Hello
folks, here is the second of our blogs; this time talking
about the open plan office.
Looking
back 50 years, the average office would have been a very
different place. Heavy solid wood desks would generally
be housed in a series of small offices, full of stacks
of paperwork and in-trays up to the ceiling. Cigarette
smoking was almost compulsory at the desk, and offices
were generally pretty dark gloomy places that wouldn’t
look out of place in a Dickens novel. However, things
had started to change by the sixties, as there was a new
and scary concept; Open Plan! This was driven by several
factors, the need for easier communication within the
office, the amount of shared resources (new fangled copy
machines and the “telex”), and a realisation
that open plan was generally a far more efficient use
of the office space. Of course the Americans had championed
it first and companies such as Herman Miller brought out
ranges of furniture specifically for use in an open plan
environment (such as Action Office). The days of every
staff member having their own little office were numbered,
and a more open and inviting office was soon to be enjoyed
by all! Except it wasn’t; what actually happened
in the States was that staff replicated their own little
offices within open plan, building up high screens around
each desk making each cubicle a closed and dark little
place. In fact many American offices still use the cubicle
system, but this never really caught on in the UK. Over
here, open plan meant open plan and when a company took
the bold step to remove its little cells, generally the
existing office furniture was just moved out in to the
open. This may have been more down to the fact that it
was cheaper to move the existing furniture than buying
new, but it meant that very quickly people had to get
used to using a shared space. Having said that there are
still many staff that still find that open plan concept
very scary (stand up all you solicitors!), but with the
correct use of screening, sound boards and technology
most companies are able to go totally open plan. I know
of several large Blue Chip companies where the MD sits
at exactly the same type of desk as his staff, and the
only line of defence between him and the masses is the
fearsome PA!
Generally
though open plan offices are a far more efficient use
of one of a businesses most expensive assets (the office),
and when designed correctly can actually encourage communication,
creativity and improve morale amongst the staff. The current
trend is away from huge desks surrounded by screening
moving towards a system of several working environments.
A modern office can actually have quite small desks for
staff, allowing for the gained space to be used as a breakout
space (comfy chairs and meeting areas), or for layout
space, or even a “quiet zone” (no phones allowed!).
I know of a company that decided to have a total re-plan
of the office space in order to bring in soft seating
and informal meeting areas throughout each floor of their
offices. This might sound like unusually altruistic behaviour
by the company bosses, but was actually a plan to encourage
staff to take their breaks on site, and even have lunch
in their offices, and it actually worked.
By
using the space in a more intelligent way staff actually
have better facilities and are more able to do their jobs
(often despite a smaller desk). Overall productivity is
improved, your business booms and everyone is happy! Well,
maybe not everyone, but through a simple space planning
exercise it is possible to identify problem areas, re-use
wasted space and give the staff amore pleasant working
environment. Open plan improves air circulation, natural
lighting and communication as well so if you would like
an expert to see how your space could be improved, why
not give us a call!
Jonathan
Hall
Contact Us on 0845
166 8381 |
