28th Apr 2025

Building Belonging: How Office Design Creates Workplace Community

The way we work has changed, but our need for connection hasn’t.

With more people working from home, spontaneous, in-person interactions are harder to come by. But those small, everyday moments matter more than we think.

People don’t just come into the office to get things done. They come to connect, collaborate and feel part of something bigger. And when people feel like they belong, their wellbeing and performance improve.

In this blog, we explore how office design can build a stronger sense of community, turning your workplace into a space where people feel supported, connected and perform at their best.

Why community at work matters

Employee wellbeing is still under pressure. Around 1 in 4 UK workers say they’re struggling to cope with stress at work and signs of burnout are on the rise.

Hybrid working has brought plenty of positives – more autonomy, better work-life balance and fewer communities.

But it’s also meant less time with teammates and more time spent behind screens. That shift has made it harder for people to build the kind of connections that support trust, wellbeing and resilience.

That’s where the office can make a real difference.

A well-designed workplace acts as “social infrastructure” – the physical space that helps people build relationships and feel part of a community.

Humans are hard-wired for connection. When people feel like they belong, they’re more confident, collaborative and better equipped to deal with challenges.

The business case for community

Community isn’t just good for your people – it’s good for your business. Here’s how:

Social capital

Everyday interactions build informal networks, sometimes known as social capital. These networks support knowledge-sharing, mentorship and innovation.

Culture in action

Your company values come to life through people, not policies. Shared spaces make it easier for people to naturally model and reinforce company culture.

Trust and collaboration

The more people connect, the better they communicate. Regular in-person interaction builds social cohesion, which leads to stronger teamwork and better collaboration.

Retention and satisfaction

People are more likely to stay where they feel supported. A strong sense of community drives engagement, loyalty and motivation.

Better performance

Having close work relationships doesn’t just improve wellbeing – it boosts performance too. When people have strong social ties, they’re more likely to speak up, go the extra mile and bring their full selves to work.

How to design your office to facilitate natural connection

Creating community isn’t about forced social events or mandatory in-office days. It’s about making space for connection to happen naturally. Thoughtful, flexible design brings people together in ways that feel natural.

Here are a few design ideas to build that connection into the everyday.

Collision points

Design open kitchens, cafe-style dining areas and shared breakout areas to create natural ‘bump into’ zones. These spaces encourage informal conversations and cross-team relationships.

Event-ready spaces

Create flexible zones that can host everything from team lunches to creative workshops. Modular furniture makes it easy to adapt spaces for different group sizes and their needs.

Visual storytelling

Let your space reflect what your company stands for. Highlight milestones, stories and shared values throughout artwork, displays or digital screens to build a sense of belonging.

Quiet zones

Make room for private conversations and mentoring with private, sound-proofed pods and inviting meeting rooms.

Different Ways to Design for Community

Inspired by the work of urban planner Jane Jacobs, who advocated for diverse, people-first public spaces, community-based design sees the office as a mini city. It’s made up of interlinked districts, each designed to support different types of work and connection.

City Centre

Purpose: A vibrant social hub for gathering and connection – the heart of your office.

Design features: Cafe-style seating, communal tables, integrated branding and shared displays to showcase values, goals and celebrations.

Why it matters: This is where people cross paths to connect, collaborate and or just catch up. It brings your culture to life.

Neighbourhoods

Purpose: Home bases for teams, designed to support their specific needs – for example, while your finance team might benefit from closed booths and task lighting for focused work, your creative team might need whiteboards and open layouts to support quick collaboration.

Design features: A mix of desks, quiet booths and team resources, with visual cues to define team identities.

Why it matters: Neighbourhoods help teams focus on their work, reducing stress and helping teams feel settled and connected.

Business district

Purpose: A hub for brainstorming, decision-making and collaboration.

Design features: Flexible layouts, smart technology for remote collaboration, writable surfaces and acoustic privacy features.

Why it matters: These spaces are all about energy and problem-solving. They bring teams together, both remote and in-person, to make an impact.

Urban parks

Purpose: Areas for people to relax and return to work feeling recharged.

Design features: Biophilic design elements, soft seating, dimmable lighting and options for both individual relaxation and social interaction.

Why it matters: These calming zones help reduce burnout, inspire new ideas and help people take restful breaks throughout the day.

University district

Purpose: A learning zone to support upskilling, knowledge sharing and growth.

Design features: Modular furniture, hybrid-friendly tech and small breakout areas for informal learning.

Why it matters: When learning is built into your environment, it becomes part of your culture. These spaces support both formal development and in-the-moment knowledge sharing, helping people grow individually and together.

Supporting design principles

Alongside the five key districts, community-based design draws on urban planning ideas to shape how people move, meet and interact.

• Density: Group work zones and social areas to keep people close enough for interaction, but avoid overcrowding.
• Diversity: A range of space types, layouts and aesthetics keeps the environment engaging and inclusive.
• Short blocks: Avoid long, empty corridors – use visual shifts and layout changes to keep movement interesting.
• Lively sidewalks: Turn spaces like hallways or breakout zones into gathering spots with seating or coffee points.
• Mixed use: Make spaces flexible with options for focus, collaboration and relaxation.

Ready to build a workplace where your people feel at home?

With the right design choices, you can create a space that does more than house your team – it brings them together.

Get in touch with our team today to see how we can help.