Design Tips for Beverage Spaces

Transcription

1 Design Tips for Beverage Spaces Wherever workplace beverages are available, colleagues gather to connect, collaborate, meet, and mingle. The design characteristics of these beverage-enriched spaces are as important to the employee experience as the caliber of the beverages themselves. What are these characteristics? To better understand the key elements of an effective beverage space, MARS DRINKS drew on the expertise of a wide array of professional commercial interior designers as part of its research into WORKPLACE VITALITY. What is WORKPLACE VITALITY? Based in West Chester, Penn., MARS DRINKS is 100 percent dedicated to the workplace, supplying coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and other beverages to companies worldwide. This focus, along with the research they conduct and insights they develop means that MARS DRINKS has a unique role to play in helping customers stretch their thinking about work and workplace to Rethink the Daily Grind. Our job isn t just to help customers create greattasting moments at work, but also to provide insight into how companies can support their greatest asset their people. To gain this insight, MARS DRINKS conducts extensive research into the workplace. One result is the concept of WORKPLACE VITALITY, a concept developed by MARS DRINKS to describe an organization that is vibrant, thriving, and alive with potential. WORKPLACE VITALITY encompasses the four pillars of highly successful organizations engagement, collaboration, well-being, and productivity. It sets forth an ideal state to which organizations can aspire. The research undertaken by MARS DRINKS includes global and regional surveys of workers, as well as ethnographic and neurological studies. In addition, MARS DRINKS has worked closely with members of the two largest design associations. These design professionals shared best practices for integrating beverage spaces into workplace design. 1

2 Macro Workplace Trends Interior designers participating in the WORKPLACE VITALITY research identified a number of macro trends influencing workplace design. Among the more notable: Urban allure. When deciding where to live, many millennials and actually those from all generations increasingly choose the city over the suburbs. For them, convenience matters more than square footage. This mindset extends into the workplace as well. Just as small apartments are deemed acceptable because the real business of living happens in the neighborhood, small workstations are acceptable if the workplace at large offers a variety of spaces to get things done. Work cafes, breakrooms, and other beverage-enhanced spaces are part of this variety. They bring the convenience of the neighborhood coffee shop right into the workplace. Merger of work and home. The desire for work-life balance is being supplanted by the willingness to pursue work-life integration. Increasingly, boundaries between the two spheres are becoming blurred. As a result, the workplace is becoming less formal and more homelike. Casual attire is common, and open informal areas that encourage interaction emulate the virtues of great rooms, a centerpiece of house design. Inviting beverage spaces that make it easy to grab a favorite drink help the office feel like home. Workplace as a destination. As designers integrate elements of home into space plans, the workplace is becoming an appealing destination a place employees want to go, not just where they have to be. Beverage spaces play a role in creating magnet workplaces that attract and retain top talent. Wellness as a priority. Designers say their corporate clients are often eager to talk about wellness, both in terms of well buildings and employee well-being. A key pillar of WORKPLACE VITALITY, well-being can contribute to lower costs and happier employees. Workplace design that encourages movement including, perhaps, a walk to a beverage station is one way to promote well-being. If the beverage station offers healthy drinks, so much the better. Focus on beverage spaces. The availability of high-end beverages makes employees feel valued, contributing to engagement. Beverages bring people together, spurring collaboration. They help workers refresh and recharge, aiding well-being. And they keep people alert and attentive, boosting productivity. 2

3 Designers say beverages play such a big role in the workplace that they deserve to carry considerable weight during the design process. What type of beverage spaces to include? Where to place them? How to make them appealing? These are big decisions that merit prominence on the drawing board. This overall floor layout (right) shows a centrally located work café (or town center) buffered from work and collaboration space. Recommendations For Effective Beverage Spaces Workplace beverage spaces come in many forms, from the sprawling work café that serves as a community center to small refresher spaces intended for quick stops. Though all such spaces should be customized to support an organization s business drivers, some universal considerations apply. Based on its work with commercial interior designers, MARS DRINKS has identified the following tips and strategies for effective beverage spaces: 1. Make it a destination Magnet spaces. Because beverage spaces are so important to WORKPLACE VITALITY, they should be stimulating enough to draw people throughout the day. Make sure they re places people want to be. Integrate into design. A generation ago, beverage spaces were a design afterthought. Designers now place them at the forefront, often asking them to set the tone for the rest of the workplace. That s especially true of work cafés, the flagship beverage space at many companies. Integrate into culture. Think about how beverage space can complement your corporate culture. Is your workplace highly collaborative? You might want many beverage stations with plentiful seating. Are you a heads-down, highly focused sort of place? Consider fewer stations and limited seating. Beverage areas have an important role in reinforcing culture. Outside access. The availability of outdoor seating makes any beverage space more appealing. Natural light. If outside access isn t possible, at least try to offer natural light and outdoor views. Positive distractions. Plants, artwork, and digital displays are examples of positive distractions that make beverage spaces more inviting. 3

4 Easy to clean. Messy isn t attractive. Keep beverage spaces looking good by specifying easy-to-clean surfaces and eliminating clutter. 2. Consider location High-traffic areas. Beverage spaces should be part of the bustle, not tucked away. Consider situating them where there s plenty of foot traffic. The more convenient, the better. Integrate into work groups. Beverage spaces situated within work groups can help build community among team members. Place between work groups. To encourage work groups to interact, situate a beverage station between them. Connections cultivated around the coffee machine pave the way for greater collaboration. Zoning considerations. Buffer beverage space from work areas so interaction around the coffee machine doesn t disturb workers trying to concentrate. The buffer doesn t have to be a wall or great distance; a walkway alone could be sufficient. Adequately available. How many beverage spaces do you need? One hundred people per station is a reasonable starting point, but every organization has to find the right balance. Too few and stations will be too crowded. Too many and interaction will be limited to people who work nearby. 3. Add variety Varied beverage choices. Instead of offering the same drinks at every beverage station, switch things up a bit. People are more likely to visit different areas of the workplace and form new connections. Varied levels of amenity. The larger the workplace, the greater the opportunity to offer different types of beverage spaces. Use a centrally located work café as your community center, then sprinkle in breakrooms or refresher space for convenience. Varied commitment level. Within any single beverage space, consider how you can accommodate different levels of commitment. Some people just want to grab a drink and go. Others are ready to take a break. Still others are looking to mingle. And others want to linger. Varied postures. Stand, lean, sit, lounge furniture should be selected with an eye toward supporting different postures. The more ways people can feel at home, the better. Varied seating. Hard-surface seating is for quick chats. Soft seating invites longer stays. Booths suggest a desire for privacy. Stools suggest approachability. The more types of seating you include, the broader the functionality of any beverage space. 4

5 Adaptable furnishings. Chairs that are easy to move and tables that can be pulled together support impromptu interaction. Individual and group work. If possible, beverage spaces should double as work spaces, offering some accommodation for both solitary usage and small groups. Social and task. Be mindful of the social component to workplace beverages. Any beverage space should be prepared to support casual interaction, whether it s of a personal or business nature. Five Types Of Beverage Space Workplace beverage spaces typically appear as one of five types: 1. Work café 2. Breakroom or pantry 3. Refresher space 4. Meeting room 5. Reception area Here are some design considerations for each: Work Café Sometimes called a town hall or community center, the work café is a prominent communal area that has become the showpiece of modern workplace design. It s distinct from a cafeteria, with much greater emphasis on supporting multiple work styles and social interaction. Spontaneous encounters, planned meetings, and focused tasks all happen here. The work café is designed to be a destination, a place people visit throughout the day. One designer called it the center of gravity. The work café should be a source of pride. Designers say this is no place to cut corners. Natural light, outdoor views, and an outdoor seating zone are important to make the space as inviting as it needs to be. 5

6 Consider placing reception nearby to make a favorable impression on visitors, and to use the space efficiently for welcoming visitors with a drink and for carrying a powerful brand message. The beverage station should be of coffee shop caliber, offering plenty of variety and quality. Located near the entrance, it lets short-term visitors grab a drink and go. Explore ways of supporting different levels of commitment people who want to drop in, as well as those who plan to stick around: o Hard seating around small tables invites brief interaction. o Soft seating supports longer collaboration and personal relaxation. o Lightweight tables can be pulled together when meetings need to expand. o Bar-height stools around tall tables are good for short stays. o Booths provide a measure of privacy for quiet conversation and focused work. Breakroom / Pantry Much smaller than a work café and a bit bigger than refresher space, the breakroom combines elements of both part connection zone and part convenience. Hard seating around small tables invites brief interaction. 6

7 Lightweight tables can be pulled together when groups need to expand. Standing-height tables or counters provide a place to perch and signal a willingness to be approached. Amenities (think foosball) attract and engage co-workers. Place within a work group to build camaraderie among team members. Place between work groups that need to interact with each other. Breakrooms located near conference rooms tend to get heavy usage before and after meetings. A first-rate coffee bar with premium selection and quality helps workers feel valued. Refresher Space The smallest type of beverage station, the refresher space is mostly about quick convenience. It s commonly found in factories and distribution centers. Refresher space also works well in office applications requiring one or more beverage stations, perhaps to supplement a work café or breakrooms elsewhere. Standing-height tables support quick chats and brief stays. 7

8 Soft seating with small tables serves as a short-term landing spot to take a breather or check messages. Place within a work group to build camaraderie among team members. Place between work groups that need to interact with each other. Refresher spaces located near conference rooms tend to get heavy usage before and after meetings. Use as an interference in well-traveled corridors to break up the visual monotony and encourage chance interactions. No matter how spartan the environment, a premium beverage selection helps employees feel better about where they work. Meeting Room Meeting attendees invariably bring a beverage with them. So why not offer beverages within the meeting space itself? Beverage-enhanced meeting rooms make formal collaboration more enjoyable and engaging. 8

9 A seated-height meeting table is typical, but it may also be a higher-top table with higher seats. Soft seating with small tables accommodates presenters, latecomers, and overflow. Additional standing-height tables support movement during the meeting. An integrated beverage station stocked with premium selections elevates the tone, while ensuring that refills won t disrupt the flow of the meeting. Reception area The reception area is the face of your organization, the first chance to make a favorable impression. The addition of a premium beverage station elevates that impression to a new level. Soft seating allows visitors to wait in comfort. Nearby short-term seating permits brief interaction with visitors, vendors, and customers. Appropriate messages, photos, or objects reinforce brand. A quality coffee bar offering plenty of selection sets the stage for a first-class experience. 9

10 In Summary Once tucked out of the way, beverage spaces now occupy a prominent position in workplace design. Expected to aid interaction and contribute to a sense of community, they have gained new status as among the most important of shared space. Incorporating best practices revealed MARS DRINKS can help assure that beverage spaces fulfill their potential. 10