What is office space planning?

Office space planning is the strategic design of layouts, settings, and circulation to align the workplace with business goals, improve productivity, and use every square metre efficiently.

At TSK, we approach this as a leadership tool, ensuring space directly supports operational priorities and measurable outcomes. From the first conversation, we embed strategic intent into design, combining workspace planning insights with occupancy data and leadership objectives.

A well-planned environment is not about more desks or new décor - it’s about ensuring every metre works harder for your organisation. Whether consolidating estates, adapting for hybrid work, or driving cultural change, our process links people needs, spatial performance, and ROI. This alignment transforms the workplace from a static cost into an adaptive asset that enables teams to collaborate, focus, and deliver on strategic goals.

‍

Why office space planning matters

When every square metre counts, planning isn’t optional - it’s a strategic imperative. Poorly aligned layouts increase costs, slow decision-making, and weaken team cohesion.

Strategic office space planning ensures your environment serves business-critical functions. British Council for Offices (BCO) research shows that well-planned workplaces can increase productivity by up to 12% and reduce wasted space by more than 30%.

The stakes go beyond efficiency. In a hybrid era, underutilised or inflexible spaces hinder agility and raise cost per head. Effective planning enables youto optimise office space for hybrid work, ensuring settings support both on-site and remote collaboration.

This is about more than aesthetics - it’s about connecting leadership goals with the daily experience of work. Our evidence-led method combines people-need mapping, operational insight, and commercial space design principles to future-proof your workplace.

By aligning your space with measurable outcomes, you not only unlock productivity but also release capital for reinvestment, ensuring your workplace remains a high-performing asset over time.

‍

7-step office space planning framework

How to plan your office layout effectively

Our proven process is designed to reduce risk and maximise performance:

1. Define goals and people needs
   Clarify leadership priorities. Identify what space must achieve - from fostering culture to optimising cost.
2. Analyse current use (Workspace planning)
   Collect occupancy data, run observation studies, and gather employee input to identify utilisation gaps.
3. Prioritise adjacencies and flow
   Map relationships and workflows so critical teams sit close, improving efficiency and response times.
4. Design for adaptability (Commercial space design)
   Build flexibility with modular furniture, multi-use areas, and scalable layouts so space evolves with business change.
5. Maximise utility per sqm (Space optimisation)
   Reconfigure underused areas to deliver higher value per square metre without compromising performance.
6. Embed sustainability and wellness
   Integrate energy-efficient systems, biophilic features, and inclusive design to support ESG goals and workforce well-being.
7. Test, measure, refine (Post-occupancy)
   Monitor performance using utilisation metrics, employee feedback, and operational KPIs, refining layouts as needs evolve.

‍

 Quick checklist: Office space planning essentials

• Align design with strategic business goals early.
• Map workflows before committing to layouts.
• Create adaptable spaces for changing workstyles.
• Embed sustainability and wellness in all decisions.
• Choose  the best office space ideas for productivity to deliver measurable outcomes through evidence-based design.

‍

Case Study 1: SilverDoor – Hospitality-Led HQ

SilverDoor sought a workplace to match its client-firstethos. With a lease expiry approaching, they relocated from a multi-flooroffice to a single, open-plan HQ that blends hospitality with high-functionworkspace.

Our workspace planning process shaped flexible zones:concierge-style reception, adaptable meeting hubs, and quiet focus points.These areas flex to host events, deepen client relationships, and supportcross-team collaboration.

By linking layout to business objectives, we delivered aspace that reflects brand values while enabling operational efficiency andfuture growth.

Case Study 2: Allianz Insurance – Sustainable, InclusiveHQ

At Allianz’s Guildford HQ, we reimagined a traditionaloffice into an open-plan, inclusive environment.

Our commercial space design featured accessible facilities,sensory-friendly zones, and diverse work points for a neurodiverse workforce.Sustainable measures included material reuse, efficient systems, and biophilicintegration, earning Gold SKA accreditation.

The result: 31% more space efficiency, improved inclusivity,and a workplace that supports both people and planet while aligning withAllianz’s operational strategy.

FAQs

What is office space planning?
Office space planning is the strategic design of layouts, settings, andcirculation to align the workplace with business goals, improve productivity,and use every square metre efficiently.

How do you optimise office space for productivity?
We combine space optimisation and workspace planning to analyse usage,eliminate inefficiencies, and configure adaptable settings that support bothcollaboration and focus.

What are the key elements of a good office layout?
A good layout applies commercial space design principles: clear zoning,intuitive flow, adaptable work points, and integrated wellness andsustainability - all aligned to business goals.

Conclusion

Strategic office space planning turns your workplace into ahigh-performing business asset. Starting with leadership intent, we analysecurrent use, design for adaptability, and apply space optimisation to maximisereturn.

At TSK, we integrate strategy, design, and delivery,ensuring space remains aligned with your goals - even as they change.

Discover our Workplace Strategy approach or explore results in our Projects portfolio.