Open Plan Vs Office
The Open Plan office has become the norm over the last fifty years and most designers, cost planners and builders start with a concept of a mix of office and open plan in mind. So what is the dilemma?
The diffuculty is that the statistics that support a typical 1:5 mix of Offices to Open plan are diametrically opposed to staff preferences and many "human" issues:
- Research has shown that communication is more frequent and casual in Open Plan
- Collaboration and a reduction of "silo-ism" is greater in open plan envronments
- Open plan workforces are both easier to change and naturally more flexible
- Open plan offices cost less for building, services, office furniture and usually do not require approvals
- Most tenancies are brought back to an "open plan" certification as leases end
- Research has shown that most employees at all levels want offices instead of open plan.
- Most middle and senior managers prefer offices in order to handle staff issues, reviews and sensitive discussions.
- Many professions and departments require confidentiality and privacy at a level that excludes use of open plan
- Small-team collaboration can work just as effectively in offices as it can in open plan
- Offices look tidier in document heavy workplaces
One of our Design Team would be pleased to discuss the costs and benefits of Office and Open Plan options with you as you consider which way to go in planning your new office environment.
Jim Hardy
October 8, 2009
Urban Office Has Flicked The Switch
Here at Urban Office we are proud to announce that have recently joined the 900,000+ businesses & households around Australia, that have made the switch to GreenPower.
"Around 90% of electricity used in Australia is still generated from the buring of fossil fuels such as coal over over 34% of Australia's emissions come from electricity generation. This makes the electricity sector the biggest single contributor to Australia's greenhouse emissions.
The benefit of switching to GreenPower accredited renewable energy is that it does not burn fossil fuels and therefore doesn't produce greenhouse gasses. Other benefits include:
- reducing your household greenhouse emissions by around 50% by switching to 100% GreenPower
- driving demand for renewable energy, helping it to compete with polluting coal and gas based generation
- reduce water consumption as renewable energy generators use much less water than coal and gas powered stations"
For more information, please visit www.greenpower.gov.au
