How to Create an Effective Office Training Room
Workplace training programs have always been very valuable, but they’ve taken on new importance in the post-COVID world. Even though people often like the flexibility hybrid work offers, many people – younger workers in particular – have said they have concerns that not being in the office will lead to an “out of sight, out of mind” situation where they miss out on opportunities for mentorship and professional development.
Providing opportunities for professional development can not only be a very effective way to get people to come into the office, it can encourage people to stay with a company for a longer amount of time. According to one study, training programs can improve employee retention by up to 14%. But to make the most of these learning opportunities, it’s important to have spaces that can help people learn and participate effectively. If you’re planning a training room for your office, here are a few important things to keep in mind.
Information Displays
For any type of training class, it’s essential to have ways to present information. This can include video monitors, whiteboards, smartboards, projector screens, and stands for flip boards. Not only do instructors need ways to present information, the room needs to be arranged in a way that gives people a clear line of vision from anywhere in the room.
Flexible Furniture
Training rooms may need to adapt to many different types of needs. Some classes might be best suited for individual work, while other types of sessions might need people to work together in small groups. Look for lightweight tables and chairs that can quickly be moved around based on the unique needs of each training event. For seating, you might want to consider stackable chairs for easy storage in between training sessions or if there are extra chairs not needed for a class.
Comfortable Seating
While you think about furniture for your training room, be sure that seating will be comfortable enough to spend a long amount of time in. Some training events can last for several hours, or even full workdays, so having comfortable seating helps ensure that people will be able to focus on the information being presented rather than trying to get comfortable in their chair.
Lighting
Flexibility is also very important when it comes to lighting for training rooms. Dimmable lights are excellent for these spaces because they allow instructors to adjust the lighting as needed, such as if they need dim lights to improve visibility of information on screens. Natural lighting is also excellent for training rooms because it can help people feel more energized and engaged, but don’t forget to include blinds or screens for more control over lighting.
Support for Technology
Whiteboards and flip boards are still widely used in workplace training sessions, but many training events rely on more high tech options to present information or require participants to use laptops. Make sure your training room has strong WiFi and lots of power outlets available for people to use. You may want to consider tables that have built-in cable management solutions.
Acoustics
One thing that shouldn’t be overlooked in a training room is acoustics. You don’t want classes to be interrupted by noise elsewhere in the office and you also want to prevent noise from training sessions from bothering others who might be working nearby. Good acoustics in the training room also helps class participants hear the presenter clearly. Installing acoustic panels and using carpeting are two ways to eliminate echoes in a training room. Another option to think about is installing a microphone system for instructors to use.
29Need help creating an effective training room for your office? Contact Premier Construction & Design. We have experience creating offices that meet the needs of businesses in a wide range of industries. Take a look at our portfolio and case studies to see examples of projects we’ve worked on. When you’re ready to get started with your project, we’ll be here to help.
