The Evolution of the Open Workplace: What’s Next?

The contemporary workplace has gone through a major makeover. Compared to offices of the past, today’s professional spaces would look more like high productivity social areas. Traditionally, offices were window-less boxes designed in a strikingly minimal and bland color scheme. Only the barest necessities were included in these drab rooms.

On the contrary, today’s workplaces are full of vibrant colors, social areas for collaboration, and lots of natural elements. The open office concept has grown in popularity since it meets the needs of the new workforce.

However, the open-floored designs are far from finalized. They’re still adding new elements and features geared towards providing team members with all the tools they need to streamline workflows, increase efficiency, and enhance productivity.

Mobility Is All The Rage

Today’s workplace elements are focused on customization. Modern office spaces need to fulfill many different roles. From holding large conferences to facilitating quiet personal work, to holding a mixed environment of groups and solo sessions; there’s a lot to live up to.

As of yet, the most successful solution lies in kinetic elements. This means that office spaces will be full of modular and moveable elements that can easily be moved, shifted, switched around, taken apart, and put back together again. This enables users to keenly meet the unique needs of each and every moment – all without missing a beat.

Let’s look at a few of the latest trends that will continue to revolutionize the open workplace scheme.

Movable Walls

Who said walls had to be static? The open workplace concept is being enhanced by the addition of mobile walls. Large walls that pivot, shift, and roll give spaces the flexibility required to always fulfill the needs of a space.

On top of this, they also reduce the construction costs associated with changing an office’s design. Installing mobile walls is more cost-effective than knocking down and rebuilding the property’s structural elements.

Mobile Pods

Personal and group pods are popular elements within today’s office scene. They allow team members to break away from the greater crowd and focus on the work at hand. These pods are soundproof, so they don’t disturb others and prevent distractions from reaching within.

In efforts to make these pods more accessible, they’re adding mobility to their repertoire. These small box-shaped meeting rooms on wheels give users a large sense of control and customization, taking the open workspace to new potentials.

Overcoming Barriers: Tending to Everyone

Although the open workplace concept is incredibly popular, the truth is that it isn’t the optimum solution for everyone. Some people don’t work well in these highly active and exposed spaces. With so much going on in terms of sound and movement, it can quickly become a distracting inhibition for getting work done. Everyone has their own preference, and studies show that up to 30% of employees in open-plan offices were dissatisfied with the level of noise in their workplace.

In cases like this, mobile elements are meant to allow everyone to find their perfect environment. It enables team members to create a specialized personal workspace, helping to close off distractions. Will this be the ultimate solution?

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