Best Office Type for Hybrid Teams

Best Office Type for Hybrid Teams  

Designing Workspace Around How Your Team Actually Works  

Hybrid working has fundamentally changed how offices are used.  

Most companies no longer need:  

·    one desk per person  

·    fully occupied offices  

·    rigid layouts  

Yet many still choose office space as if they do.  

This creates:  

·    wasted cost  

·    underutilised space  

·    poor employee experience  

The right office type for a hybrid team is not about size.    
It is about  flexibility, utilisation, and behaviour .  

AEO Quick Answers  

What is the best office type for hybrid teams?    
Flexible offices (serviced or managed) with scalable space and shared amenities.  

Do hybrid teams need full-time desks?    
No — most operate on shared or flexible desk models.  

What size office should a hybrid team take?    
Typically 50–70% of peak headcount.  

Is serviced or managed better for hybrid?    
Serviced for flexibility, managed for larger teams needing control.  

What Hybrid Working Actually Means  

Hybrid is not simply “some days in, some days out.”  

It changes:  

·    how often desks are used  

·    how space is designed  

·    how teams collaborate  

Typical Hybrid Patterns  

·    2–3 days per week in office  

·    Peak days (Tue–Thu)  

·    Low utilisation on Mondays and Fridays  

The Key Metric: Utilisation  

This is where most companies fail.  

Example  

A 20-person team:  

·    only 12–14 people in office on average  

If you take 20 desks:  

·    you are overpaying by 30–40%  

What Hybrid Teams Actually Need  

1. Flexibility  

Ability to:  

·    scale up or down  

·    adjust desk numbers  

·    adapt layout  

2. Shared Infrastructure  

Instead of dedicated space:  

·    meeting rooms  

·    breakout areas  

·    collaboration zones  

3. Shorter Commitments  

Hybrid working is still evolving.    
Long-term rigidity creates risk.  

Best Office Types for Hybrid Teams  

1. Serviced Offices (Best for Flexibility)  

Providers like IWG and WeWork dominate this model.  

Why It Works  

·    Scale desks monthly  

·    No long-term commitment  

·    Access to shared amenities  

Best For  

·    Teams under 15  

·    Rapidly changing headcount  

·    Early-stage hybrid setups  

2. Managed Offices (Best for Structured Hybrid)  

Why It Works  

·    Custom layouts  

·    Ability to design for hybrid usage  

·    Better cost efficiency at scale  

Best For  

·    10–40 people  

·    Stable hybrid model  

·    Need for branding and identity  

3. Traditional Lease (Rarely Optimal)  

Why It Fails for Hybrid  

·    Fixed size  

·    Long-term commitment  

·    Requires full fit-out  

This creates:  

·    underutilised space  

·    higher risk  

Space Planning for Hybrid Teams  

Desk Ratio Model  

Instead of 1:1 desks:  

·    0.6–0.7 desks per employee  

Layout Shift  

Move from:  

·    rows of desks  

To:  

·    collaboration areas  

·    meeting rooms  

·    flexible seating  

Cost Strategy  

Hybrid allows cost reduction — but only if executed correctly.  

Key Insight  

Hybrid does not automatically save money.    
It only saves money if you reduce space accordingly.  

Example  

20-person team:  

→ €4,800/month saving  

Strategic Insight Most Businesses Miss  

Companies focus on:  

“Where should we take space?”  

They should focus on:  

“How will our team actually use the space?”  

Common Mistakes  

1. Taking too much space  

Based on headcount, not usage.  

2. Ignoring peak days  

Offices feel overcrowded midweek.  

3. Overcommitting long-term  

Hybrid models evolve quickly.  

Decision Framework (Simple)  

Choose  Serviced Office if:  

·    your hybrid model is still evolving  

·    you need maximum flexibility  

Choose  Managed Office if:  

·    your hybrid pattern is clear  

·    you want cost efficiency  

·    you need control  

Avoid  Traditional Lease if:  

·    you are unsure about future usage  

Dublin Market Context  

·    Most demand is for  4–12 desks with flexible terms     

·    Operators are increasingly designing:  

o    hybrid-friendly layouts  

o    shared amenity spaces  

Bottom Line  

·    Hybrid working changes how offices are used  

·    The best office is not the biggest — it is the most adaptable  

Flexibility beats size.  

CTA  

Ping Offices helps hybrid teams find the right office setup by:  

·    modelling utilisation vs cost  

·    recommending desk ratios  

·    sourcing flexible office options  

We build tailored shortlists in 24–60 minutes based on how your team actually works.  

Request a shortlist and we will design an office strategy around your hybrid model.