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around the world, from start-ups to enterprises, in a wide
range of industries, from financial, insurance, and energy, to
not-for-profit, media, and technology. By analyzing 70 distinct
data points from each floorplan, Herman Miller has identified
six trends in how organizations and their design partners are
using Living Office placemaking strategies to support new ways
of working:
•
Assigned seats are being replaced with flexible workpoints: As portable technology allows people to work anywhere,
at any time, assigned workstations are unoccupied for up
to 60 percent of the day. While traditional floorplans show
97% assigned workstations, progressive workplaces have an
average of 41% unassigned work-points.
•
Standard conference rooms are being replaced
with multiple group space types: Groups engage in a variety
of collaborative activities throughout the day, and workplaces
that only offer conference rooms do not support all of them.
Progressive flooplans show an average of six types of group
settings, versus one in traditional workplace plans.
•
Conference spaces are being precision fit to
minimize wasted space: Outsized conference rooms that
only support formal presentations to large groups are largely
underutilized. Progressive organizations offer a variety of
right-sized meeting spaces to more effectively support a range
of activities, downsizing from an average of conference room
seating for 10 to seven meeting space seats.
•
Circulation space is being activated to foster
connection: Rather than getting workers from point A to
point B, circulation space can offer increased opportunities
for effective activity and increased connectivity. Progressive
workplaces have an average of 47% connective space, versus
33% of cir culation space in traditional floorplans.
•
Isolated breakrooms are becoming centralized
plazas: While distant breakrooms offer proximity to the small
groups they serve, progressive companies want to foster
broader social connection and information sharing. With
four people per plaza seat versus 16 people per breakroom
seat, centrally located gathering spaces encourage fortuitous
interactions and help bring an organization’s culture to life.
•
Privacy is no longer a luxury given to a few, but
available on-demand to anyone who needs it: Quiet places to
think and recharge are beneficial to all, but traditional offices
only offer one per every 67 people. A variety of private settings
provided throughout the floorplan, at a ratio of 24 people per
haven, allows all workers to find a place to focus or have a quiet
conversation.