4 Designs that Encourage Collaboration by Choice

When designing an office space, we strive to develop innovative features that will prompt teamwork, creativity and productivity. We manage this by creating diverse choice areas that are open, casual, easily accessible, and outfitted with the same resources you would find in a formal meeting area.

Here are 4 niche office areas VC has designed that encourage collaboration by choice:

1. High top gathering area

ERM high top meeting area. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

ERM high top meeting area. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

Adding a high meeting table and chairs to this corner at environmental consulting firm ERM took advantage of the space by creating an area for employees to interact openly with one another. Setting the table at standing height helps prompt collaboration by allowing passing workers to join the conversation without having to pull up a chair. The space is outfitted with all of the essential tools needed for innovation including an AV system, conference phone and white board.

2. Open conference room

Open conference area in Rez-1 space. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

Open conference area in Rez-1 space. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

This conference area at technology company Rez-1 allows for impromptu meetings to occur in the central hub of their workplace.  Glass partitions and floating ceiling panels create implied boundaries around the area which subsequently draw users in. They also help to control the acoustics of the space, containing noise levels within the defined area. A flanking wall panel can be used both as a note board and a screen for presentations to stream on from the projector above. The space works as both a formal presentation area and a central place to gather, reinforcing the concept of collaboration by choice.

3. Hallway lounge

Hallway lounge in Coverys perfect for casual collaboration. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

Hallway lounge in Coverys perfect for casual collaboration. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

Placing an interactive lounge in high traffic areas is a great way to foster office collaboration by choice. Take for example this area we designed for health insurance company Coverys. The space is defined by a high backed lounge sofa and outfitted with plenty of seating for employees to gather, break, and converse. The strategic placement of the area aids in drawing users in. Both aesthetically pleasing and functional, this lounge is a great use of square footage as well as an accessible spot for casual gatherings and meetings.

4. Corner collaboration

A cozy collaborative area in our Winter Wyman space. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

A cozy collaborative area in our Winter Wyman space. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield

Small office corners can be great areas to place collaboration nooks. This cozy collaborative area takes advantage of this corner space at recruitment company Winter Wyman. We chose stylish yet comfortable chairs that would attract employees, and made the space functional through the addition of a free-standing, mobile white-board for note taking and brainstorming purposes. This area not only utilizes spaces, but it also give employees another choice area to conduct a quick meeting.

Written by Isobelle Hemmers
Edited by Daniela Maher Associate at Visnick & Caulfield, Leed , NCIDQ Certificate 28090
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