How to Be an Efficiency Expert

A pair of coworkers are having an impromptu meeting near the main work area. Thoughtfully designed settings such as these make it easier for people to meet and efficiently solve problems.

How Workplace Design Improves Efficiency

Whether you have a single floor or an expansive, multi-campus real estate portfolio, efficiency isn’t about more or less space—it’s about using the space you have to create a seamless workflow for people. See how efficiency scores improved for our research partners after their workplace redesigns. 

My workplace helps me be more productive.

25% increase

Aggregated results from an employee survey show that before a workplace redesign, 50 percent of people agreed that the workplace helps them be more productive. After the redesign, that number increased to 75 percent.

I have a comfortable, functional workplace.

19% increase

Aggregated results from an employee survey show that before a workplace redesign, 66 percent of people agreed that they have a comfortable, functional workplace. After the redesign, that number increased to 85 percent.

I can easily access my colleagues.

16% increase

Aggregated results from an employee survey show that before a workplace redesign, 69 percent of people agreed they could easily access their colleagues. After the redesign, that number increased to 85 percent.

*Aggregated results from our survey of Living Office research partners before and after their workplace design

When you’re trying to balance what’s right for your people with a lean approach to real estate, creating an efficient workplace can feel like an impossible task. We believe both are possible, especially when you reclaim square footage dedicated to underused private offices and reassign it to a variety of settings where people can quickly connect and solve problems.

Two women sit and talk inside of an office cafe area full of natural light.

The connective pathways in the office lead people to a centralized Plaza Setting. Here, people can catch up with co-workers and share updates on their lives and work.

An office lounge seating area sits near several workstations in the background.

Every organization wants to be more efficient, but each is challenged by differing variables that inhibit them from reaching this goal. See what happened when we helped two distinctly different organizations create more efficient workplaces with our Living Office placemaking approach.

Global Professional Services Firm

This Fortune 100 company accommodated more people in a smaller space by reducing the number of individual workstations and increasing the number of seats in group and community spaces. 

I have a variety of work settings to choose from.

86% increase

An employee survey for a Fortune 100 company showed that before a workplace redesign, 8 percent of people said they have a variety of work settings to choose from. After the redesign, that percentage increased to 94.
Harry's

When this men's grooming company moved into a larger space, they mapped people's work activities to a variety of settings that are easy to find and use. 

Two employees chat in a conference room at Harry’s, a men’s grooming company. The image confirms that the company now has a variety of collaborative spaces that are easy to find and use.

Variety of Collaborative Spaces

This infographic shows that after the company’s move to a new space, Harry’s increased their types of collaborative spaces to five.

collaborative spaces before redesign

This infographic shows that after the company’s move to a new space, Harry’s increased their types of collaborative spaces to five.

collaborative spaces after redesign

Explore More Findings from Our Workplace Research

How to Catalyze the Workplace for Growth

When research on your people and their work informs your office design, it becomes a powerful tool for organizational growth.

Start Growing

Give Ideas Room to Grow

If you're in the market for an innovation boom, start by removing unintentional barriers between people and ideas.

Ignite Innovation

Create a Center of Attraction

One of the biggest benefits you can offer people—and a major differentiator that you may be overlooking—is a connective and fulfilling workplace.

Be Attractive

Focus on Building Your Brand

A workplace that’s laser-focused on expressing who you are and what you do can help you build strong relationships with customers and employees.

Boost Your Brand