The open office design is a much-talked-about concept, both within the workplace and this publication. Its merits and flaws have likely, at one point or another, been a point of discussion among anyone who works in, creates, designs or manages space in an open office.

The challenges that open office was looking to create and solve, collaboration and transparency for all, isn’t working. Harvard researchers discussed in research published in 2018 that face-to-face interaction decreased almost 70% in open office environments.

The open office concept that’s been common for the past decade—marked by open benching workstations and less space per person—has gotten a bad reputation. Cushman & Wakefield notes in 2018 that the national average space per employee was 194 square feet, down 8.3% from 2009.

At that time, in response to the Great Recession, shrinking office space became a cost reduction solution, according to Janet Pogue McLaurin, workplace leader and principal with Gensler.

The trend may be reversing, with Cushman & Wakefield noting that the decrease in space per person is slowing as businesses add other spaces in the office for employees in terms of personal, private and group spaces (i.e. cafés, breakrooms, small meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, etc.).

It’s important to understand where open office came from, how it’s shifted and where it is today. From there, we can look to where it’s going and determine what products and solutions can best prepare the changing workforce now and in the future, setting up occupants for workplace success and happiness.