If you've been thinking about buying commercial space in Brooklyn, you've probably realized that a good spot can be hard to come by. Businesses that have secured a space here, especially in the Brooklyn Tech Triangle, don't give up their space easily. Demand is high for commercial space, which is why so many modern businesses and entrepreneurs are looking for loft spaces for their offices.
This trend is becoming more popular with small to medium size businesses that want to be in the heart of Brooklyn but want to keep costs down. Lofts are perfect for modern companies that want their office space to reflect their sleek, innovative, and sustainable company culture.
If you're lucky enough to get your hands on a loft in Brooklyn, here’s a smart way to break up the space to maximize productivity and efficiency:
50% for office space
Lofts in Brooklyn come in all different shapes and sizes. You can find compact, 300 square feet lofts (perfect for a single entrepreneur looking to upgrade his/her workspace), and you can find sprawling 10,000+ square foot lofts that are perfect for coworking and small to medium size businesses. Regardless of the size of your loft, 50% of the space should be designated for individual office space. This could be individual offices, cubicles, or even desks. When you allocate half of the loft for personal workspace, you give yourself and your team the space they need to work comfortably, which boosts creativity and productivity.
(perfect for a single entrepreneur looking to upgrade his/her workspace), and you can find sprawling 10,000+ square foot lofts that are perfect for coworking and small to medium size businesses. Regardless of the size of your loft, 50% of the space should be designated for individual office space. This could be individual offices, cubicles, or even desks. When you allocate half of the loft for personal workspace, you give yourself and your team space they need to work comfortably, which boosts creativity and productivity.
10% on meeting space
The portion of your commercial loft space designated for meetings will depend on your business, the size of your team, and how often you hold meetings. 10% of your space should be assigned to meeting space, giving you and your team room to collaborate without intruding on each other's personal workspace. A meeting space should have the option to be closed off for privacy but still set up for transparency and inclusivity. Your meeting space could be a conference table in an office, a more modern space enclosed in glass, or more open space with contemporary seating options. Your meetings will be more productive if people are comfortable and want to be there, so be intentional about using about 10% of your space for meetings.
15% on kitchenette/waiting areas/ storage
Organization is key in any business but is especially crucial when working in a creative loft. If you are sharing the space with other businesses, you must designate specific areas for storage so everything stays neat and organized. Whether this is a back corner or a whole closet dedicated to storage, you maximize space and boost productivity when everything has a place. Take advantage of any shared storage space offered in the building, well. If your loft is going to have a kitchenette or a breakroom, it should only take up 5-7% of your total space. Remember, you can't have a gas stove or do any real cooking in a loft space, but a place to eat, warm up leftovers, and refill your coffee is a convenient element of any modern loft. Will you have a place where clients can sit and wait before they see you? Is there a comfortable space for vendors, contractors, or other visitors to sit while they wait for help? A waiting space is typically a visitor's first impression of your company, so allocating 5-7% of your commercial loft space to create a welcoming waiting area is a good idea.
25% on open coworking spaces
The beautiful thing about working in a loft is that it allows you to share the space and share the costs. If you plan on using a loft as a coworking space, consider designating around 25% of the area for this purpose. Since you've already designated 50% of the space to assigned work stations, and another portion to meetings, 20-25% of the space should be saved for coworking spaces. This is the shared space that is open and free for everyone to use. Since this is a more open, free-flowing space, it will reduce the doors and partitions on your commercial loft and give it a more spacious feel. Make sure this space has plenty of outlets so everyone can stay charged and connected, and functional furniture and sturdy worktops to encourage collaboration, focus, and creativity.
If you are a modern business owner or entrepreneur, you need a workspace that reflects your creativity, style, and vision. You also want an office in Brooklyn without paying an arm and a leg for it, right? A loft does it all. If you've been wondering how your business would work in a loft environment, contact us today. We'd love to show you a few creative Brooklyn lofts that are available right now, and help you take the first step toward working from a modern office in one of the most sought after business districts in the area.
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