When it comes to workplace design, open plan office space remains one of the most popular choices for businesses around the world. It’s widely considered one of the most popular options in office trends and today, the best open plan office designs include a variety of functional areas.
These include hot desks, private offices, quiet spaces for focus work, collaboration-focused areas, and more. The result is a highly functional workspace that supports employees’ diverse and changing needs as they move through the workday.
Importantly, any well-designed open plan office gives employees control over how and where they work. Whether it’s a time for a team meeting, collaboration on a project or quiet individual focus tasks, there’s an appropriate space.
Studies have demonstrated the clear benefits of this approach. Namely, when employees feel they have more control over how and where they work in the office, they feel more engaged. Activity-based layouts can also help workers meet their changing needs for social interactions and privacy at work.
Naturally, these are all key outcomes when it comes to creating the right perfect office space, which is why we’re exploring the benefits of an open plan office space, below.
What is an open plan office?
In general, an open floor plan office is a workspace that does away with individual cubicles and closed offices. The open space office design typically has a large open area with communal workstations, shared tables and common areas.
Key advantages of an open plan office layout
Open plan office designs offer many advantages. These benefits are made all the clearer when working with open plan spaces that support every employee’s professional needs.
Some of the advantages of a well-designed open office layout include:
Improved communication channels
Open plan workplaces make communication and face-to-face interactions easy. With no walls or barriers, employees have easier access to colleagues in open plan spaces.
The result is more spontaneous conversations and knowledge sharing, great for new ideas.
At the same time, creating spaces for focus work is key. This means any open or customised office space should include both quiet nooks and private offices. These allow employees to make work phone calls or work alone if they need uninterrupted concentration.
A boost in creativity
With their lively and social atmosphere, open plan offices can be innovative places to work. A 2020 study found that well-designed open plan spaces also give employees’ creativity a measurable boost.
Create a sense of equality
Having employees of all seniority levels regularly present in the same workspace fosters greater communication. It also instils a greater sense of equality day to day.
With fewer barriers and private offices, greater numbers of employees are also able to take part in important decisions and project discussions.
A more relaxed work environment
Studies have shown that well-designed open plan offices can help create a more relaxed and informal atmosphere at work. Another advantage is that employees who use open plan offices and custom workspaces engage in more physical activity. This helps to reduce stress even further.
Creativity & collaboration
Sharing ideas, chatting with colleagues, and grabbing an impromptu coffee all lead to new ideas and better relations between colleagues.
In an open plan office, employees can easily collaborate on projects, share resources, and get feedback from one another. This leads to enhanced teamwork and problem-solving.
Cost-effective
For many businesses, real estate costs can be a significant resource drainer. Open plan offices help keep these costs in check, by maximising the available space.
As less area is devoted to partitions and offices, there’s more room for desks and other functional spaces.
An innovative workspace
When building and growing a business, team structures and departments will naturally evolve. Personalised office spaces allow businesses to reconfigure the working area easily. The result is a flexible design that supports agile work.
Aesthetically pleasing
Natural light and open spaces create an inviting and energising atmosphere in an open plan office. Studies have shown that natural light in particular can positively impact worker wellbeing, productivity, and even creativity.
More space
Compared to traditional office setups, open plan offices provide more usable space. This extra space can be utilised for collaborative areas and other amenities that enhance employee well-being.
Supporting a culture of transparency and accessibility
With employees working nearby, leaders become more accessible and visible to their teams. This can help promote open communication, trust, and a sense of shared goals. All of which are essential for a thriving and healthy organisation.
What are the different types of open offices?
Far from a one-size-fits-all design, open plan offices vary widely in layout.
At a high level, open plan offices differ based on factors like desk arrangements and the use of dividers. They also vary in terms of how communal and focus areas are integrated.
How can you be productive with an open floor plan office?
Some critics of open plan offices have noted that an open floor plan is less than optimal for focus work and productivity. However, there are several steps companies can take to mitigate these effects:
● Establish clear guidelines for noise levels
● Provide designated quiet zones or private areas for focused work
● Encourage effective time management
● Promote a culture of mutual respect
● Encourage open communication to address any concerns or conflicts
Open office layout ideas
There are several distinct layouts a business can adopt in an open plan office. Some of the more common designs include:
● Bullpen: A central open area with shared tables or workstations. These are surrounded by collaborative spaces and meeting rooms.
● Desk neighbourhoods: The workspace is divided into smaller sections. There is a mix of shared desks and individual dedicated desks.
● Hub and spoke: The office has a central hub area for collaborative activities. Smaller workspaces or meeting rooms branch out from the main area.
● Activity-based layouts: Zones are created for specific activities. Examples include quiet zones, collaboration areas and social spaces.
● Agile layout: Movable furniture and partitions are used to create flexible workspaces that can be easily adjusted.
● Hot desking layout: Open workstations are found throughout the office, allowing employees to choose a different place to work each day.
Find the right open plan office space for you with Regus
Wherever you’re located, Regus offers a wide variety of open plan office spaces designed to cater to your unique business needs.
Discover relaxed break-out areas, calming outdoor spaces, nooks for focus work and activity-aligned layouts. All can be incorporated into even a small open office design. The result: a truly high-performing custom office space.
No matter what you’re looking for in a custom workspace design, Regus has the solutions to create your ideal office.