With uncertainty ahead, we’re all left wondering: how will our world be different as we move out of the pandemic mindset and transition into a new normal? And how will the office we’ve always known power through with resiliency and a new, innovative look? 

Here at Morlights, we take these questions seriously, and recognize the power lighting has on transforming the offices of tomorrow. Below we’re sharing a few key considerations on how lighting can make an impact on the future of office design. 

Individual Choice and Flexibility 

Following a year of working out of our own spaces and dictating our own environments, we know individual choice and flexibility will be top of mind for many as we transition back to communal offices. Light has an incredible impact on mood, productivity and concentration and individual control of lighting will become a valuable amenity for workers returning to the office. 

We anticipate employees will be able to control color tuning and dimming, setting an individual quality of light which can then follow them if they are assigned a new space, simply by shifting their settings to the new area.

Touchless Technology 

One behavioral change that seems to be pervasive in our new normal is that people want to avoid touching surfaces in public spaces. There are footswitches to open doors on demand, touchless proximity detectors that open doors at the wave of a hand, motion-detecting doors that open as they are approached.

The technology for touch-free lighting control also exists. However, current energy codes require an occupant to turn on the lights proactively by touching a switch. The sensors then note when the room is empty and turn the lights off. 

Here at Morlights, we anticipate change here. As safety and health are prioritized, use of touchless lighting will rise as energy codes are reevaluated and new control options are considered.

Pathogen Protection 

Many lighting industry professionals have touted the ability for certain kinds of light to protect us from pathogens passively. But there are costs and concerns associated with these solutions. What is the effectiveness of this type of lighting? Will clients be willing to foot the bill with all of the questions and conflicting claims? There is certainly a lot more to consider here, but we look forward to seeing what the future of lighting holds and its power for creating healthier spaces. 

For even more on the power of lighting within future offices, hear from our founder Avraham Mor on Facilities Net, where he shared four more crucial lighting design considerations for a post-COVID world.