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12 May, 2020

Post COVID era, you and I are changing!

Corporate , Design Trends

At present, global companies are facing the crisis caused by COVID-19 epidemic, and have taken precaution actions to protect their most important asset: employees. The health crisis is reshaping our economy and the way we live and work for all the foreseeable future.

01. Re-plan and transform workplaces by effective barriers

People in the office design industry said that companies should ensure more personal space for employees after the epidemic.  Should it partition in open office space? Or stagger the desks and increase the distance between employees? Many companies are "reconsidering employee density" and re-planning the existing layout to provide employees with greater surrounding space.

We re-plan and reform the workplace by using modular design of the workstation, cubicle, and flexible discussion area, which is conducive to staff physical distancing and workstation adjustment.

Enable flexible and effective barriers

When we talk about partitions, many people will think of the fully-enclosed cubicle.

No…. It is already 2020, what we mentioned definitely not like this.  After the epidemic, it is more particular about personal hygiene, air purification, and storage selection.  Appropriate partitions not only provide sufficient privacy for employees, but also allow employees to focus on work and improve work efficiency.

The screens, partitions and dividers become taller and more transparent, which can contain respiratory transmission and create a comfortable sense of space. The workstation can use partitions of 1500mm or higher to create a barrier. Avail is able to provide higher screens or partitions to prevent respiratory transmission and frameless transparent glass can perceive a larger space.

Set or add screens on benches and height adjustable desks, such as using AVAIL movable dividers or screens; using the front & side screens on Longhouse, and using BAYLITE screens on height adjustable desks.

The BAYLITE can be freely matched with L-shaped, straight-line, and cross-shaped screens, and can be added on existing desks.

Add hanging screens and increase the height on the basis of the existing screen can effectively contain respiratory transmission.

In open space areas, you may worry about being open and risky.  You can now use free-standing and movable Surrounds screens to create tall barriers to prevent rapid airborne transmission.

You can also use Meta cabin in open space area to enable focus work and barrier function, reducing face-to-face respiratory transmission.

It is possible to use steel cabinets to create barriers between departments and public spaces.  Affix personal tags on the steel cabinets for personal use and avoid contact.

Arrange and reorient workstations with desks staggered or alternated to minimize face-to-face respiratory transmission.

02. Use voice, smart technology to reduce physical contact 

We will continue social activities in the office by using voice, gestures or wireless applications and collaborative work tools to reduce physical contact while maintain socialization.

Promote virtual collaboration, video training and meetingsCommon Folio, Envolve, Longhouse support multimedia functions for remote training and conferencing.

To increase the furniture distance in the collaboration area and reduce the density to maintain an appropriate distance, modular sofas can be flexibly reconfigure to meet the appropriate distance requirements.  Re-plan single sofas / seats and designate all sofas for single use.  Individual lounge chairs or stools can help to maintain proper social distance.  Meta Octagon takes advantage of its wideness and uses along with This n That table as a separation to promote appropriate social distance.

Equipped with Bluetooth controlled height adjustable desks, such as HAD Plus, Envolve Plus

If there is a phone booth in the workplace, do you want to get in and do your work quietly? Or make a personal phone call or meeting?  Without having to enter or leave the office, the Lumin soundproof cabin eliminates the embarrassment of answering phone calls when colleagues are focused on their work.  Add a screen, connect to the network.  It not only can serve as a small live broadcast room, but can also solve the density problem through remote meetings.

Evo, Liquid and Open Up office chairs all have weight-activated synchronized mechanism, which can automatically adjust the tilting angle according to the person's own weight in order to minimize touching and achieve comfort.

03. Use cleanable and seamless materials

All surfaces need to be resistant to frequent deep cleaning and seamless to avoid inhabited by microorganisms. Smooth surface is easy to disinfect regularly.  Screen materials such as MFC, glass, metal, leather, etc are easier to clean than fabric and reduce bacteria.  Desktop materials such as MFC board, closed-pore wood veneer are also easier to clean.

Open up uses antibacterial imitation leather to effectively inhibit bacteria and provide a healthy working environment.

Everyone would also care about air, light, acoustic environment and other factors.  In 2020, Lamex joined the members of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).  The WELL building standard is a dynamic assessment system based on building performance ratings.  It measures and verifies over 100 indicators in 10 dimensions of air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community to monitor the impact of the built environment on human health and well-being.

Lamex is pleased to join like-mined companies from across the global. We embrace the commitment and pursuit of creating a healthy and happy workplace. In the future, we will continue to give back to the society with innovative and quality office furniture, to create more prosperous and harmonious workplace communities, to assist customers to obtain WELL standards to create a safer workplace.