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Purpose of Office Space
Office can be found in stand-alone buildings, commercial complex malls, or standard office buildings to run big corporate business, service oriented business or small retail business and home offices are attached to residential buildings. These three types of office spaces are each quite different in function and thus has its own space needs and facilities. Irrespective of the type of office, the design should derive maximum work from employees and maximum business from clients. To achieve this, minimum disturbance to employees and minimum inconvenience to clients should be the motto of the designer.
Pattern of Population of an Office Building
The population of an office jumps from zero to maximum within a morning hour. And it declines likewise in the evening, only maintenance staff remaining there. So the entrance should be large enough to cope with this and at the same time should not intimidate the visitors.
General requirements of an Office
Office is a space where people are active the entire day. Keeping this in mind, we have to consider all the necessary factors that are essential for the design of a comfortable office space. Like for any other planning, adequate light, proper air circulation, controlled sound level, right work surface and storage for stationary, equipment and other sundry articles should be considered.
Nature of Business
Certain business require simplicity, like chattered accountant’s office; certain require glamour, like an advertising agency’s office. Some offices require privacy like a modelling agency’s office and some require security like a financial institutions. The right type of ambience should be created in the interior and the right type of business image should be enhanced.
List of Staff
Categorised list of staff is required to decide the division of space. Further expansion should be kept in mind. The list should be category wise. The people working in an establishment, known collectively as the staff or personnel, are normally divided into four categories:
- Executives: Higher and lower differs who have to be allotted a separate cabin.
- Office Assistants: Clerks, stenographers, typists, receptionists, telephone operators, etc – the middle level staff. All these require proper work space.
- Helpers: Peons, office boys, delivery boys, watchmen, etc. They require only sitting space.
- Menials: Staff employed for the upkeep of the office. Usually, they enter office after office hours and remain out of office, though they need a corner or cubicle to store their wares such as broom, vacuum, cleaner, brushes, mops, ladder, etc.
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Participants