The Hub and Spoke Office Model

Q&A with Gillian Baikie from Cresa Workspace, Planning, Design, & Support on the HUB and Spoke Model.

Q | What is the HUB?

A | The HUB is a centralized office that supports team operations, central meetings, and team member gatherings. To support the HUB there are spokes or satellite offices, located elsewhere (in other markets or locations) to better support separate teams and functions and that need a hybrid workforce of the remote workforce and on-site working.

Q | How does HUB differentiate from other occupancy models?

A | If a company decides to create a “HUB” or central office, and balance with remote work or “Spoke” satellite offices, there will likely be less spaced dedicated to individually assigned desks (1:1 assignments). Whereas free-desking and hot-desking are ways to manage work areas (private offices and workstations).

Q | Scheduling implications?

A | Scheduling is a considerable component of HUB models. Not all teams will be able to be sufficiently agile, and not all individuals on teams may be able to be fully remote. Start with the data of how many seats are needed and when, to help control shortages and manage the schedule. Technology is key and picking the right Space Management software or apps will also help to track utilization and availability.

Q | Pro’s and Con’s of HUB

A | Pros: One of the most significant advantages is the ability to free-up space. We accomplish this with shared spaces design to enhance collaboration and productivity. As today’s workforce becomes more mobile, it tends to help companies be able to use their available space more strategically. With agile models such as hub, you can reduce spend by 30% or more! Cons: Many find this model distracting. Some employees also prefer to have the feeling of “permanence” with an assigned desk. Again, we strongly recommend that companies take the time to understand the data, the right balance for their company, and not necessarily assume that one size fits all when it comes to space allocations.