Recent articles and case studies in Work Design Magazine speak about a growing trend in office design: shifting from traditional enclosed work spaces to a more open layout. By removing the walls, it not only allowed for greater flexibility in how space was used but created an environment where people would have more daily interactions with their colleagues.
This case for change is driven by needs of some in the workforce who are accustomed to doing their work in a variety of environments ranging from a stool at a Starbucks to a couch in their living room – as they did in college. Experts assert that by creating a design that increases the number of these chance meetings (commonly referred to as collisions), it would foster greater collaboration and the sharing of new ideas.