The checklist
- Headcount — today and in three years.
- Space per person — 60–150 usable sq ft depending on work style.
- Desk ratio — 1:1, or 0.6–0.8 for hybrid.
- Zoning — separate loud, collaborative and focus areas.
- Meeting mix — small, medium, large rooms plus phone booths.
- Reception & breakout — the two brand-carrying spaces.
- MEP capacity — HVAC tonnage, electrical load, data points per position.
- Acoustics — ceiling absorption, partition specification, zone separation.
- AV & IT — VC rooms, displays, cabling, access control.
- Storage — personal lockers if hot-desking, plus central filing.
- Landlord compliance — fit-out manual, mandated vendors, approvals, deposit.
- Programme — approvals, working hours, phasing if occupied.
Meeting room provision
| Headcount | Small (2–4) | Medium (6–8) | Large (10+) | Phone booths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 – 1 | 2 |
| 50 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 100 | 6 – 8 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| 200 | 12 | 6 – 8 | 3 | 14 |
Design and build under one accountable roof
The two things people get wrong
Meeting rooms. Hybrid work means almost every meeting now includes a remote participant and therefore needs a room with a camera. Offices built on pre-2020 ratios run out of rooms by 10am.
Acoustics. It is invisible on a drawing and it is the number one post-occupancy complaint. Ceiling absorption, proper partition specification to the slab where privacy matters, and physical separation of loud teams from focus work.
Nobody has ever complained that their office had too many meeting rooms.
Greenbox workplace team
Selected work by Greenbox Design Studio. Tap any image to enlarge.
Frequently asked questions
What should be in an office interior plan?+
Headcount and space per person, desk ratio, zoning, meeting-room mix, reception and breakout, MEP capacity, acoustics, AV and IT, storage, landlord compliance and programme. Resolve them in that order — layout decisions depend on the earlier items.
How many meeting rooms does a 50-person office need?+
Approximately four small rooms (2–4 people), two medium (6–8), one large (10+) and four phone booths. Hybrid working has significantly increased demand because most meetings now include remote participants and need a camera-equipped room.
What is the most common office design complaint?+
Acoustics — noise and lack of speech privacy. It is invisible on drawings and therefore routinely under-specified. Ceiling absorption, partitions taken to the slab where privacy matters, and separating loud teams from focus areas address most of it.