Workspace Studio, specializing in high-quality office furniture and integrated office design projects and a Certified Dealer of the MillerKnoll group in Romania, notes this year a transition towards projects where companies aim to maximize the value and quality obtained, starting from a fixed budget.

Budget-centered design reflects a growing trend among companies interested in superior solutions that support the modern design of offices and employee activity.

This paradigm shift is mainly driven by the increasing need of companies for predictability in the procurement process, but also to offer employees a work environment that not only meets functional specifications but also inspires and supports their well-being, productivity, and need for socialization and cooperation.

The trend is fueled by a deeper understanding that investments in office design are not just expenses but strategic investments in human capital. Companies are now looking for solutions that balance costs with long-term benefits, such as attracting and retaining talent, increasing employee satisfaction, encouraging office attendance, supporting emotional and physical health, and stimulating collaboration.

Budget-centered design in office renovations: smarter investments in better solutions

For a complete office space renovation, costs range between 600 and 1,000 euros per square meter, potentially reaching 1,500 euros if all indirect and associated expenses are considered.

A company with about 100 employees, occupying a 1,000-square-meter office, allocates between 600,000 and 1.5 million euros for a space renovation. The costs are halved if the organization starts a renovation project and invests only in office furniture and a renovation focused solely on design and atmosphere elements.

In the first quarter of 2023, the Workspace Studio group completed projects worth 5.5 million euros. The average value of the integrated projects implemented by Workspace Studio between January and March was 500,000 euros.

Turnkey, but flexible solutions

The transition from utilitarian approaches, which focus strictly on minimizing costs, to strategies that leverage every euro invested to maximize the impact on employees, aligns with the market's need for adaptability and sustainability.

Companies need office spaces to be highly adaptable, so investments in renovations are primarily directed towards solutions with flexibility components.

Acoustic booths, which are easy to dismantle and reassemble in another space, movable partitions, acoustic solutions, and modular furniture are fundamental pieces in modern offices. Alongside these, ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable electric desks are essential pieces for creating a workstation that supports employee health.

Studies initiated by MillerKnoll, a conglomerate of office furniture brands represented by Workspace Studio in Romania, show that from the perspective of the interest in going to the office, employees fall into three categories.

Approximately 20% come to the office because they work better in this space, including for focused and individual work. These employees need very good working conditions. Then, there are those who come to the office to collaborate and socialize with colleagues, representing about 60% of all employees. The remaining 20% come to the office for internal visibility, meaning to be present in terms of career development. (Photo: Freepik)