The Art of Design Issue 22 2016 | Page 49

49 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.