Q: When do you know it’s time to expand your workspace?
A: It sounds silly, but when you physically don’t have enough desks. Perhaps your company is going on a hiring spree and you don’t have enough room to fit new employees. You might develop a new program where you’re going to need a large training room or a bigger kitchen. As a company evolves, its operations change as well. It could be about more than just desks and conference rooms.

Adam Felson is the director of officemorph, a San Francisco-based project management firm that oversees commercial real estate improvements and office build-outs and re-designs. His clients include Bank of America, Brickman, Dartmouth and YogaWorks.

Q: Is an open-office environment a good idea?
A: We continue to see the majority of our clients in a variety of industries go with an open-office environment. It only makes sense if you allow for choice. We had a client who started with a design of collaborative breakout areas, then said they had more people coming into the company, so they needed more space. They got rid of the collaborative areas and instead went with a cubicle farm. Now they tell us everybody hates it and it’s not a productive use of resources. It’s crucial to plan ahead for these kinds of changes.

Q: How about a small business working out of a home? When is it time to move into an office?
A: In most cases like that, the budget is going to be very limited and the amount of space they’ll need is relatively small. They should work with a broker to find a plug-and-play space. We’re starting to see a big rise in co-working space arenas where smaller companies can operate under the same roof.

Q: What are some office design trends you’ve noticed lately?
A: Flexibility. Tenants are signing leases that are shorter than ever before. It’s hard to predict the future, especially as a growing startup. From a design standpoint, it creates the need to design an agile space that combines various uses. More companies also want the ability to work from multiple spaces within the office.

Q: Are standing desks still a popular trend?
A: They’ve almost become the norm. More companies are considering the health benefits and the ability to give people a choice. A standing desk provides a different environment even though you’re still in one place.