DESIGN

Scaling Smart: How to Design for Workplace Headcount Growth

28 July 2025

If you’re leading a growing company in Southeast Asia, you understand the operational pressures that come with increasing headcount. As your team expands, productivity risks being undermined by office spaces that weren’t designed to scale efficiently. Moreover, the evolving nature of work demands that your workspace support new ways of collaborating and performing — not just today, but as they continue to develop.

Rather than relying on frequent relocations or costly renovations, business leaders need a strategic, adaptive approach to workspace planning — one that aligns with growth objectives while optimising cost and operational efficiency.

The Case for Modular Office Design

Modular office design simply means creating spaces with reconfigurability and flexibility in mind. This includes using movable furniture, flexible partitions, and other adaptable elements that allow areas to be resized or repurposed as needed. Such modular spaces can easily shift to support team workshops, focused work, casual catchups, or even larger gatherings – all within the same footprint. As workplace headcount growth continues, built-in flexibility enables offices to scale efficiently without compromising productivity or employee experience.

Here’s a quick summary of the key features that make modular design effective:

- Reconfigurable layouts: Spaces that can be reshaped easily to suit evolving team structures or daily activities.
- Movable furniture: Lightweight desks, tables, and seating that allow for quick and easy reconfiguration.
- Flexible partitions: Portable or foldable dividers that help create adaptable areas, enabling multi-purpose zones.
- Multi-purpose zones: Areas that shift between focused work, collaboration, or informal catchups depending on user needs.
- Mobile tools: Whiteboards, digital screens, and other movable elements that support spontaneous collaboration anywhere.

Wise Case Study: Designing for Flexibility Amid Workplace Headcount Growth

To accommodate Wise’s rapid headcount growth and evolving team dynamics, Paperspace Asia crafted a thoughtfully designed workspace that prioritises flexibility and versatility. Understanding that more employees require adaptable environments, the design balances collaborative zones, quiet focus areas, and wellness amenities to support both productivity and well-being as the workforce expands.

Modular furniture and flexible partitions created adaptable spaces that connect neighbourhoods and foster collaboration across teams.

Multi-functional areas, integrated with technology, allow seamless transitions between focused work, team meetings, and informal gatherings – all within the same office space.