One Size Does Not Fit All
Meade’s description of the common misconception—what amounts to a fishbowl—is often the result when companies rush to create or retrofit a space using a popular approach to workplace design without thinking through the implications.
“When we see [the open plan] not work, it was because there was no knowledge or care given to what actually was being done in that office—how many different people or different types of work are being done at the same time,” explains Sven Shockey, AIA, LEED AP, principal at SmithGroupJJR, Washington, D.C. “There was a one-size-fits-all solution applied without any relief space.”
What this realization points to is not so much that the open office concept is a failure by any stretch but rather that with any new design or concept, a universal application is rarely the most effective one.
“There is no silver bullet for how to provide that kind of space,” Arnone suggests. “The very worst thing to do—and we see it all the time—is to design big, open spaces filled with this open-bench-style seating and not enough closed work spaces for private work.”
Effective workplace design must be tailored to an organization’s DNA, its culture and the types of work being done. In other words, it must be thoughtful and flexible, addressing the needs of its users while providing ample room for privacy and focused work.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, there are a number of approaches to workplace design that can help combat the assault on privacy, particularly in offices that have embraced the open office concept. Consider the following:
Reconfiguration
David Varner, Washington studio leader and workplace national practice leader at SmithGroupJJR, notes a holistic view of the whole floor plan across the company is needed to choose the right space to reconfigure for privacy—not one that is in the middle of a busy thoroughfare, for example. Some clients might come back and request additional private spaces, in which case Shockey says they might add glass or architectural panel solutions to address the issue.
“Visual and acoustic privacy is really important, and we should also say technology is really critical, too,” Varner says. “If people can’t be portable and can’t be productive in these spaces, then there is no point.” He adds building owners should be careful to spend their money in the right places and avoid applying a thin solution that will not result in the desired outcomes.
Quiet Zones/Libraries
“We like to provide a quiet, library zone or some kind of quiet focus room for people to go where there’s no talking allowed, no other noise-generating activity allowed in that room,” Arnone says. “There should be at least one of those provided per floor.” These “study zones” might accommodate eight to 10 people that allow for focused work to take place. In fact, Arnone says these types of spaces are the No. 1 request HDR receives from its clients in the academic sector.