Name: The open office concept might not have been the optimal model
Uploaded: 2020-10-27
Duration: 2 min 3 s
Description: Gensler’s Diane Hoskins explains why.

 Jen Wieczner: It's interesting what you were saying, Diane, in terms of reducing the density in the floor plan. And we saw this move to open offices before the pandemic. But is that over? I mean, do we have little cubicles with Plexiglas in between them in the future and open offices are dead? Or how do you see that? DIANE HOSKINS: I don't think open offices are dead, but I think the open office really grew out of a model of one size fits all. And I believe what we're starting to find is that that model maybe isn't the optimum model. And what we're learning through this experience of work-from-home and all the surveys and the voice that we've given our office workers is that there's a whole range of needs that need to get met. In fact, in our most recent survey, people said, look, we'll work in the office 100% of the time if I don't have to share a desk, if I actually have an assigned seat. And there's a real backlash against the open work environment where there's unassigned seating. And also, over the last 10 years in which we've been doing surveys, the issue of noise in the workplace has been getting louder and louder, no pun intended. But it really has become a problem. So I think what we're seeing is that it's a referendum, if you will on, some of the things that need to be addressed in the workplace. And actually, it's an opportunity to address those issues. There's a real move, I believe, toward understanding in a more individualized way what it takes for people to do their best work, not just to work but to do their best work, to excel. And that's what people are looking for. And I really believe that this moment is a time where we're going to see some of that transition in place. 