The Reception is not only the first contact that people outside the organization have with the company. Many times, it is the only place that many tours start and end in this area. Hence, the importance of its design and equipment.
The office is one of the most powerful allies of a company in the construction of its corporate identity. It clearly reflects what a company is like and even what its people are like. And, as the first impression is the one that counts, the reception has a lot to contribute in this challenge of transmitting corporate culture and values.
The Reception, the best showcase of a brand
The corporate image must be a leading part of the Reception design in order to be quickly captured and familiarized with by the public. The personalization of the furniture is of great help in this objective.
When visitors and employees enter the office, the Front Desk must show them what the culture, priorities and values of the company are.
Lacer – Barcelona
Therefore, in the interior design of this space, it is necessary to be clear about the purpose and message of the Reception area.
For most companies, the message is related to their values. In other words, reception spaces are not simply fun or serious -for example- for the simple fact of being fun or serious, but rather because they have been designed to reflect the essence of the brand and inspire a common language.
The color, the corporate logo, the design of the furniture and even the aroma are elements that can help us form and create the corporate identity in this representative space.
The Reception, one of the “orange spaces” of the new offices
The reception is one of the 12 spaces of the new offices, according to an analysis of Ofita’s ebook “3×4=12 – The formula for new work spaces”.
According to this study, the new offices have 3 areas, and each of them with 4 types of spaces. That is, 12 different scenarios in the office, differentiated by the level of privacy that each activity needs to be carried out efficiently and healthily.
The use of each space is also conditioned by the different professional profiles that coexist in the office.
The Reception is one of the 4 “orange spaces” described in this study. The “orange spaces” serve as transit between some activities and others, and encourage meetings and more spontaneous collaboration.
How are the Receptions of the new offices?
The Covid protocols have significantly expanded the functionality and equipment of the reception spaces, making them a perfect setting for holding meetings that do not require great privacy.
The transformation of the Reception towards more social and collaborative areas had already been taking place before the pandemic. The health crisis has accelerated this trend of turning office receptions into meeting and socializing areas.
Indeed, traditionally, the main functions of the Reception of a work center were exclusively to control access, receive parcels and welcome employees and guests.
A much more social space
In the new concept of neighborhood office, the Reception has become a social space. It would be like the portal of our block of flats, a place of passage, but where we also stop to chat with our neighbors (collaborators, clients…). And what better way than to do it comfortably!
For this reason, the new offices include different environments, such as soft seating areas, an ideal setting, for example, to meet with suppliers without having to occupy the meeting rooms. Armchairs, sofas, high tables… are already common in the design of these spaces where visitors can comfortably wait and/or meet.
As a result of the pandemic, the reception has also become a security checkpoint, with sensors for taking temperatures, stations with dispensers of gel and masks and all the necessary communication for safe work in the office.
As we can see, the Reception is one of the spaces that is evolving the most in the current transformation of offices, both in its aesthetic design and in its functionality.
