Workspaces Morph from 'Me' to 'We': Retooling the office to increase efficiency, employee collaboration, and cost-efficiency.

• Author: Mottl, Judy
• Position: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

The once-typical office landscape composed of cubicle mazes, closed spaces, and those coveted "executive" corner offices are becoming a thing of the past as companies look to increase collaboration, improve workflow, and create cost-efficiencies through open-space floor plans, say design experts.

Design Trends in play

A top trend is the replacement of the "Me" work environment with a "We" work environment, says Alisha Weiss, design director at Capital Office in Anchorage.

Alaska companies are facing higher real estate costs as well as increasing construction costs and operational costs, so there is a greater push to be more efficient, she explains. Technology use, employee retention, and attraction of new employee talent are also impacting workplace design.

"Me space is considered an employee's home base, their dedicated work area, and square foot allocation has been greatly reduced for individual work space," says Weiss, as companies strive to reduce expenses and free up floor space to lease to more tenants.

"When individual workspaces are reduced in size, more We space, as an amenity, can be provided for employees," she says, adding that We spaces include work lounges, living rooms, coffee bars, phone booths, and collaboration areas.

"These areas are considered work area options for employees to have a choice when considering how they need to accomplish their tasks," says Weiss, who notes that having a choice in the workplace "allows people to change their posture throughout the day and encourages interaction with their peers to exchange knowledge or an impromptu meeting."

That is enticing to the young workforce generation--who want as much mobility in their work environment as they have when it comes to social connectivity.

Natasha Schmidt, principal at RIM Design in Anchorage, is also seeing the transformation from Me to We, especially within companies where collaboration and knowledge sharing are valuable assets.

"A deeper look is taken to determine the needs for each space based on type of work being done, type of space, and other factors," explains Schmidt, who serves as communications director for the Alaska Chapter of American Society of Interior Designers.

"When individual workspaces are appropriately sized, shared spaces such as conference rooms, breakout or collaboration areas, respite rooms, phone enclaves, [and] fitness or lounge-style break areas can be added and utilized by everyone. This approach maximizes the usable space, allowing for more staff and a variety of amenities," she says.

But Me to We space isn't the only trend taking place. Not only are companies opening up areas to save money and boost collaboration, they're also taking advantage of the decreasing need for paper...