Office designs are changing these days. The rumble seats and the mysterious schedules of senior executives have been unveiled by the new norm of working out in the open. In an open office, corner offices are eliminated, packed up the cubicles, and unhinged all forms of separation between task areas, all in the name of collaboration and team building. Is it possible to better office culture by tearing down walls? Is it possible to create a better environment by giving everyone their own private workspace?
Different Ways of Design
There are different ways to design offices in which you can have both privacy as well as flexibility that needed to make these zones work.
Collaboration Zones
It provides a natural crossroads for coworkers to meet and share ideas. Collaboration zones can be as informal as a big table in the kitchen or a more formal conference room – whatever is needed to bring people together.
Fun Zones
It has been made famous by companies like Klout, who have found a way to elevate gaming systems, ping pong, and snack food to an art form. These zones support the kind of activities that make people love coming to work; they also help your team to gel and build the kind of rapport and camaraderie that makes thinking and creating together a magical experience.
Quiet Zones
These are spaces to go to think and get things done, offering room to stretch out and focus on the work at hand while still keeping friends nearby for a quick brainstorm. It’s important to provide a space that copes with the occasional passerby but does not have music playing or a copy machine humming in the background.
Private Zones
These are places to hide away when you’ve got serious work to do and don’t have time for interruptions. Private zones politely send the message, “Don’t bother me,” while giving you the real estate and head space needed to be productive. Ideal private zones may have doors and remind you of more traditional office spaces, except that they’re generally intended for one person only.
Zones ensure that people with varying work styles can find a good fit for both their personality and their task list in your office. With careful planning and intentional design, you can ensure that your company hits the sweet spot of enviable office culture and productivity levels that enable you to contribute to the world in positive, inspiring ways.
