Office Space Trends for 2016

In today’s post, I’m going to discuss office-space trends for 2016 with a bit of a twist. Usually we would just discuss the office design changes and what’s driving them. In our last post “Canadian businesses are having a 30% off sale” we discussed what should happen when the Canadian dollar falls to the levels it currently sits at.

Where are the U.S. businesses we expected?

Canadian economists and business people have been waiting for this phenomenon to kick in and everyone is a little perplexed that it’s either slow in coming or that things have changed considerably since the “great recession.” IMO, an opinion which is not widely held, I believe there are new factors at play that will see old trends in the way U.S. business people and consumers react to “Putting Canada on Sale.” We at Telsec Business Centres are mixed in our opinions as to whether U.S. business people will look to Canada to expand markets and whether consumers will buy more Canadian products.

There are those among us who expect U.S. businesses to start contacting us soon, and others who believe that the global economy, NAFTA and other changes have rendered Canada less competitive – and therefore the businesses who would have looked to Canada in the past have far more alternatives for sourcing or relocating manufacturing. This is primarily due to higher costs for wages, electricity and new pensions in Ontario that have increased costs for manufacturers to relocate to Ontario/Canada. Also, our manufacturers do not have the ability to compete with Mexican-made and others products that have lower input costs for labour and most other business expenses.

As I began to research this topic, one of the first search results I came across was from the February Commercial Real Estate Report from TREB (Toronto Real Estate Board). Their report indicated that there was an uptrend for industrial space, but there was a noticeable fall in office space leased and the $/sq ft. year over year. TREB saw this as a positive sign that there is either new demand for industrial space for manufacturers (whether that was an uptick in U.S.-based demand, or Canadian companies saw new opportunities open up in U.S. and other markets), or that the U.S. consumer has indeed begun to buy Canadian goods due to lower prices caused by the U.S. $’s rise.

2016 Trends in Office Space Design

The trends for office space design continue to see the office and workplace philosophies further departing from the traditional cubicle and offices, to one where space is more versatile, thus enabling companies to develop multi-purpose workspaces and non-assigned seating. The force behind this change is hugely influenced by the shift from management comprised of mainly baby boomers, to management seeing more and more millennials moving into these positions.

This infographic from Brighton School of Business and Management looks at workplace trends – such as more than 1 in 4 ‘Millennials’ will become managers in 2016, while office space is shrinking and will continue to do so in 2016. Another interesting fact from the infographic was their statement that, by 2020, the average sq. ft. requirements for employees will decrease to 150 sq. ft. from 400 in 1985!

The paper, Ethonomics: Designing For The Principles Of The Modern Workplace (authored by Teknion, in collaboration with design experts like Joan Blumenfeld, principal of Perkins+Will, one of this year’s Most Innovative Companies) revealed that the workplace is ripe for reinvention. As Blumenfeld recently told Fast Company:

“Workspaces should flex to provide a variety of spaces and destinations for workers to inhabit that promote movement throughout the day. While many companies are doing a good job of incorporating some of these elements into their workplace design, there’s a need for more awareness and implementation of this way of thinking holistically about the workplace.”

The paper also mentions the following as the trends to watch for in 2016:

  • Hiding the Wires: Open space can look very disorganized with wires for technology everywhere. So businesses and manufacturers are facilitating this by finding ways to hide wires into desk and furniture construction.
  • Bringing the outdoors indoors: Not only are designs adding more windows for natural lighting, but more organic construction materials and fabrics (including flora patterns) are bringing the outdoors indoors!
  • Multi-purpose work spaces: Utilizing multi-purpose work spaces results in not just better collaboration, but saves you money as well with the square footage/employee falling quickly.
  • Designated lounge areas: These have been a trend for a few years, but that seems to be still growing at a good pace.
  • Offices organized by colour: Herman Miller, who’s now Vice President of Design at Poppin added: “I’m a strong believer that if you organize your work environment with colour, it will help your thoughts be more organized and colourful.”
  • Community tables: A symbol of kinship or alliance that’s now becoming an important part of the work environment. Delfino of Technion adds: “Today, the table emerges as a relevant feature of an evolving workplace that now exhibits many of the characteristics of a domicile – more relaxed, more congenial and collaborative.”
  • Mix of different textures: Increased emphasis on using varied materials throughout the workplace to create environments that influence wellness and productivity.
  • End of permanent layouts: Permanent layouts are giving way to the needs of an ever-changing workplace landscape. Modular components can be mixed, stacked and moved around, offering innumerable combinations for a dynamic and collaborative workplace.

Conclusions

Although the jury is out on whether or not U.S. consumers and businesses will take advantage of a strong dollar to locate offices in Canada and buy more of our goods and services, it’s clear that millennials continue to change the workplace philosophy and therefore office-space designs. Co-working and an increased need for closer collaboration are desires of the millennials in management positions – and their expectations of the workplace continue to drive changes in traditional office design.

 

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Hotels

1. Jennifer Smith
General Manager
The Omni King Edward Hotel
37 King Street East
Toronto, ON
M5C 1E9
Tel: 416-863-9700
Website: www.omnihotels.com/hotels/toronto-king-edward

2. Mark Perry
General Manager
Executive Hotels and Resorts (Boutique)
8 Colborne Street
Toronto, ON
M5E 1E1
Tel: 416-350-2419
Website: www.spazen.ca or www.cosmotoronto.com

3. Emeline Boul
General Manager
Hotel Victoria (Boutique)
56 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON
M5E 1G5
Tel: 416-363-1666
Mobile: 647-574-5832
Website: www.hotelvictoriatoronto.com

4. Omkar Sawant
Reservations Manager
One King West Hotel
1 King Street West
Toronto, ON
M5H 1A1
Main: 416-548-8100
Reservations: 1-866-470-5464
Website: www.onekingwest.com

5. Van Nguyen
General Manager
Cambridge Suites Toronto
15 Richmond Street East
Toronto, ON
M5C 1N2
Direct: 416-601-3757
Hotel: 416-368-1990
Website: www.cambridgesuitestoronto.com

Restaurants

1. Michael Pagliaro
Carisma (Italian)
15 Toronto Street
Toronto, ON
M5C 2E3
Tel: 416-864-7373
Website: www.carismarestaurant.com

2. Patti Shaw
Terroni (Italian)
57 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, ON
M5C 1K6
Tel: 416-203-3093
Website: www.terroni.com

3. Declan
Restaurant 20 Victoria – Michelin guide approved
20 Victoria Street
Toronto, ON
M5C 2A1
Tel: 416-804-6066
Instagram for reservations: https://www.instagram.com/twentyvictoria/

4. Mana
Nami (Japanese)
55 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, ON
M5C 1K6
Tel: 416-362-7373
Website: www.namirestaurant.ca

5. Restaurant Lucie
100 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON
M5C 2W1
Tel: 416-788-9054
Website: www.restaurantlucie.com

6. Niam H
Cantina Mercatto
20 Wellington Street East
Toronto, ON
M5E 1C5
Tel: 416-304-0781
Website: www.cantinamercatto.ca

7. Siva Sathasivam
Uncle Tony’s
38 Wellington St E
Toronto, ON
M5E 1C7
Tel: 416-455-6650
Website: https://uncletonys.ca/

8. Pizzaiolo
104 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON
M5C 2Y6
Tel: 416-860-0700
Website: www.pizzaiolo.ca

9. Robin Singh
Woods Restaurant and Bar
45 Colborne Street
Toronto, ON
M5E 1E3
Tel: 416-214-9918
Website: www.woodsrestaurant.ca

Health and Wellness

1. Thom Tullo
Morpheus8 by Inmode
47 Colborne Street
Toronto, ON
M5E 1E3
Tel: 416-863-6564
Website: www.amanspa.ca

2. Altitude Athletic Training
56 Colborne Street
Toronto, ON
M5E 1E3
Tel: 416-366-3838
Website: www.altitudeathletictraining.com

3. Physioheath Studios
33 Victoria Street, #130
Toronto, ON
M5C 2A1
Tel: 416-368-2525
Website: www.physiohealth.com

Our Amenities

We are by far the most experienced and best coworking team in the market – established in 1980

  • We are the highest Tech centre in the market
  • We have a very modern, high quality, brand new facility located at:

   18 King Street East, Suite 1400

      Toronto, Ontario   M5C 1C4 Canada

    • 18 King Street East is a boutique Class A building – East of Yonge: easy street parking, less traffic, excellent restaurants and lovely parks – St. James Park @ Church & King and Berczy Park @ Wellington East, Scott and Front Streets – Very high energy and engaging area
    • A few steps (a few seconds) to the Yonge Street subway/underground PATH network and streetcar available outside building
    • Building is located in Toronto's vibrant financial district
    • Plenty of parking available in the area including street parking and reserved parking in the 18 King building 
    • Adjacent to the building huge outdoor food courtyard - Beer Bistro www.beerbistro.com and Craft Beer Market www.craftbeermamrket.ca restaurants and bars with onsite catering services
    • Onsite amenities:  Tim Horton's, Beer Bistro, Convenience store and Starbucks across the street 
    • Nearby amenities:  underground PATH network, numerous restaurants, banking, Starbucks plus a wide array of nearby shops and services 
    • New modernized office layout fully furnished with meeting spaces and training rooms plus café lounge area
    • We are leaders in the service of training/meeting rooms with full conference facilities, high quality hot and cold catering
    • Largest training room and conference facilities accommodate up to 60 people classroom style
    • Ultra-high-speed - 1 GIG pipe = 1,000 x 1000 fiber-optic network, which will deliver internet connection speeds faster than most North American services
    • Private shower room
    • Indoor Reserved Parking at the current building rental rate
    • Bicycle parking
    • Rent a space to accommodate your team for meetings, training sessions, corporate events or coworking space or flexible office space for one day, one week, one month or one year, or whatever term suits your business
    • Telsec has over 650 locations in 40 different countries worldwide available for their clients.  Office clients receive up to 8 hours of meeting space per month at no charge at any ABCN member location.  Plus, Office and Virtual Office clients may rent a space from any member location at special member rates which varies depending on the location 
    • King Edward Hotel is located across the street - recently completed a $40 million renovation and boutique hotels close by within walking distance
  • Dining and entertainment at high quality restaurants only minutes away – Carisma, Terroni, Woods Restaurant & Bar and Michelin Rated - Restaurant 20 Victoria. Plus numerous lunch and takeout eateries nearby

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Telsec will Customize Your Client’s Office(s) Layout to Meet Their Requirements

You are welcome to drop-in any-time, a quick call would be appreciated to ensure our availability Vanessa 416-574-1112 or Josie 416-606-4349 or e-mail josie@telsec.net.