Commercial Architecture May 2019 - 11

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Kenneth W. Betz, Senior Editor

FEATURE

| offices

he open office has come in for a lot of crit-

breaks the open-office experience. As desk space

icism lately, but is it going to disappear to

becomes more consolidated over time, it becomes crit-

be replaced by some new concept? "Not

ical for break-out spaces to be provided at a higher

so fast," characterizes the general response of many

quantity and quality to create a restorative office

architects and designers. That's not to say office

space. Users should feel that they are gaining addition-

design won't evolve to accommodate a variety of work

al spaces in which to focus and meet, as when an

styles and functions, from focused to collaborative,

open-office plan is done well, versus being left with a

and respond to culture and technology changes. The

non-functioning, loud, over-stimulating workplace

open-plan office of the future won't be a one-size-fits-

when it's done poorly."

all proposition. Rather, it will be about balance and
choices.

"The office always has been an evolution, which
continues to respond to changes in culture, technolo-

"I don't see [open-plan offices] changing any time

gy, and social influencers. It looks different today than

soon. The mistake of critics is thinking of them as

it did 20 years ago and will look different again in

huge open spaces like gymnasiums, lined with rows of

another five years," said Louise Sharp, design princi-

identical workstations and no partitions or privacy.

pal, HLW International, Los Angeles.

The effective, high-performing open-plan offices that

Regarding open-plan offices, Sharp remarked, "I

we design, and that our clients and their employees

think it's about finding the appropriate balance of

love, feature a variety of work areas and furnishings to

openness. The design of the office environment

accommodate diverse work styles, and a range of

should always respond to the functions of the client,

meeting-room types and sizes. Most of these rooms

which are most likely different from one to the next.

have doors that close, often made of glass so that the

As long as the open office is supported by a variety of

natural daylight and exterior views that we integrate

diverse spaces which allow private or focused

into the open-plan area reach into those huddle spaces

moments and minimize both visual and acoustic dis-

and conference rooms," commented Ashley Dunn,

tractions, the space will suit the function."

AIA, director of workplace, Dyer Brown, Boston.

Not to be overlooked is the fact that "the open-

"The open-plan office is the future of workplace

office layout is the most efficient way of maximizing

design," agreed Andrew Franz, AIA, LEED AP, princi-

square footage per person. As real estate prices go up,

pal, Andrew Franz Architect, New York, "but it's a

companies often do not have any choice but to reduce

matter of finding the right balance. It's important to

the number of private offices and introduce the open-

incorporate a variety of more intimate spaces to

plan concept," said Julia Libby, Associate AIA, senior

accommodate different working modes. Considering

designer, Spacesmith, New York.

acoustics is also crucial in order to limit distractions."

"However, we do tend to test our limits with open

The open office definitely has a future, but it will

offices by not providing enough personal, storage,

continue to evolve, added Kendra Ordia, senior interi-

meeting, or amenity space. I believe the open office

or designer, Perkins+Will, Dallas. "The open office

will continue to evolve over time, always seeking a bal-

should be approached as an ecosystem of spaces that

ance between these factors," she said.

thrives when there is diversity and has functions that

Dwelling on the negative aspects of the open office

support one another," she continued. "Employees

makes it easy to forget the positive attributes, Libby

should be free to choose from a variety of work set-

continued. "The open-office layout is extremely bene-

tings to allow the range of work that needs to happen

ficial for collaboration, socialization, learning oppor-

in a day, from focused to collaborative. Increased

tunities, and expressing a flat hierarchy," she added.

adoption of wellness and enhanced user experience

Open-office design is not set in stone. "Like a pen-

will also allow greater user control at the individual

dulum, the trend of open offices seems to swing back

level allowing adjustments in thermal comfort, light-

and forth," observed Lynn Brotman, IIDA, NCIDQ ,

ing, and acoustical privacy."

associate principal with Svigals + Partners, New Hav-

The open office often gets a bad rap when, in real-

en, CT. "Today's workplaces require a mix of both

ity, the open office isn't to blame, observed Sara

open plan and private space. Combinations of private,

Barnes, senior interior designer, also at Perkins+Will,

open, and collaborative spaces lead to the solutions

Dallas. "What needs special consideration is every-

that we have found work the best. Open-plan offices

thing else, all the other spaces surrounding the open

are not an all-or-nothing proposition. This also holds

office. This secondary, supportive space makes or

true for touchdown and hoteling spaces. It's all about

Andrew Franz Architect restored and modernized a former publisher's executive suite in a 1913 Beaux-Arts building near Manhattan's Hudson
Yards neighborhood into a connected and transparent workplace. Wide-open communal spaces and personal quiet zones coexist in a flexible
workspace designed for a double-height, sunlit penthouse. Photo: Eric Laignel, courtesy Andrew Franz Architect
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