We are living in a time of great uncertainty that is going to continue until a COVID-19 vaccine becomes a reality. The only thing we know for sure is that we still have not reached the new normal; we are merely in a transitional period moving towards it. All of this has translated to the need to revamp our capacity requirements and office space. 

During this time, we have been forced to get used to the home office, a concept that has come to stay. This newfound familiarity with videoconferences is going to change the way offices are organized, especially the need to establish capacity limits. For example, an office with clear rules requiring mandatory home office work once a week could reduce capacity requirements, and thus the number of square meters occupied, by approximately 20%. 

With a strict cleaning and disinfection regimen, the concept of shared space takes on renewed relevance. Space shared by categories will help reduce the square meters required, which can be saved by working from home. For example, if a company has five managers who need a private office, but it has home office rules where they only come in to the office three times a week, it becomes possible to go from five offices to three (40% more space efficiency), since they could be shared based on the schedules and internal rules established. 

Finally, coworking will continue to maintain its relevance once we make it through this period. This type of space also plays a complementary role in the spatial reformulation in question, not only because its efficiency when it comes to square meters required per capita (up to 47% efficiency), but also because of the importance of streamlined and flexible collaborative spaces. The dynamics of innovation and the spontaneous meetings allowed by these spaces are vital in forging a human, productive company with shared values, team spirit, a sense of belonging, and the capacity for creativity and innovation. If your office has become too big or its layout is no longer up with the times or efficient, then now is the time to think about redesigning it. That way, you’ll be able to avoid the hassle of being in the office during the remodeling process while most of us are still working from home, and the office will be all ready for people to return. We need to accept the fact that things will not be going back to the way they were, and optimizing space is always a key ally in a company’s economic concerns. If your office has become too big or its layout is no longer up with the times or efficient, then now is the moment to think about redesigning it. That way, you’ll be able to avoid the hassle of being in the office during the remodeling process while most of us are still working from home, and the office will be all ready for people to return.