WhoshouldIsee Tracks

Mike Halliday comments for Inavate feature on technology for mixed used spaces

In the November 2023 edition of Inavate Magazine, a special feature by Tim Kridel looks at the increasing popularity of multi-function spaces and venues.

The article highlights the frequent compromise of experience and acoustics inherent in traditional multi-use spaces. Whilst the advances of tech are helping address many of the drawbacks, the argument of budget can still be a barrier to the implementation of optimal technical designs for flexible spaces.

The focus is therefore now shifting to driving more ROI from a space. Using real estate as flexibly and as creatively as possible, in the face of uncertainty about future modus operandi. Especially with the increase in multi-tenant and ‘space as a service’ buildings.

Mike Halliday, Director of Multimedia and Infrastructure at Cordless comments: “A lot of space is designed to be multifunctional, particularly in the post-Covid world. No one’s really sure where they’re going to land when it comes to hybrid and remote work. We’re certainly noticing a trend where people are looking to provision for future uses as much as day-one use. Let’s say a client has decided that for day one they’re going to have a whole lot of meeting space. We’re making sure we’re cabling it so that if they decide to rip out those meeting rooms and convert them into desking, we’ve got the infrastructure in place.”

Mike explains how we see the priorities of Landlords shifting: “Instead of a traditional large lobby reception area which was typically a big welcome space for multiple tenants, we’re seeing a trend of increased use of those spaces. They’re opened up to the public for co-working, or bars or cafes; and identifying areas within a building where the Landlord themselves can run a co-working space on a membership/subscription basis, making more of their portfolio. We’re also seeing leases by occupiers be shorter than they were because people are wanting to be more flexible about where they work.”

Halliday continues: “The biggest challenge in our role as designers at Cordless Consultants is catering for multiple use cases without an overcomplicated set up that will spoil the primary use case. People just want to walk in and for something to work. We’re lucky that we’re now seeing tech come along that can adapt a bit better with AI camera tracking, intelligent audio and things that you don’t need to define presets to get them to work in different layouts.”

Whilst that helps, we still need to drive the use case discussion to give clarity of priorities and manage expectations of the digital experience in a space – for now and the future.

To read the full article, access it here: Inavate November 2023

If you want to discuss AV design for your mixed-use space, say hello@cordless.co.uk