaborative approach minimizes design errors, reduces resistance to change, and ensures a smoother implementation of the architectural design.

6. Enhancing Cost and Time Efficiency: Employee involvement in the visioning process helps identify potential inefficiencies or shortcomings in the design early on. You can avoid costly and time-consuming modifications or renovations by addressing these issues during the planning stage. Employee input ensures the space and design align with practical needs, optimizing resources and reducing unnecessary expenses.

Incorporating employees’ perspectives in the early stages of determining new office needs is crucial for selecting the right building and layout. By involving employees in the visioning process, organizations can benefit from diverse perspectives, create a user-centric design, foster ownership, and engagement, unlock innovation, streamline implementation, and enhance cost and time efficiency. Ultimately, including employees in the decision-making process leads to office spaces that align with organizational goals, promote employee satisfaction and well-being, and contribute to a successful implementation.