The future of office spaces in downtown Montreal will inevitably change. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the nature of office work. Productivity did not suffer during the rise of remote work, and employees have come to enjoy increased flexibility and improved work-life balance. In Montreal, the downtown office market reflected these changes: downtown office vacancy rates rose, and price per square foot of commercial space in the downtown core dropped.
But now that demand is rising again, the question on everyone’s mind is: what can be done to offer a safe and appealing space to work? And what role does office cleaning services play in creating and maintaining these spaces?
Answers to both these questions will define the future of office spaces in downtown Montreal. And it all starts with what employees want.
What are employees looking for in an office space?
Not all office workers can work from home. But those that have the option are keen to see some major changes in office design and layout before returning. Learn more about how to work in an office environment in Montreal.
While a lot of the concerns have to do with cleanliness and exposure to viruses, there is also a push for more spacious designs: a welcome change in downtown office buildings that often lack space, sunlight, and flexible zones to work or relax. Here are some of the major trends that will shape the future of office space in downtown Montreal.
Safe Social Distancing
The number one priority for downtown offices is creating safe social distancing between individual work spaces. In fact, this is a requirement asked for by health officials in the federal and provincial government, who have relied on social distancing as a non-pharmaceutical way to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Workplace guides to sanitary standards have to be followed.
Here are the pillars of a socially distanced office space:
- Partitions between cubicles;
- Spacious seating arrangements (at least 6 feet apart);
- Schedule shifts with distancing in mind;
- Hand sanitizers easily available;
- Mandatory mask-wearing;
- Corporate office cleaning with a focus on disinfection.
Flexible Office Spaces
Employees value their personal space more than ever before. But they also want to have a personal space that they can come to when the need arises. Creating the right balance of shared open spaces with private closed space is going to be a major challenge for business owners and commercial property owners. Principles to consider in designing a flexible office space are:
- Density. Reduce the number of desks within a room so that people are at least 6 feet apart.
- Circulation Patterns. Create circulation flow that minimizes clutter and maximizes flow in and out of spaces.
- Privacy. Provide a mix of individual and communal rooms for employees to access as needed.
Dynamic Public Spaces
Many businesses still have corporate headquarters in downtown Montreal. These critical downtown office spaces are not going anywhere, but how can they be redesigned to better serve the preferences of employees?
Part of the plan for revitalizing is to create new dynamic public spaces for people to gather, work, or see an art show. In fact, the City of Montreal has pledged $25 million to support downtown businesses as they rebuild after the pandemic.
One of the pillars of the funding is a subsidy to help businesses convert offices into collaborative spaces. Other areas of investment are planned for making pedestrian-friendly commercial strips, designing outdoor work spaces, and “developing a return-to-work protocol in collaboration with the Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal and other stakeholders.” These measures will help Montreal business owners afford to rethink their office spaces as part of a larger project of urban renewal.
Why Office Space Cleaning Is Important
Now matter what shape or style office spaces in downtown Montreal take in the future, one thing is certain: they will need to be kept clean. In the short term, that means doing everything possible to meet the public health recommendations around Covid-19 prevention. Over the long-term, as office spaces transform from cubicles to more shared spaces, the janitorial service and office disinfection service requirements will change as well.
The bottom line is that, just as office spaces are adapting to changes in social and commercial life, so too are the standards and best practices around business cleaning services. That’s why it is critical to partner with a corporate cleaning service provider like Mom Cleaning. Our office cleaning services are trusted by some of Montreal’s biggest companies. Contact us today about your office cleaning needs!
