Things are really getting off of balance in the world of office space today.

The co-working space trend has just about run its course in functionality.  A change in how businesses are managed is taking place.   

Businesses operating out of a co-working space are showing huge drops in productivity forcing those businesses to get real with their business plans and move back into private offices that have…gasp…doors.

Studies going all the way back to the mid-1990’s show business managers who work in privacy get more than 80% more done than their peers who work out in an open space. 

Workers who are assigned to completing many tasks and office in their own personal space with walls produce 40% more than their co-workers who work out in the open where there are way too many distractions. 

This dash back to private office space that many business leaders are making results in a large number of questions concerning how much office space is enough.  I found this list of results several studies have confirmed as the amount of office and workspace a business needs to be functional.

Typical President’ s office or Chairman of the Board

200 to 400 sq. ft. (3 to 5 windows in length)

Typical Vice-President’ s Office

150 to 250 sq. ft. (3 to 4 windows in length)

Typical Executive’ s Office

90 to 150 sq. ft. (2 windows in length)

Open Space Workstations

Benches or cubicles 60 to 110 sq. ft. per person

Work Group Areas

80 to 100 sq. ft. per person

Quiet Room

Allow 10-100 sq. ft. quiet room for every 10 open space or workgroup workstations

Conference Rooms

• 15 sq. ft. per person:
• theater style 25 to 30 sq. ft. per person: conference seating

Mail Room

8 to 9 ft. wide with 30″ counters on either side. The length depends upon the amount of usage

Reception Area

• 125 to 200 sq. ft. Receptionist and 2 – 4 people
• 200 to 300 sq. ft. Receptionist and 6 – 8 people

File Room

7 sq. ft. per file with a 3′ to 4′ aisle width

Library

• Allow 12″ for bookshelf width
• 175 to 450 sq. ft. with seating for 4 – 6

Lunch Rooms

15 sq. ft. per person, not including the kitchen. A kitchen should be 1/3 seating area

ADA Restroom within the space

• 55 sq. ft. for a 1 seater and 30 sq. ft. for each additional seat
• OSHA Quantity Standards

Corridors within the space

20% to 30% of the total usable area

Coat Closets

1 linear ft. for 4 coats

Water Coolers/Drinking Fountains

1 unit per 75 employees

If you are starting a business or growing a business, it probably is time to start thinking about what work environment is good for your team.  Private office space could be the direction to take.

Let me know how I can help.