Architectural Trends

The success of any company depends on many things, including the right image. That image depends on many factors, especially the architectural design of the company’s facilities. This is the case not only because of the clients, partners and other persons the business is cooperating with, but also because of the employees. They need to be provided with an opportunity to work in a productive and encouraging environment. For a company that seeks to stay afloat in today’s wild competition, it is important to stay up to date with the current architectural trends for commercial spaces. Here are some that call for special attention.

Barn-style premises

Up until now, no one has even tried to defy the idea that the premises of a company need to be located in the very heart of the city. However, as we move more and more toward sustainability and eco friendliness, the idea of company headquarters settled in a rural area is becoming very popular. And since it already is situated in natural surroundings, that building shouldn’t stand out much from its environment. In fact, it can be built in barn-style. Combine that with a lot of natural light and plant life, and you will have much more productive employees and very impressed clients.

Greening up to the max

As mentioned, eco-friendliness is a big deal in the commercial sector right now, and not only for the obvious benefits (e.g. lower electricity bills and a healthier working environment), but also because of the company’s reputation. This is why many businesses opt for green building (sustainable and recyclable building materials, such as self-healing concrete and recycled hardwood) and other energy-efficient features.

Smart and innovative

Smart technology is here to stay, and it is getting better and more innovative each day. Companies that want to succeed must tap into the latest trends, and not only when it comes to workflow and organization, but also when it comes to the design of the company’s headquarters. This includes innovations like smart lighting, using apps to lock and unlock the building, etc.

The new way of heating

Heating a company which employs 50, 100 or more workers can be really expensive, not to mention the fact that many common heating methods also pollute the indoor air. One of the much cheaper and healthier heating methods, which is often used in households, could become a hit in the commercial sector as well. This is anthracite, a hard and brittle rock with less than 15% moisture content. However, using this rock for heating purposes requires installation of boilers and stoves, and a consistent supply of anthracite. The first ones can be acquired in agreement with your architect, while the latter is shipped from reputable suppliers , such as AIMR mining, specialized in mining products.

Bringing the outdoors in

Many studies have been pointing out the importance of natural elements and their impact on employees’ performance and satisfaction. This principle is introduced into offices around the globe  through full spectrum light bulbs and greenery. One of the newer trends is making an office ceiling look like the sky, with the use of LED tiles that mimic the lighting conditions similar to the ones you would experienced if you were sitting outside.

Adaptive reuse

Another trend that works to the benefit of green building and cost-efficiency, adaptive reuse is just another form of recycling or repurposing, only on a much larger scale. It means adapting an old building to a new purpose, instead of building a new one from scratch. Besides the obvious money savings and environmental benefits, adapting an existing building can result in a project with more character than a new construction project and it may allow for a larger building than current zoning permits.

The company headquarters is much more than a place where you will do your business. It speaks about your image, goal and your relationship with your employees, customers, partners and clients. This is why you need to remain up to date with the latest architectural trends for modern commercial spaces, and these were some of the most important novelties to keep an eye on.

About The Author

Article written for WhosGreenOnline.com by, Amelia Atkins: author at Smooth Decorator and a fresh architecture student. The love for architecture and design runs in her family and she knew what she wanted to do from a very young age. You can often find her with a notepad in hand, just looking at the clouds, dreaming about the next skyscraper.