Commercial Architecture May 2019 - 7

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CONTENTS

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Like Open Offices?

ffice design has been a topic of discussion, or
contention, ever since two people sat down at
desks in one room. I doubt there has ever been,

or ever will be, a solution, because the two primary factors are human nature and money. The person who works
out how to achieve harmony between those two factors
will be rich overnight.
In this issue, we offer several pages that consider office
design in one way or another. Whether you or your clients like your offices open, cubicled (you're welcome to
use that new word), walled, or a mixture, you can't avoid
the acoustics factor. Unless you want to spend considerable time and money after moving in, you'll make acoustics one of your top three design elements from the
beginning.
To help you with that, we continue our year-long
series on acoustics with Gary Madaras, on p. 18, with his
article, "How To Absorb Open-Office Sound." In that
piece, Madaras provides a thorough discussion about the

recent Harvard Business School study that suggests

various factors that determine the levels of speech and

open-office spaces do not lead to optimal productivity.

noise transmission and, therefore, whether people can

In fact, according to the study, face-to-face communica-

work effectively in a space.

tion between team members decreased from 5.8 hr. a

Since money is always a factor and acoustics are often

week to 1.7 hr., coupled with increased distractions and

viewed as a place to cut up-front costs (you or your clients

poor decision making. Is that research a signal of the

will pay later), be sure to listen to the podcast I recorded

beginning of the end of open offices?

with Madaras and Shirley Wodynski, executive director

Not according to the various architects/designers

of the Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Associa-

quoted in our lead feature, "The Future Of The Office Is

tion, Oak Brook, IL (cisca.org). The primary focus of

Open," on p. 10. According to senior editor Ken Betz,

that podcast is an acoustics ROI calculator that experts,

architects are finding that open-plan offices don't work if

including Gary Madaras, built to help people determine

a one-size-fits-all approach is used. The experts Betz talk-

the total cost of good or bad acoustics in office spaces.

ed to for his article are finding a variety of middle

Though good acoustics can take the edge off of the
argument, there is still an ongoing discussion about

grounds that provide the open feel but allow people to
actually accomplish something.

whether open offices work. In today's world of design for

I think most would agree that the difference of opin-

the young folks (I'm avoiding using the M word), the

ion about office design will likely never end. In my view,

argument is that we need open, flexible spaces with

the person who has it right is Spacesmith's Amy Jarvis,

rooms for private, concentrated work. This approach is

who said, "There needs to be an investment made, before

supposed to foster collaboration and teamwork that leads

a lease is signed, to gather quantitative data that will help

to productivity. I think I've seen that movie.

the architects and designers tailor a design solution that

In the article "Reconfigurable Floor Plans May Boost
Productivity," on p. 24, author Matt Thomas cites a

Today's workplaces require a mix of
open plan and private space. Openplan offices are not an all-or-nothing proposition. Photo: Carl Vernlund, courtesy Svigals + Partners

best fits not only what the company is today but also
what it aspires to be in the future." CA

Gary L. Parr
Editorial Director

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T UREM AG A ZINE.COM

MAY 2019

http://www.cisca.org

Commercial Architecture May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture May 2019