Do you co-work? This late to rise 21st century phenom of the temporary workspace is called by urban studies theorists the “fourth place”  for today’s workers. Such locations often serve workers who for whatever reason are not fully supported in the familiar spaces of the traditional office, work from home ? telecommuting gig or casual  “coffee shop” environment.

“Some even prefer to work around other people,” said Sande Golgart, western regional vice president with flexible workspace provider Regus. “They find it inspiring, they find it more cost effective and they find that they’re able to be very productive in that environment because of technology.” Golgart goes on to stress the flexibility of co-working space, with an emphasis on how good they can be for mobile workers who occasionally need a quiet space to reboot, catch up on items and take advantage of a recharging station.

Co-workers have a keen need for both socialization and privacy. They often aren’t part of a close knit team, where constant interaction is a must – rather, they are lone wolves who nonetheless want to co-exist in a pack setting.   Coworking space is often looked upon as the ideal answer for those who need a bit of “buzz” to be motivated and inspired, but who don’t necessarily thrive on constant direct contact with other personnel

However, simply adding “noise” to the equation isn’t what is looked for – not at all. In fact, co-workers normally cite excessive background noise and chatter as one of the two top annoyances at work! While solutions such as acoustic ceiling tile and wall coverings can provide a level of noise control, desk-mounted panels add another layer of protection  – and solve the second complaint, that of privacy issues.

Polycarbonate privacy panels work perfectly to provide both noise reduction and a feeling of personal space in co-working environments. They can be added to the layout at any time, from the conceptual stage by an architect, upon leasing a space by a facilities or floor manager, or as a redesign by an interior designer or efficiency expert seeking to streamline your office.

Could privacy panels be the answer for your co-working office space?