GSK plays musical chairs at work.

• Position: Triangle

GlaxoSmithKline PLC is gradually doing away with conventional workstations at its Research Triangle Park campus, opting for a floating seat plan that saves money and increases productivity. About two years ago, the London-based drug maker started switching 1,200 of its more than 4,000 RTP workers to a "smart-working spaces" model. They no longer have permanent desks and periodically move to different areas of the office.

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The transition has allowed GSK to take advantage of space that went unused when, for instance, staff was making outside sales calls. The company has vacated eight of its 10 RTP buildings, saving $10 million annually in rent and utility costs. That was possible without significantly reducing headcount because the new seating model is more efficient, the company says. Most of the interior walls were torn down during renovations, and wireless Internet was installed. The change is made when GSK offices are revamped, so while many of its RTP workers are still in standard workspaces, that could change.

GSK began studying alternatives to conventional offices in 2004, and its Parsippany, N.J., outpost was first to switch. The result: double-digit sales growth there. GSK started spreading the model. No department has been spared--from sales to research and development, with executives working...