With more and more people doing their desk jobs at computers, open-concept office spaces are becoming the norm. While open-plan spaces can be efficient in terms of design, they are also advantageous for removing isolating cubicles and in general, promoting equality between team members. However, open-concept workspaces can also create their own problems, such as noise, a lack of privacy and despite physical barriers being removed, lead to fewer interactions between co-workers.
Work & Co’s new office in Portland, Oregon created by interior design studio Casework addresses these issues and more. The firm intentionally integrated acoustic solutions to promote a quiet working environment and challenged itself to create a comfortable, open workplace that felt "warm and almost like a hotel lobby or a home–a gathering place."
Modular Open-Plan Offices
Work & Co’s Open-Concept Office Space Was Created as a Gathering Place
Trend Themes
1. Acoustic Solutions in Open-plan Offices - Opportunity for companies to invest in creative acoustic solutions to promote a quiet working environment and encourage productivity, while maintaining the open-concept design.
2. Creating Comfortable Open Workplaces - Opportunity for companies to design open-concept workspaces that promote a warm and comfortable atmosphere that encourages collaboration and interaction among team members.
3. Transforming Open-concept Offices Into Gathering Places - Opportunity for companies to create workspaces that do not just serve as places to work but also encourage social interactions among employees, similar to a hotel lobby or living room.
Industry Implications
1. Interior Design - There's an opportunity for interior design firms to create innovative office designs that solve the problems of open-concept workplaces, such as noise and a lack of privacy.
2. Office Furniture and Supplies - There's an opportunity for companies to develop and market acoustic solutions and comfortable furniture specifically designed for open-concept offices.
3. Construction - There's an opportunity for construction companies to collaborate with interior design studios to create innovative and functional open-concept office spaces.