In 2014, the International Facilities Management Association (IMFA) found that more than 70% of offices incorporate open floor plans. These layouts eliminate most private offices and meeting spaces, allowing everyone to work in the same room. Many modern-day businesses and corporations claim open-plan office layouts facilitate employee innovation, creativity, and collaboration due to improved face-to-face contact opportunities. However, several studies show that the majority of employees believe that open floor plans are counterproductive to their ability to work efficiently.
Major issues employees attribute to open office layouts include excessive noise and reduced privacy. Excessive noise especially affects employees’ ability to effectively conduct conferences and meetings for which focus and privacy are essential. Noise generated from regular office conversations distracts employees, impedes meaningful communication, and dampens creativity. And having more employees in your open office plan further exacerbates these problems.
Open office layouts also hinder privacy. Conducting business effectively tends to involve sensitive conversations that need to take place behind closed doors. In this case, open offices can make it difficult to discuss topics privately. Additionally, some employees may also find it difficult to speak, pitch creative ideas, or be productive when constantly surrounded by coworkers.
These problems and others have pushed many businesses to reverse course on their open office approach. Many have reintroduced private space to the office floor by installing modular conference rooms. Modular conference rooms have the benefit of being lightweight, cost-effective, and easy to construct, and they work well to mitigate the shortcomings of open offices while allowing your workplace to retain the face-to-face collaboration encouraged by open floor plans.
Prefabricated Success
Modular conference rooms offer viable solutions to businesses and corporations seeking to vary their floor design. Manufacturers construct modular conference rooms offsite and then transport and assemble them at the office location. This mode of construction is especially useful for businesses that rent office spaces, which otherwise render structural renovations impossible.
Modular conference rooms mimic conventional built-in conference rooms in their ability to create dedicated spaces for brainstorming sessions, business meetings, employee meetings, and group sessions. Some additional benefits of modular offices include the following.
Cost Efficiency
Building modular conference rooms incur fewer expenses that rigid steel, drywall, and reinforced concrete construction. Their lightweight materials reduce construction and installation times, and their simple design requires less manpower for successful implementation, further reducing labor and equipment costs.
Customization
Business owners can customize their modular conference rooms with specific features depending on their organization’s needs. Modular offices can include soundproofed rooms, HVAC systems, and electrical/network wiring as required.
Fast Construction
Modular building manufacturers can construct several prefabricated elements simultaneously, eliminating the need for time-consuming sequential construction. Prefabricated office module installation occurs in a matter of days, allowing weekend installation to reduce disruption to office activities.
Sustainability
Modular construction offers a greater level of control during the construction process, allowing manufacturers to take measures that reduce material waste. Additionally, the essentially dust-free installation process does not release contaminants into the surrounding environment. Modular conference rooms also incorporate safer and more energy-efficient materials and components. These sustainable features enable modular offices to comply with EPA regulations and assist your workplace in earning points for LEED certifications.
Changing the Open Office Narrative
Although open floor plans have snowballed in popularity in recent years, they include several significant drawbacks. Modularly constructed office units offer a flexible and cost-efficient way to account for any deficiencies open-floor plans may introduce to your workplace.
Resources:
- Do The Woes Of Open-Plan Office Design Outweigh The Benefits?
- The 5 Biggest Drawbacks of Open Office Plans
- What is Modular Construction?
- Modular Training & Conference Rooms
- Modular Construction Advantages
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