The Importance of the Conference Room

Submitted on Monday, June 25, 2018 - 10:00am

Why It’s Important to Invest In Your Conference Room Design

When looking to build a new office, it is best to think about investing in your conference room. Having a proper conference room is a key feature, and imperative to holding successful meetings and hosting guests. There are multiple uses for a conference room and making sure that everything is up to date is imperative in a business’s success.

To give a different perspective, we interviewed Jim Prendergast from Gensler. See his insightful comments on the importance of the conference room below.

First Impressions:

Conference rooms that are unprofessional or out of date could make a poor first impression which can interfere with closing deals or hiring talented people. Several studies have shown that within seconds of meeting people decide a person’s wealth, trustworthiness, success and other characteristics solely based on appearance. Although first impressions aren’t everything, having a conference room that makes a solid first impression puts your business above others.

Jim’s Take:
When considering first impressions, consider the branding incorporated in your space. When a space has branding, it is one of the first things you see when entering and thus can leave a positive or negative first impression. It is imperative to meet with the company leaders and marketing team to best understand the story you are telling. The branding must add sophistication and be thoroughly thought through- it cannot simply be words on a wall; it must accomplish something. 

Host Guests:

A conference room with state-of-the-art audio & visual equipment and appropriate furnishings creates an atmosphere of welcome for guests and allows them to relax and place their confidence in you. From video conferencing to in-person meetings, guests are almost always in the conference room, and having a professional conference room is much more welcoming towards guests and leaves a lasting impression of professionalism and warmth.

Jim’s Take:
One trend that is becoming more and more popular is the infusion of hospitality and service into conference room design. We are finding cafés, fridges, sit/stand capability and specialty equipment incorporated into the design in order to accommodate a company’s guests.

 

Establishes a More Collaborative Work Environment

Conference room design has shifted from secluded corners of the office to more open, less private areas of the office, and although conference rooms still require privacy and noise control, they are often enclosed with floor to ceiling glass partitions. Up to date conference rooms are also equipped with a variety of collaboration tools, including large video monitors, up-to-date audio and visual equipment, dry-erase boards, and flexible furniture to ensure a cohesive, successful work environment.

Jim’s Take:
When beginning the design process, understanding the function of the room is key. For a lot of companies, AV equipment, specifically video conferencing, is always an important consideration due to necessary collaboration with those out of the office. Flexibility is also important in ensuring the conference room is collaborative. Being able to host a small group to a medium gathering in one space allows the space more flexibility and collaboration.

ICG believes investing in your conference room has the potential to make a big impact on your office. From first impressions to establishing a productive work environment, the conference room is one of the most important aspects of an office and should be as up to date as possible to ensure workplace success and productivity.

  

One of ICG's recently completed projects displays various conferencing types and is a great example of how this insight translates into an effective and beautiful space.