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What is Office Zoning? And Why does it Matter?


Both small and large businesses have come to realise the vast benefits associated with open plan office spaces over the traditional style cubicles of the past. Open plan spaces

eliminate the need to create individual work partitions, thus making them more cost-effective

solutions. In addition, they increase employee interaction and cooperation, while also

promoting a much more relaxed working environment.


Of course, one of the setbacks of an open plan arrangement is the absence of clearly

defined areas for more focused work, collaborative work, relaxation, break times and

meetings. Loud office noises are now firmly recognised for their negative connotations with

employee productivity, creativity, and wellbeing.


Zoning is a clearcut solution to counter these issues. It involves the use of partitions to

divide spaces accordingly without the need for a major office reconstruction.



A Grid system


Think of zoning as a grid system. Its purpose is to divide and organise the working space in

a way that optimises productivity, efficiency, and collaboration without making the space too

claustrophobic. Each zone is designed to cater to specific tasks, work functions and

necessary leisure time without impacting on the remaining office space. Overall, it’s about

creating a well-structured and conducive environment for various work-related activities.


Zones can be created using different materials or furniture for maximum flexibility, these can

these options are designed to be lightweight and manoeuvrable, perfect for the constantly

evolving workspace. They also allow your space to evolve alongside your business needs as most of these zoning options are reconfigurable, therefore infinitely rearrangeable.





Which zones should I have?


There’s no hard or fast rule to your zoning choices. In fact, the specific zones in your office

will depend on the needs, size, and sector of your organisation. Generally speaking, the

most common office zoning areas tend to focus on quiet, high concentration zones,

collaboration zones, breakout zones and meeting zones.



Quiet zones are for complex tasks that require privacy. Soundproofed solutions

include acoustic office pods for anything from one-person upwards, shelving

options in a wide range of configurations, wood planters, and visually awe-inspiring

partitions that are as attractive as they are functional!


Collaboration zones are spaces aimed at encouraging team collaboration,

brainstorming, and often equipped with modular seating arrangements such as

benches, stools and comfortable armchairs (even sofas can feature!). Acoustic

panels, office pods or freestanding modular structures can be a terrific way of

segregating this (often) noisy area from the remaining workspace.


Meeting and conference zones work on the same basis as those of collaboration

zones with the use of soundproofed solutions to prevent noise from escaping.

Freestanding acoustic solutions are ideal for creating walls for meeting spaces

without compromising on aesthetics. (Welcome back, noisy meetings!)


Breakout zones are becoming increasingly important in the office space for

providing, relaxing areas. Zoning options tend to benefit from modular dividers that

enable the use of biophilia to really help employees unwind. Incorporate comfortable

modular seating arrangements that comes with the freedom of agility to ensure its

suitability in any contemporary workspace.


To reiterate, there’s no set rule as to how you organise your office zoning. It really depends

on the individual requirements of your workspace. If video calls are low on the agenda, for

example, you might opt for a quiet area that is more than sufficient. If, on the other hand,

video calls and conferences take up a sizeable proportion of your employee's working day, or the nature of your work requires confidentiality, you might wish to invest in a more

permanent fixture such as an acoustic office pod to ensure the necessary soundproofing.




How will zoning benefit my office space?


The importance of zoning lies in benefits such as enhanced productivity, improved

collaboration, reduced distractions, employee satisfaction and wellbeing, clear

organisation, and optimal space utilisation. Once your workspace is clearly divided into

efficient working zones, you can then begin to focus on modular furniture pieces to really

transform your space!


Zoning is an essential aspect of workplace design and management and can ultimately

contribute to the success of your organisation.





How can Fluid help?


Fluid offers companies the flexibility and confidence to create exceptional office experiences for their people. We are all about agile, flexible workspaces that can be quickly and cost-effectively reconfigured to meet the ever-evolving demands of any business.


Are you ready to inject productivity into your workspace? Then look no further. Please

get in touch with a member of the Fluid team and we’ll be delighted to discuss your exciting

plans.




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