The Open Plan versus Cellular Office Debate is Over!

Managing property to (a) minimise cost, (b) maximise the ability to implement business strategies, (c) enable staff to be productive, and (d) include green design – is sustainable practice.

A topic of hot discussion in many workplaces and board rooms over the last decade has been whether to stick with separate office spaces or go open plan. From a straight accounting point of view, open plan offices allowed for a direct calculation allowing on average 10 to 15 square metres per person. However, many staff used to argue the toss for separate offices for reasons ranging from status to need for privacy.

Today, this debate has become irrelevant as mobile staff have increasingly diverse needs for meeting places and gathering spaces as much as separate offices and open plan work stations.

Increasing numbers of staff work from home, or out in the field, but retain a need for a base to come to, catch up with team members and, check in with colleagues, administrators and managers.

This trend has impacts on the balance sheet including the cost of leased space as well as the work place environment required to attract and retain quality staff. For instance, 150 staff may only need 120 work spaces, which can lead to significant savings.

And the shift towards more tailor made work environments offers the opportunity for a funkier design to assist in retaining staff in work places they can enjoy. At the same time it also offers opportunities to ensure sustainable design is incorporated. In New Zealand, interest in effective work-life balance in the workplace is here to stay.