Here’s Why Commercial End-of-Trip Facilities Are Vitally Important

“Are you looking for hybrid, or remote working?”

That now common recruiter’s question has become a sign of a changed office landscape, with many companies and employees searching for their ideal office/working from home split.

And while some CEOs have recently predicted a change back to full-time office culture, with some employees far less receptive to the idea, the office is certain to live on. In fact, you could argue the office building has an even bigger role to play.

That’s where end-of-trip facilities – or EOTs – come in. As tenants demand better facilities, letting agents and employers are keen use them both as a way to market the office space, and to attract their employees back into the office.

Why are these facilities important? How can they transform an office building? And what are the key ingredients of good EOTs?

Why are end-of-trip facilities so important?

End-of-trip facilities encompass the cycle parking, changing areas, showers, and all ‘journey end’ facilities in a building that are most commonly used by active commuters.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the office has seen a seismic shift in occupancy rates, and in turn, its core function changing as a building and workspace.

No longer do businesses expect an office full of employees five days a week, instead the office building has become a part-time hybrid companion to the home office, and must do even more to help support employees when they’re in the office.

A major factor developing alongside the shift in office time is a sharper focus over the last decade on employee health and wellness.

The benefits of focusing on employee health for a business are vast, and many require the office building to help facilitate this.

With more emphasis on social workplaces, breakout areas, and pods to relax or focus, the modern office floor is a million miles from the grey, functionality focused 1950’s office.

An active commute – either walking, running, cycling, scooting, or wheeling to the office – has become an integral part of the working day.

Not only can this physical activity directly support mental health, but there are social benefits to be had from running clubs across different companies in a co-working office, or even workplace yoga, rounders, tennis, or any physical, social activity.

End-of-trip facilities help buildings encourage the active commute. Additionally, those changing and locker facilities can also support lunchtime gym-goers, running clubs, and all manner of physical activity.

A hero’s welcome

The modern office reception desk and lobby areas are viewed as integral parts of a building. Helping correctly set the right tone and expectations, a good reception area is responsible for being the first point of contact for any visitor.

It counts for end-of-trip facilities too, which are often reached through a separate entrance to the reception area, but equally act as the first point of contact with the building for many.

Even if the entrance is likely to be less grand, and more inconspicuous, there are ways of improving the journey into the bike store and changing areas.

The welcome should begin with correct accessibility – that means avoiding unnecessary stairs, narrow doors, and minimising overall distance to the facility.

Here are some other key factors to consider in making the building welcoming for the active commuter:

• Clear signposting
• Colourful graphics
• Well-thought out lighting
• Stair ramps where necessary
• Accessible lifts where necessary
• Floor signs/wayfinding
• Notice boards

Building an active community

Once at your desk or within your company’s office, it’s unlikely that you mingle with other tenants in the building.

End-of-trip facilities act as social meeting places for like-minded cyclists, runners, or gym-goers.

A building can make the most of this through the encouragement of running groups or other social initiatives. Having a notice board display upcoming events can really help in bringing people together and keeping the whole building together.

A few ideas for keeping a sense of community throughout the building:

• Advertising local park run
• Weekly mileage competitions
• Social cycle rides
• Dr Bike sessions

EOTs are about more than just lockers and bike racks

A decade ago, it would not be uncommon for the bike racks to be tucked away with the bin store, or in a corner of the basement car park.

Things have moved towards properly secured bike stores, often with separate locker and changing areas, plus shower rooms.

The ability to shower and have a locker for your activewear is a vital first step in making it easy for tenants to exercise at work, or actively commute in.

But, end-of-trip facilities can do even better than this, with certain examples showing how rather than just support active travel, a good EOT can positively encourage more.

Next-level end-of-trip design can include:

• Water refill points
• Airing cupboards or lockers
• Towel services
• Vanity units
• Ironing boards or ironing lockers
• Electric bike charging
• Bike repair stations

When you start to consider the end-of-trip facilities as a key part of your building’s design, it is necessary to start from the earliest planning phase possible.

Even still, many simple additions such as bike repair stations or water refill points can be retroactively added by any facilities manager.

Our approach to end-of-trip facilities involves fully understanding the spacial requirements of your building, with a selection of high quality, durable, and functional products to help support the needs of your tenants.

This includes lockers, changing benches, ironing lockers, bike repair stations, and of course, our range of industry leading cycle parking products.