When undergoing a restroom renovation, every little thing is considered. From how much elbow room can be added to stalls, to mirror placements, to where hooks are attached on stalls — there is nothing that isn’t given special treatment.
“I think a lot of times with a workplace scenario, you’re working with existing layouts and you can’t do a lot to change it,” Vanore says. “There are ways that you can update it more materialistically vs. the layout itself by making sure the entry feels separate from the stall and making sure the flow of the restroom is cohesive. There’s a way to modernize it.”
Having a cohesive design throughout the entire office building can help employees stay motivated to work and don’t feel like they have entered a completely different atmosphere when they need a break, says Vanore
Henderson suggests that every restroom have a designated “primping” area so that people can adjust their appearance without getting in the way of others. The spaces can include full length mirrors, designated hooks for purses or jackets and shelving so personal items don’t get wet. Designers have even taken into consideration which lighting would be most suitable for restroom selfies.
“Everyone takes selfies nowadays in the mirror — whether it's a workplace or a restaurant. Everyone does it,” Vanore says. “For the workplace, we try to make restrooms the place where you can go for a split second to fix your hair, fix your makeup or fix your tie. Just kind of take a breather before you go back into the hustle and all the noise.”
To prevent ruining an outfit or causing an untimely injury, designers have started to place hand dryers and paper towel dispensers closer to the sinks so that water doesn’t drip across the floor. Meanwhile, touch-free fixtures help prevent the spread of germs.
“If you have a really good maintenance team, the batteries will always be replaced in [touchless] fixtures,” Bernard says. “You don’t really run out of power, and that’s one of the best ways to do it. You can wave your hand in front of a towel dispenser, or wave it under the soap and under the sink. Nowadays you don’t even have to touch the valve. These are all processes that have made the experience better for users.”
As employees return to the office, they are going to take every amenity into consideration. It will be up to facility executives to work hand-in-hand with designers to ensure that all areas of the office live up to expectations. Restrooms have proven time and time again to be a necessity, not a perk within the workplace. Having a dedicated space that promotes wellness, while offering a sense of privacy, allows employees to feel more comfortable at work.
“We tell all facility managers that the way amenities will be used to its maximum level is if the executives go in and use them,” Henderson says. “It’s giving employees visual permission to use this space in the way it was intended, and then it becomes visual communication that it’s okay and helps take any stigma away and makes people more comfortable.”
Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor of the facilities market and host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.
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