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
include acoustic partitions, shelving, structural frameworks, and office pods. Many of
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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