Tag : office design

The original plan for the cubicle was much different than how it is often implemented today. Robert Propst, the man credited with creating the cubicle, developed his unique Action Office concept in the 1960s. It was a much different model than the modern cubicle floor, with varying cubicle height, extenders if needed, and a departure from the 90 degree grid.

By 1988, he was disillusioned with how his idea was being applied, saying he had hoped that the the concept  “would give knowledge workers a more flexible, fluid environment than the rat-maze box of offices,” and bemoaning the fact that “not all organizations are intelligent and progressive.”

Propsts’ original vision was that cubicles would themselves be fluid, and only part of an office layout plan. Instead, many companies crammed as many identical cubicles as possible into their square footage, and the era of the cube rat began. Where in the past, 80 to 90 percent of an organization’s budget was spent on individual workspaces, the numbers fell abruptly to 65 to 70 percent and today are in the process of scaling down to 50 percent.

The need for exclusive workspace is a given, but an even greater need is a space where workers feel at ease – the design should be good enough that the “anywhere but here” attitude fades away and the office seems just as good a solution as telecommuting from home or a coffee shop. There’s no one size fits all in any other facet of life, why should a workspace be so different?

Thankfully, things like cubicle height extenders, privacy panels, and a designer with a sense of flowable space can help create an office where everyone has as much space as they need, acoustics are dampened enough to allow distraction free working, and each person feels like they have a modicum of privacy without being boxed in.

Using a free flowing mindset and taking into account not only the personalities of every type of worker but also the type of work they do and whether or not they will be expected to collaborate or work alone can help create a cubicle setting that is friendly and comfortable. Cubicle height extenders are a good starting point, but that’s only the beginning!

Steelcase correctly predicted the rise of the “collaborative” workspace. And we think they’re probably right about the pendulum swinging back in the other direction. No, we’re not going back to the era of private offices. Many businesses aren’t even going back to separate cubicles with higher walls. But they are realizing that a completely open office design hasn’t created an optimal work environment for most workers. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that employees need separation as much as they need togetherness. It’s a matter of finding the right balance.

According to an article published in CIRE magazine, Steelcase says that the idea of private enclaves is definitely catching on in the coming years. These tiny rooms are just large enough for a couple of pieces of lounge furniture and a table. It’s a cozy meeting space for a small team, a private phone booth for employees juggling work and personal life, or a “do not disturb” area for occasional bouts of intense focus.

Making Space for Concentration

Steelcase reports that one of their clients actually had an entire wall of these tiny enclaves with a sofa, desk, chair, and data/electricity ports installed. In other words, the private office is making a sneaky reappearance. But instead of being allocated to specific employees, these spaces are being allocated to certain activities. It’s an approach that makes sense if you have the cash to remodel your layout. Using architectural walls instead of drywall can cut costs, of course.

But the least expensive way to create this type of enclave is probably by converting some larger cubicles. A 12×12 “manager” cubicle would definitely be big enough to create a small getaway space. Even an 8 x 10 would be sufficient for two person team efforts. Simply add cubicle panel extenders to raise the walls above head height and create the sense of visual and acoustic privacy that employees still need. You could also add panels to a couple of tables in a corner, attach desk mounted privacy panels and put in some lounge seating to complete the space.

According to So You Know Better, there are a few things that every office should have. These are spaces, furnishings and technology that support key functions such as reading, creative thinking and relaxing. Video conferencing is one of the more modern additions to the list of essential workplace activities – and the one that requires the priciest equipment. Even with a video camera on every company-issued laptop and the smartphones that employees bring to work, it’s important to have a group space with appropriate lighting and appropriate audio control so everyone can participate in corporate video chat.

But some of the needs are more basic. The function of concentration is probably one of the easiest to support of all those on the list. You can use physical seclusion, visual privacy, acoustic shielding, and simple technology such as white noise machines. Our cubicle wall extenders are one thing that you can easily check off the list of things your office should have.

NeoCon 2013 was the place to be to enjoy some really knockout office furnishings. As manufacturers of space dividers, we appreciate the structures that separate space as much as the items that fill it. One particularly noteworthy collection of architectural dividers was presented by Seeyond (those who see beyond the mundane and into the fantastic). This company won a Gold award for its movable walls that create collaborative spaces and Silver for its decorative lighted wall facings. In our opinion, the whole gallery on this firm’s website is pretty jaw-dropping – especially the cloud wall/ceiling transition sculptures. These dividers would be an amazing way to make interior areas of a building glow. They are certainly much more inviting than the glaring overhead fluorescent lights found in most office environments. All this radiance kind of makes us wish our desk mounted panels could light up too. For now, you’ll just have to string some Christmas lights around them…

Are you tired of those office furniture blogs that make you green with envy by showing you all the coolest offices in the world? Us too. To make you feel better, we’ve found a resource where you can browse the worst offices in the world. This one is courtesy of a pinboard by Arnold’s Office Furniture. Yes, it’s not all cute kittens and fancy cupcakes over at Pinterest. Only here could you find a carefully curated photo of a toilet stall with a padded commode seat and a computer tray for employees to work “on the go”. You’ll smile smugly to yourself at all the images of people whose offices are much messier than yours. You’ll stretch your arms out and luxuriate in the fact that you can’t even touch both walls of your 8×8 cubicle simultaneously as you view picture of a worker toiling in a space smaller than a closet in a one bedroom apartment. Yes, it’s good to be alive and working on a day like today….

Google and other tech firms may have started the trend of the cool office, but these super awesome workplaces seem to be popping up all over the place now. You can find industry headquarters in everything from the legal field to retail boasting about their hip office environs in “happening” locations all over the U.S. and abroad. A recent Observer article by Kim Velsey takes a long, hard look at how this movement has gained momentum over the last decade.

Velsey acknowledges the attraction of perks ranging from juice bars, pool tables, video arcades and indoor scooters to a surprise visit from a mini horse. Yet she also cautions that there are some almost cult-like aspects to the kind of devotion “cool” employers seem to desire from their employees. Luring office workers into spending more and more time in the workplace does seem malevolent. Yet employers are also being urged to “create more engagement” and help employees feel happier in the office. Where do you draw the line between enough and too much?

Rushing to Make Changes Is Uncool

We think there are some pros and cons to consider before you decide to upgrade your office space and your office culture to try to compete with the coolness trend.

• Do you really have the money to make a substantial change in your office environment? What about when workers get bored with the new amenities and want something fresh? Are you willing to keep innovating and renovating in an endless cycle to keep up with other cool employers?
• Will you need to create new boundaries to ensure workers don’t abuse their newfound freedom to “slack off” and play foosball at work? Will these be written guidelines, or can you implicitly create the habits you want through cultural pressure?
• How will you deal with backlash if you have to roll back some of the perks later?
• Will having employees post Instagram photos of their workplace all the time be a good or a bad thing for your corporate brand? Does the change mesh with your business media strategy?

Our advice would be to take it slow rather than trying to revamp your business image overnight. Start with changes that benefit everyone – such as improving the lighting, controlling noise, and making the office more comfortable and functional. Then, turn your attention to making it both beautiful and fun in ways that are in alignment with your particular culture. Remember, you have to be authentic to be cool!

Google always seems to make every “Top 10 coolest offices” list in the blogosphere. There’s a reason for that; they have some very creative thinkers doing the decorating! The company’s latest office design at their new satellite location in Tel Aviv does not disappoint. Check out the photos at officesnapshots.com to see the stunning interiors at this enviable workplace. One thing you’ll notice is the use of graphic printing on walls and dividers throughout the building. There are sweeping natural vistas and close up shots of intriguing yet simple subjects such as water droplets. You’ll even see some text-based images. There’s also a diorama style setup in one room with faux orange trees growing out of the floor matched by a citrus grove on the wall. We think that would be an interesting concept to bring into your own office. Why not have custom printed desk dividers that carry a theme from the 3D into the 2D around your workplace? What design would you choose? Let us know in the comments.

The coffee shop gets a lot of press for being the “go to” location for off-site work. But there’s another community gathering place that might actually serve as a better model: the local library. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. There’s a lounge area for socializing and a private corner for work that requires more focus. Of course, the ways in which an ideal workplace should resemble a library go beyond these basics. For example, a well equipped library has the equivalent of:

• A hot desking area where workers who don’t need a permanently assigned workstation can sit on a first come, first serve or reservation basis
• Worksurfaces divided with desktop panels for added privacy, peace and quiet
• A culture that strongly encourages keeping your voice down and minimizing distractions to others
• Private meeting rooms of various sizes featuring technology for specific purposes
• Especially quiet areas for individuals taking any kind of pre-employment test
• Outdoor seating for open air work when the weather permits
• An area where kids are welcome to sit and play
• Friendly mentors available to help you with anything you need and to teach you how to use the equipment properly (including ergonomic office furniture)
• Extra computers mounted on standing height desks to serve mobile employees who just need quick access for a minute or two
• Plenty of natural light through windows and skylights
• A ban on having private cell phone conversations where others can overhear!

It’s easy to see how a library would make a decent model for a workplace where people actually get things done. That’s not to dismiss the coffee shop idea completely. A café would be a great atmosphere for a break room, training and orientation area, or even a conference room where people could chat and snack before getting back to work.

Image courtesy of Flickr user Fryar’s Balsam