Office design brief: 8 questions to answer before you hire an architect

By Red Brick Studio · Updated 24 October 2026 · 2 min read

Samson Controls Pvt Ltd (SCPL), Pune, designed by Red Brick Studio

Before you hire anyone, answer eight questions: what problem the office must solve, how people really work, what mix of spaces you need, what the climate and building allow, what technology it must carry, what your culture asks of it, who is accountable for the whole job, and what your budget and timeline are.

1. What is the office for?

An office brief is, at its core, an organisational problem. Is the team growing, moving to a hybrid model, or outgrowing a layout that no longer fits? Say what is changing before you say what you want it to look like.

2. How do people really work?

Watch before you plan. How much time is spent in focused work, in meetings, in calls? A good architect will want to talk to teams and observe how they work now and how they would work ideally, rather than starting from a standard layout.

3. What mix of spaces do you need?

List the types of space and roughly how many of each: focus desks, enclosed meeting rooms, open collaboration areas, phone booths, social spaces and rooms for larger gatherings. The balance between individual and shared space is one of the biggest decisions in the brief.

4. What do the climate and the building allow?

Natural light, ventilation, air-conditioning efficiency and acoustics all shape how a workplace feels, and in Indian cities each has a real cost. Ask your architect to work with what the building offers rather than against it.

5. What must the technology carry?

Power, data, video-conferencing and security need to be planned in the layout, not added later. Flexible furniture and services make future changes cheaper.

6. What does your culture ask for?

Some organisations want Vastu principles followed, some want a particular brand feel, and some want a quiet space for prayer or rest. Say so early. It is far easier to plan for than to correct.

7. Who is accountable for the whole job?

Projects split across several vendors often slip, because nobody owns the gaps. Ask whether one team is responsible from site analysis through planning, detailed design, execution and handover.

8. What are the budget and the date?

Fix the brief before design begins. Changes made after design are the most common reason that fit-outs run over budget and past the date. Ask for a cost estimate based on current local rates, and verify it with a quantity surveyor.

We have designed offices in and around Pune, from the compact 25 sqm Recycled Office to the workplace and training centre for SCPL at Pune and Ranjangaon, and Terra-Creta. If you are planning one, tell us about it.

Common questions

How early should I involve an architect in an office project?: As early as you can, ideally before you sign the lease. The architect can check the space against your brief and spot problems before they are expensive.
Do I need a separate project manager?: Not always. It helps if the designer is also responsible for delivery, because there is one team accountable for the result.
How long does an office fit-out take?: It depends on size, approvals and complexity. We would give you a realistic timeline after seeing the space and the brief.