The Government Workplace Design Guide
This Government Workplace Design Guide is one of a suite of guidance documents and standards setting out the aspirations for government and public sector workspaces.
The Government Workplace Design Guide is one of a suite of guidance documents and standards setting out the aspirations for our workspaces; what they look like and the experience we want our people to have. The guidance and standards are mandatory for central government organisations with property responsibilities. Other public sector organisations might find it useful for assessing themselves against the same guidelines.
The Workplace Design Guide is intended for use by anyone involved in commissioning, planning, designing and managing new or major redevelopments of government office estate. It is to be used in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architect’s Plan of Work 2020 and the Government Property Agency (GPA) or departmental process plans at each project stage to communicate aspirations, design approach and standards.
The Workplace Design Guide supports the Government Functional Standard for Property.
Download the Government Workplace Design Guide
Key working zones
Our Government Workplace Design Guide identifies key working zones that support people to be more productive and effective, while enabling everyone to be themselves at work:
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Team homeTeam home zones are where teams will usually work on desk-based, daily activities. Consisting of work settings dedicated to routine work in work settings suitable for longer durations. |
CollaborationThe collaboration zone provides our people and teams flexibility and a wide choice of how and where to work. They offer a variety of work settings ideal for group tasks and activities which can be carried out most effectively in an environment away from a focused setting. |
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Do not disturbThese work settings provide space in which individuals can concentrate, work with complex information or conduct confidential activities, without being distracted or disturbed. |
Shared amenitiesAmenity spaces provide the shared facilities required to complement the work settings and support people while using the building. They consist of a variety of non-directly work related settings such as those providing services and facilities or for social interaction and wellbeing purposes. |
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Business Events CentreThe Business Events Centre provides spaces for our people to engage with the public and visitors securely and professionally. A fully flexible, multipurpose serviced events centre can be used for meetings, training and conferences. |
Annexes
- The Architectural Annex supports the Design Guide by addressing building envelope and form, vertical transportation, finishes and fit-out, acoustics and structure.
- The Net Zero and Sustainability Annex is a supporting document for the guide, and its requirements largely aligns with the UK Green Building Council Net Zero Buildings Framework to identify the steps and processes that new and refurbishment projects should undertake to deliver a Net Zero building. The annex takes a standardised approach whereby the targets and guidelines must be adopted by the whole portfolio of buildings within the government office estate and not only a single building.
- The Historic Building Annex outlines the approach for handling our heritage assets; recognising the need to preserve our past, whilst developing a use for modern day requirements. This has been developed with consultation from Historic England.