Commercial Architecture September 2016 - 5

EDITOR'S notebook They Actually Collaborate! W e have written more than once about open-office spaces and how today's approach is so much more functional and people and technology adaptive than those nasty cubicle farms. Our most-recent discussion was in the July/August issue article "Infor- mal Workplaces Make Play Productive" (p. 6), by Christopher Bockstael, AIA, Partner, Svigals+Partners, New Haven, CT. I really enjoyed the conversation I had with Chris in the podcast that accompanies that article (commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/architects) in which we were able to offer more detail about these spaces, how they are designed, and how they work. When it comes to today's work world, I think having these types of collaborative spaces is a real asset, if they're used. That, for me, has been the question: Are they used and to what degree? The reason it's a question for me is that years of "training" tends to keep people cemented to their chairs at their desk in their cubicle/office. When collaboration occurs, it's usually a planned meeting in a conference room. Basically, I've had my doubts that designing and building a space in which people can hang out in comfortable seating with food nearby and walls to write on is worth the investment. But, I'll admit, until now, I've not actually had a meeting in one of those spaces so my opinion has been based on little more than gut feeling. I had my eyes opened recently during a trip to the beer city to visit the good people at Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. After we were greeted, I expected to be led to the standard conference room where we would play the select-yourchair-and-exchange-business-cards game. In fact, as I entered the space, the first thing I saw was an empty conference room. But we didn't go there. We made a left turn and it became clear that the conference room was at the end of a large, nice space with plenty of daylight and a cafeteria/eating area at the other end. In the center of this space were sitting/conversation/working areas, all spaced comfortably. It took me a minute to process and then it hit me that this is one of those collaboration areas Chris This is the "collaboration space" at Milwaukee Tool. Behind you is a standard conference room. At the distant end is a cafeteria/ snacks operation and dining area. In the center are places of various types designed for collaboration/working. Overall, a terrific place to conduct business. Bockstael and I had talked about. It was also at that moment that my question got answered. Yes, people use these spaces, and effectively. In fact, we were lucky to be able to grab the last available sitting area. As I looked around it was immediately clear to me that people weren't using the space for chit-chat and time killing. They were all earnestly engaged in collaboration, i.e., they were working. It was energizing to be in such an environment. The lighting is excellent; indoor air quality was very good; there are a variety of modules, each designed for a different type of collaboration; and the place reeked of productivity. I still had one more reservation. I tend to like meetings that are held in closed rooms so ambient noise doesn't interfere with the discussion. When we sat down, I prepared myself for one of those discussions that requires a lot of leaning forward. Not the case at all. The acoustics in the large space are excellent and the "module" we used provided the privacy we needed to have a relaxed discussion without loud talking or constant repeating. It was my first experience in such a space and it was terrific. The best part was that the people in that room were collaborating about the business of creating products to sell to the marketplace. I was excited to be part of that environment and I don't work there. CA Gary L. Parr Editorial Director commercialarchitecturemagazine.com SEPTEMBER 2016 COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE 5 http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/architects http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture September 2016