Office design and the ever-growing demand for glass solutions

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work. Naturally, this has had a direct impact on office design in 2022. With mental health high on the agenda alongside hybrid working, companies have had to adjust their workspaces to cater for the emotional and practical needs of employees. How will this impact office design trends in 2023?

If we take a look at hybrid working and its impact on office design trends, companies that are determined to attract the best talent know they need to provide flexibility. This means that the concept of ‘the office’ as a rigid environment with clearly defined areas for desks (work) and the canteen (play) is now outdated. In its place employees require office design with more fluidity between work, social and collaborative spaces that encourages face-to-face interaction and enables employees to pitch up anywhere to work without affecting productivity.

For wellbeing, bright open plan office designs are preferred over closed off rooms and corridors. Access to daylight is a key element in maintaining mental health in offices, so as much natural light as possible should flood the workspace.

Another impact of COVID-19 on office design trends is the need for office partitioning to avoid the transmission of the virus and other illnesses that leave a workforce vulnerable.

The demand for glass solutions in office design

These post-pandemic office design trends can be resolved with glass solutions. GlassParts supply glaziers, builders and other trades with quality glass fittings and tools. We have witnessed buying trends that identify a shift in priorities for companies towards benefiting employees, hybrid working and safety measures.

Office glass partitions provide the answer to many post-pandemic needs:

• Glass office partitioning segregates areas of an open plan office without shutting out any natural daylight. This creates a very open work environment even though the separate areas such as desks, social spaces and collaborative areas are clearly defined. The benefits of natural daylight for mental health are well documented, and being in a closed office for many hours at a time can be debilitating. Glass partitions allow for employees to work or meet in separate offices but still be able to see what is going on around them.
  
  
• The openness of office glass partitions also extends to transparency in the workplace. Many conspiracy theories and opportunities for employee paranoia emanate from closed offices. Glass partitions alleviate these barriers by bringing an open approach to the office environment where everyone feels more connected, particularly if they are hybrid working and therefore not in the office every day.
  
  
• Glass partitions are versatile. Whereas permanent walls are costly and disruptive to change, glass partitions can be easily moved to accommodate changes to personnel, projects or layout. 
  
  
• Office desk partitions are used to segregate areas and manage sound control. Employees don’t feel as cut off from their colleagues next to glass desk partitions as they would with screens, but they can still hear and be heard clearly. 
  
  

Glass screens and fixings for COVID-19 protection

Glass protection screens have been widely introduced in office design since COVID-19 to protect workers from transmitting or catching the virus. Offices naturally require people to work within close proximity to each other, and glass protection screens provide an effective barrier that doesn’t impede collaboration or inclusivity.

GlassParts supply a comprehensive selection of counter screen protection systems that are manufactured to the highest standard to provide robust protection. The counter screen protection systems include posts, clamps and stands in various finishes.

Contact GlassParts for glass office solutions

To find out more about the GlassParts range of glass hardware and fittings for offices go to our website, contact us using our online form or call us on 0800 975 3436.