Activity based workplace design

Hybrid working has fundamentally altered office utilisation patterns. The traditional model of assigning each employee a permanent desk was designed for full-time office attendance, yet office occupancy rates now average just 38.1 per cent over the five working days. Activity-based workplace design aligns space provision with actual usage patterns, eliminating the waste of maintaining unused desks whilst creating richer experiences when people do attend. 

Employee expectations have evolved beyond compensation and benefits to encompass workplace quality. Top talent increasingly evaluates potential employers based on workplace environments that demonstrate investment in employee experience. Activity-based workplace design signals that a company understands modern work and trusts employees to make intelligent choices about their working patterns. 

Space optimisation that improves financial performance 

Multifunctional zones maximise real estate value. Rather than maintaining dedicated desks that sit empty during remote workdays, meetings, or leave periods, organisations create flexible spaces that adapt to changing needs throughout the day and support varied activities. 

Talent attraction through progressive workplace culture 

The physical workplace demonstrates that a company understands contemporary work and trusts employees to make intelligent decisions. During recruitment processes, candidates increasingly evaluate workplace quality as a signal of broader organisational culture, making this approach particularly effective when competing for top talent. 

Activity-based workplace design requires attention to elements that might seem secondary yet profoundly impact whether the overall approach succeeds or fails. 

Acoustic design prevents noise spillover 

Poor office acoustics represent the primary complaint in open plan workplace environments and can undermine even the most thoughtful activity-based workplace design. Different zones require different acoustic characteristics, yet sound travels unless intentionally controlled. 

Key acoustic considerations include: 

• Focus zones with enclosed construction and sound-absorbing treatments 
• Collaboration areas with acoustic treatment that prevents noise spillover 
• Strategic zoning that positions compatible activities near one another 
• Sound masking systems to supplement physical treatments 
• Design that ensures speech privacy and concentration remain possible 

Furniture must be modular, ergonomic and adaptable 

Office furniture selection significantly impacts whether activity-based workplace design supports the varied activities and postures that characterise modern work. 

Key furniture considerations include: 

• Modular systems that enable spaces to transform quickly as needs change 
• Ergonomic office furniture seating appropriate for different zones and activities 
• Height-adjustable desks, tables, and collaborative surfaces 
• Furniture that supports both intensive work sessions and relaxed discussions 
• Adaptable pieces that remain useful throughout the day 

Brand alignment ensures authentic expression 

Activity-based workplace design offers opportunities for expressing organisational identity through physical space. The variety of zones enables different aspects of brand personality to manifest in distinct yet coherent ways. 

Key brand alignment elements include: 

• Colour palettes derived from brand guidelines 
• Materials selection that reflects company values 
• Artwork and graphics tailored to different zones 

Design that feels authentically connected to organisational identities a powerful expression of culture rather than merely functional accommodation.