The popularity of coworking spaces was already growing before the pandemic hit. And now that coronavirus has changed people’s working habits, flexible working is here to stay — with the coworking industry predicted to enjoy an annual growth rate of 21.3% from 2021 onwards.
Research has shown that only 15% of workers wish to return to the office full time. And according to a survey by IPA, 89% of UK workers are in favour of a fully flexible working model, with 72% wishing to split their time between home and the workplace. As a result, employers are turning to shared office spaces for a cost-effective, flexible solution.
Coworking allows freelancers, small teams and workers from different companies to come together and share the same office space. This has significant advantages for organisations in terms of cost savings and the convenience of sharing equipment, utilities and support staff — often without the long-term commitment.
But one of the main draws of a coworking space is the flexibility and freedom to adapt how they are used depending on the day-to-day needs of the worker. These spaces aim to create an environment that sits somewhere between home and a more traditional office, where people can feel relaxed and creative whilst remaining productive.
When designing a coworking space that strikes the right balance between collaboration and concentration, the lighting fixtures and controls you choose are crucial.
Designing flexible working environments
Although there are many benefits to working from home, a home office is often not optimised for long-term work, driving more people to seek alternative solutions.
A common characteristic of a coworking space is the freedom to work in different settings — from a computer desk for productivity and meeting rooms for brainstorming ideas to a breakout space to relax in.
Lighting plays a central role in determining the ambience of any room; not only that, but adequate ergonomic lighting has more of an impact on mood and productivity than you might expect.
Light exposure is directly related to our body’s circadian rhythm — the internal clock or ‘sleep cycle’ triggered by natural light that tells us when to work and when to rest. A practical lighting solution should appeal to this rhythm by replicating natural light where possible — or risk sending workers to sleep.
As the modern workplace becomes more and more digital, it is also vital to create the right contrast between computer screens and surroundings by taking both natural and artificial light into account. Otherwise, workers are at higher risk of conditions like computer vision syndrome (CVS), which can cause fatigue, blurred vision and headaches due to eye strain from improper lighting and frequent computer use.
Many successful coworking offices adopt a warmer, softer light to create a homelier atmosphere rather than traditionally harsh fluorescent office lighting that strains the eye. But if an area is too dim, it will not be as conducive to work.
Lighting these spaces should, therefore, not take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, a combination of ambient, task and accent lighting should be installed to create the ideal fit-for-purpose solution.
Take control of your lighting
There are several key considerations to keep in mind when choosing lighting and lighting controls in a coworking space that needs to accommodate multiple people and be adaptable for different needs.
Improper lighting is an occupational health hazard waiting to happen. Plus, without suitable controls in place, a lighting system will be inefficient and can end up costing you; lights left on in an empty building are a sign of wasted energy and unnecessary carbon emissions.
Once you have achieved your ideal lighting layout, it is crucial that it can easily be monitored and adjusted from one place. Lighting control systems can improve comfort, create ambience and reduce maintenance and energy consumption through the use of daylight harvesting, scene-setting and tunable white (or ‘human-centric’) lighting. This balances artificial light to simulate the natural daylight cycle to improve occupants’ energy levels, mood, performance and sleep patterns.
Our intelligent lighting controls can help you control your lighting environment to ensure your building is as energy-efficient as possible. We supply industry-leading wired and wireless lighting control products — giving complete control through automatic pre-set parameters such as presence or absence passive infrared (PIR) detectors, which can automatically monitor LUX levels and adjust lighting accordingly. These controls can also automate scene control and circadian rhythm, or provide the option for user intervention via scene-selection plates or cloud-based tablet control.
These options will cost-effectively meet even the most demanding lighting control, emergency monitoring and energy management applications.
Are you designing a coworking space or looking to reimagine the lighting systems you already have in place? Get in touch with us to discuss the products and services we supply to find the right solution for your project.