Observation Studies

FacilityQuest helps organizations see how their offices truly function, enabling them to make informed decisions about space, design, and investment.

  • People working in an office with computers and tablets, one person is using a tablet, while two others are working on computers, with a window showing outside scenery.

    What's a Space Observation Study?

    Real people walk the floor at regular intervals to capture what’s actually happening:

    Which spaces are used (desks, rooms, open areas)

    What activities take place (focusing, communicating, collaborating)

    The overall energy and mood (calm, tense, energetic)


    We then map this data directly onto your floor plans, creating a visual story of how work unfolds in your office.

  • The Result

    A clear, evidence-based picture of how your office supports — or hinders — productivity, collaboration, and employee experience.

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  • A MacBook Pro displaying a detailed report titled 'Activity Analysis' with color-coded bar graphs and data descriptions related to workspace activity, mobility, work modes, and group sizes.

    Why It Matters

    Most offices don’t perform the way they were designed.
    Without data, decisions about space are just guesses.

    Observation studies uncover:

    Which spaces are overcrowded — and which sit empty

    How teams actually use space day-to-day

    Whether design choices help or hinder productivity

    What employees value in their workplace

    With these insights, you can stop guessing and start shaping a workplace that supports performance, well-being, and smart investment.

How the Data Helps You

  • Plan Smarter

    Know how much space you need and avoid costly guesswork

  • Design Better

    Create environments that match how people actually work

  • Allocate Wisely

    Put the right teams in the right places

  • Operate Efficiently

    Run facilities more smoothly, safely, and cost-effectively

Visualizing the Data

From there, FacilityQuest turns data into decisions:

Heatmaps make activity, noise, and utilization instantly visible

Dashboards & Charts highlight patterns and trends

Actionable Insights cut waste, improve experience, and guide planning

You get clarity, not assumptions — and a workplace that truly works for your people and your business.

Visualizing office utilization over time

Observation Study Process

Route Planning

Number 1 inside a navy blue circle

We start by uploading your floor plan into the FacilityQuest platform and designing a precise observation route. Detailed waypoints ensure full coverage of the space and consistent data collection.

Live Observation

Number two icon in white on a blue circular background

Trained observers walk the floor hourly over a two-week period, recording how each space is used — occupancy, number of people, and activity type. Optional noise readings add an extra layer of insight.

Data Analysis

Number three inside a dark blue circle.

Once the study is complete, FacilityQuest automatically crunches the numbers, transforming thousands of data points into clear visual dashboards, heatmaps, and utilization metrics.

Workplace Insights

A dark blue circle with the number 4 in white in the center.

Finally, we extract actionable insights — benchmarking against past studies, highlighting patterns, and pinpointing opportunities to optimize space, design, and operations.

A woman using a tablet with a calendar app in a modern, well-lit lounge. A man is sitting on a chair in the background, reading a book. The lounge has shelves with books and artwork, large windows, and cozy seating.