Blurring Office Boundaries

Fluid, mobile, collaborative, transparent, egalitarian – these are the buzz words that are driving office trends. Companies can no longer afford to treat the office as a mere receptacle that holds employees for eight hours. Today’s knowledge workers expect an atmosphere that encourages productivity and creativity, which means tossing out stiff designs in favor of more casual settings.

To avoid being caught between management’s vision and the workers who have to live with it, building professionals need to be involved with space planning. You’re in an ideal position to add input to a redesign, but that entails understanding
how effective layouts can keep employees relaxed yet engaged.

BUILDINGS has collected a number of examples that illustrate the latest office configurations and how they support workers. See how businesses create zones using touchdown areas for collaboration, quiet spaces for focused work, kitchens and cafés for refreshment, and wellness features that encourage health.

No one is claiming that the boardroom with the 15-seat table has had its day – it’s simply that employees often need smaller, more intimate nooks and crannies to connect with colleagues.

“You need to have a variety of collaborative spaces,” explains Melissa Price, CEO of the design firm dPOP!. “That could be as small as a table between two workstations to a breakout area or conference room.”

To infuse your office with touchdown spaces, keep these three tips in mind:

1) Poll Your Workers – Organizations need to be cognizant of how their employees are actually working, says Carl Bergauer, director of contract furniture sales with Business Interiors by Staples. The best way to anticipate a new layout is to observe how people interact in the existing one. Walk the floor, use webcams or surveillance feeds, or review your reservation system for utilization trends.

“Keep in mind that employees create culture, not management, so occupants should be consulted about design changes,” Bergauer recommends. Companies will see pushback with space changes if the layout’s value can’t be easily perceived by users.

2) Balance Open Layouts – Removing communication barriers among employees is always a smart move, but a completely walls-free environment can leave workers without the right tools to get the job done efficiently.

“While the pendulum has swung from closed offices to open spaces, companies need to balance collaborative areas with individual spaces so all employees can have a productive environment,” says Peylina Chu, senior consultant with the environmental consulting firm Antea Group.

To achieve workplace equilibrium, offer employees a variety of “we” and “me” spaces. Touchdown areas for teams are more than just furnishings – they need to accommodate the type of business that will be conducted there, stresses Bergauer.

“If you design something as ‘let’s throw two chairs in this space,’ that doesn’t always work. If you have furniture that’s versatile and mobile and team members have the flexibility to rearrange pieces to make the space right, they will,” Price notes.

3) Apply FM to Occupant Comfort – No matter the office layout, facility managers are on the front lines of occupant comfort. Offer employees a communication channel to voice concerns and be responsive, Chu advises. Get down to the root of complaints – they can often be resolved by making adjustments to mechanical and lighting settings or janitorial practices.

Also take note of potential trip hazards from cabling or changes in flooring materials, stresses Chu. You might need to take careful stock of power access, chargers, and adapters so employees aren’t tethered to one outlet, adds Price: “Collaboration areas don’t necessarily have to have technology integrated, but electronic devices need to be able to land in that space and be functional.”

Sound control remains a challenge for many businesses, so don’t be shy about adding acoustical panels or a soundmasking system to ensure noise doesn’t escalate beyond acceptable levels.