Avoid factory farm office design

Sir Stuart Lipton, chief executive of Stanhope and chairman of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, has called on office builders and architects to avoid factory farm offices and opt for offices "more like hotels".

In response to a workplace survey carried out by Management Today, Sir Stuart said: "I think we'll see office buildings becoming more like hotels - more individual, more comfortable, with more personality and greater focus on work/life balance. It's the factory farming versus free-range argument. Most people are against factory farming."

He cited GlaxoSmithKline's headquarters (designed by Hillier and RHWL Architects with Mace as construction manager) in Brentford as an excellent example of good office design, noting that it provides "terrific social infrastructure". 

Key highlights of the survey were that 74% of respondents consider leisure facilities and break-out areas to be essential features of a workplace, but only 14% have a gym at their workplace while 20% actually have areas to break out into. Indeed the table below reveals the gap between staff's wishlist and what they have to put up with.

The survey also reveals that nearly six out of 10 respondents have had their office layout and design reviewed in the past 12 months, and nearly a quarter have relocated within the past year. However qualified architects have been involved in only one in 10 of such projects. The in-house facilities team accounts for nearly two-thirds of office design jobs.

Staff facilities

Relaxation/thinking space 56% really want it / 20% actually have it

Gym 53% / 14%

Restaurant 41% / 31%

Childcare/eldercare 27% / 6%

Shower 27% / 39%

Cultural activity 12% / 7%

Concierge services 9% / 3%