Feb 28, 2024
The "open office" experiment largely failed because it ignored a fundamental rule of facility management: collaboration requires support, not just proximity. Putting employees in a big room doesn't foster innovation; it fosters noise.
Modern facility managers are now shifting toward Activity-Based Working (ABW). This approach acknowledges that employees need different environments for different tasks. Here are three strategies to build a collaborative space that balances interaction with productivity.
1. Zoning: Solve the Acoustic Crisis First
The number one complaint in collaborative environments is noise distraction. If your collaboration zones are not acoustically separated from focus zones, your team will retreat to headphones, defeating the purpose of the layout.
Buffer Zones: Use high-backed booths, acoustic panels, or mobile planters to create physical sound barriers between "loud" collaborative areas and "quiet" heads-down workstations.
Designated "We" vs. "Me" Spaces: Clearly demarcate areas. A "huddle room" is for noise; a workstation is for focus.
Strategic Layouts: Let our team audit your floorplan to identify "dead zones" that can be converted into acoustic buffers without reducing headcount capacity.
2. Technology-First Furniture Integration
Collaboration stops dead when a meeting is delayed 10 minutes to find a dongle or an outlet. Furniture is no longer just wood and fabric; it is IT infrastructure.
Integrated Power: Select modular tables with built-in power and data ports. No one collaborates when their battery is dead.
Screen Sharing Equitability: Ensure huddle spaces have monitors easily accessible to all seats, not just the person at the head of the table.
Wire Management: Eliminate trip hazards and visual clutter. Clean spaces reduce cognitive load and improve safety compliance.
3. Modularity: Future-Proof Your Facility
Business needs change faster than lease terms. Building permanent drywall for conference rooms is rigid and expensive.
Movable Walls: Invest in architectural walls that can be dismantled and reconfigured over a weekend.
Mobile Furniture: Use tables and whiteboards on casters. This allows teams to "hack" their workspace instantly for a scrum meeting or a training session.
Cost Control: Adopting a modular approach helps with [Link to /blog/5-biggest-challenges-for-facility-managers-how-to-fix-them: controlling long-term facility costs], as reconfiguring furniture is significantly cheaper than demolition and reconstruction.
Build a Space That Works
A collaborative workspace is not about aesthetics; it is about function. It requires a balance of acoustic privacy, seamless technology, and physical flexibility.
At CPM One Source, we bridge the gap between architectural vision and operational reality. Whether you need to procure the right modular furniture or manage a complex restack, we ensure your facility supports your business goals.