Space types

Space types, set out as part of the Government Workplace Design Guide.

Zone overview

The workspace is subdivided into three core zones, team home, meeting and do not disturb. Some space types may form a link or bridge multiple zones but, typically, the character of each zone is different; designed to encourage different behaviours or modes of working.

The workplace is also supported by a series of secondary zones, wellbeing, business events centre (BEC) and support, that provide essential functions, enabling people to carry out their day-to-day roles effectively.

Core and support zones

Team home

The team home zone supports day-to-day desk-based activity, providing dedicated work settings that enable individuals to carry out routine tasks comfortably and effectively over longer periods.

Team home zone

Meeting

The meeting zone provides a flexible range of spaces that support collaboration, discussion and shared activity. It offers a choice of settings designed for both in-person and virtual working, enabling teams to come together away from the workstation, to work effectively and productively.

Meeting zone

Do not disturb

The do not disturb zone provides calm, controlled environments that support concentration, complex tasks and confidential activities. These spaces are designed to minimise distraction and offer greater control over lighting, acoustics and thermal comfort, to accommodate a wide range of users.

Do not disturb zone

Wellbeing

The wellbeing zone provides places to pause, reset and recharge during the working day. These spaces are designed to promote wellbeing and inclusivity; offering calm, welcoming environments that contribute to a positive, balanced workplace experience.

Wellbeing zone

Business events centre (BEC)

The BEC provides a dedicated, high-quality setting for meetings, events and engagement with external stakeholders. It offers a clear, welcoming and professional interface with the building, supporting collaboration, communication and public facing activity.

Business events centre

Support

The support zone provides shared facilities and services that enable the workplace to function smoothly and efficiently. These spaces support day-to-day activity across the building, helping people to work comfortably, productively and with minimal disruption.

Support zones

Zonal adjacencies

Click to enlarge the support floorplan adjacencies map.

The layout opposite illustrates the zonal adjacencies of support functions.

  1. The arrival area of buildings within the GPA estate provides a clear and welcoming introduction to the building, with visibility to the main reception and circulation routes.
  2. The BEC is easily accessible from the main reception, with a dedicated reception to provide a safe and comfortable space for day-to-day staff, users from other government departments, and visitors.
  3. The support zones are appropriately located throughout the plan to provide a range of facilities to support the day-to-day activity across the building.
  4. Wellbeing zones are distributed to provide balance in a variety of spaces on the floorplate.

 

Click to enlarge the workspace floorplan adjacencies map.

The layout opposite illustrates zonal adjacencies of a typical workspace.

  1. The entrance to the floorplate is via a central support core which accommodates toilets, along with access from the stairs and lifts.
  2. Team home zones are located across the floorplate, with banks of desks grouped to facilitate team working.
  3. Enclosed meeting spaces divide the floorplate, with entrances positioned to avoid a large number of people encroaching on the team home zones.
  4. Open meeting spaces are positioned away from quieter spaces, typically in the corners of the floorplate.
  5. Do not disturb zones may be located in enclosed rooms or open to the floorplate (provided they are appropriately screened).
  6. Support facilities including refreshment and print hubs are distributed across the floorplate, ensuring facilities are located within a reasonable distance from any workspace.
  7. Wellbeing spaces, including breakout spaces, are distributed across the floorplate, separated from team home and meeting zones.

Stimuli mapping

Click to enlarge the support floorplan with highlighted areas of high to low stimuli.

The design of the support functions supports a range of activity types, including those that require a greater level of focus or collaboration. High stimuli areas are typically more noisy and collaborative, whereas low stimuli areas are typically more quiet and focused. 

  • The BEC is a high stimuli area, given the nature of activity, especially when hosting large events. 
  • There are some areas within the BEC which offer lower stimuli environments, such as the business lounge. 
  • In general, areas with lower stimuli are dispersed across the floorplan to offer relief from high stimuli areas.
  • Furniture is used to provide informal boundaries between different areas, creating pockets of quieter space.
  • Refreshment and cafe facilities are located away from wellbeing facilities such as the reflection room, to reduce audio and visual disruption.

Click to enlarge the workspace floorplan with highlighted areas of high to low stimuli.

The design of the workspace supports a range of activity types, including those that require a greater level of focus or collaboration. High stimuli areas are typically more noisy and collaborative, whereas low stimuli areas are typically more quiet and focused. 

  • Where possible, areas with the highest level of stimuli should be separated from areas of the lowest stimuli.
  • Furniture is used to provide informal boundaries between different areas, creating pockets of quieter space.
  • Meeting spaces that are designed to facilitate collaboration and are open to the floorplate should be positioned away from quieter spaces, and could utilise corners of the floorplate.
  • Refreshment and breakout facilities are located away from team home and do not disturb areas, to reduce audio and visual disruption.
  • Wellbeing facilities, such as wellbeing and recovery rooms, are low stimuli spaces and should be buffered with a medium stimuli area / transition space from noisier areas.

Duration of use mapping

Click to enlarge support floorplan with highlighted duration of use

Space types will have a differing duration of use depending on the activities being undertaken. Spaces are designed with expected duration in mind.

  • The reception area will see users transitioning between spaces, with waiting areas nearby for short term use. 
  • The BEC is designed to host large scale events with attendees collaborating and engaging with one another. As such, the zone will be occupied for extended periods of time.
  • Wellbeing facilities such as the deli café and breakout space are available for short term use, away from the BEC and workspace zones. 
  • Some facilities such as the tech bar are designed for drop-in or pre-booked appointments, and the duration of use of the space may vary.

Click to enlarge workspace floorplan with highlighted duration of use

Space types will have a differing duration of use depending on the activities being undertaken. Spaces are designed with expected duration in mind.

  • The team home zone is designed to accommodate routine work, with users occupying their workstations for up to eight hours.
  • The enclosed meeting spaces can be occupied from thirty minutes to up to eight hours.
  • Open meeting spaces will be more transient, and are designed for short term collaboration. Furniture types empower teams to work dynamically during informal group meetings.
  • Wellbeing facilities such as the wellbeing room are available for short term use.
  • Use of the do not disturb zone will vary depending on the tasks being undertaken. Do not disturb workstations and individual work booths may accommodate staff for up to eight hours, whereas library benches are designed to accommodate short term use, up to two hours.

Example spatial arrangement

Click to enlarge the typical support floor layout to assist efficient operation.
  1.  The main entrance is prominently positioned to create a clear, legible arrival, with a projecting lobby that improves visibility and intuitive wayfinding.
  2. A clearly visible reception desk provides reassurance and effective oversight of the entrance, security gates and vertical circulation, with secure back of house access supporting safe and efficient operation.
  3. The BEC is immediately visible from the entrance and directly accessible to visitors, providing a professional public interface while maintaining secure separation from the workplace.
  4. The ground floor deli café is conveniently located adjacent to lifts and stairs, occupying a prominent, naturally lit position that maximises views and creates an inviting social hub.
  5. Active travel facilities, including the cycle store and changing areas, are accessed via a secondary staff entrance, avoiding conflict with main circulation and supporting a smooth arrival experience for cyclists.
  6. Quiet, inclusive spaces are discreetly integrated, with the reflection room located close to lifts and stairs to minimise travel distances. Ritual washing facilities are arranged to provide a dignified transition between shared and private ‘clean’ spaces.
  7. Mail and refuse facilities are separated from public areas, supporting efficient servicing and reducing vehicle movement across the site.

Click to enlarge the typical office floor layout to support different ways of working.
  1. Team home areas are positioned to maximise access to natural light and are set away from busier shared spaces, creating comfortable environments for day-to-day work. 
  2. Meeting and collaboration spaces are carefully arranged to support teamwork and interaction, while also acting as a buffer between main circulation routes and the workspace. 
  3. Quieter areas for focused work are located away from activity, providing calm spaces for concentration. These areas may be located in a separate room or may be part of the main floorplate.
  4. Refreshment and breakout areas are centrally located to encourage informal interaction, with everyday support facilities distributed across the floor to ensure they are easy to access for everyone.

 

 

Continue exploring the core zones and support zones

 

 

Team home

The team home zone supports day-to-day desk-based activity, providing dedicated work settings that enable individuals to carry out routine tasks comfortably and effectively over longer periods.

Team home zone

Meeting

The meeting zone provides a flexible range of spaces that support collaboration, discussion and shared activity. It offers a choice of settings designed for both in-person and virtual working, enabling teams to come together away from the workstation, to work effectively and productively.

Meeting zone

Do not disturb

The do not disturb zone provides calm, controlled environments that support concentration, complex tasks and confidential activities. These spaces are designed to minimise distraction and offer greater control over lighting, acoustics and thermal comfort, to accommodate a wide range of users.

Do not disturb zone

Wellbeing

The wellbeing zone provides places to pause, reset and recharge during the working day. These spaces are designed to promote wellbeing and inclusivity; offering calm, welcoming environments that contribute to a positive, balanced workplace experience.

Wellbeing zone

Business events centre (BEC)

The BEC provides a dedicated, high-quality setting for meetings, events and engagement with external stakeholders. It offers a clear, welcoming and professional interface with the building, supporting collaboration, communication and public facing activity.

Business events centre

Support

The support zone provides shared facilities and services that enable the workplace to function smoothly and efficiently. These spaces support day-to-day activity across the building, helping people to work comfortably, productively and with minimal disruption.

Support zones

Explore more of the Government Workplace Design Guide

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.

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Core design requirements

Our core design requirements, set out as part of the Government Workplace Design Guide.

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Design approach

Our design approach, set out as part of the Government Workplace Design Guide.

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Space types

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