Quiet is a “think tank of the soul,” says Gordon Hempton, a sound recording specialist and co-author of One Square Inch of Silence: One Man’s Quest to Preserve Quiet. It is in quiet spaces that our intuition reemerges from the intellectual chatter pervading our workdays. Hempton cautions, though, that, “Silence is an endangered species.”

If silence is endangered, then open offices may have precipitated its demise in the workplace. Without thoughtful design, open office plans foster collaboration and communication at the expense of concentration and contemplation. Limiting distractions and noise can improve employee attention and productivity but may not go far enough. With increasing focus on employee well-being and mindfulness, forward-thinking companies are creating quiet zones, meditative environments, and even sacred spaces to lower the cacophony, boost creativity, and restore emotional balance.

Via workplacedesign.com