Shrinking workstations

Workstations

Shrinking workstations. Is this my space?

Since the early 1980s, the size of a typical workstation has decreased by 35%–40%. In 1980, a technical employee enjoyed a dedicated workspace of 81-square-feet; today, that person can expect a workstation of 48-square-feet or smaller. The trend is even less favorable to managers, or even executives, who have seen their own space reduced on average to 45%. A manager can now expect an office measuring perhaps 10' x 10' or 8' x 10', which may or may not offer the privacy of four full-height walls and a door. [1]

The migration of people from private, closed-door offices to workstations providing standing-height privacy took more than a decade. But in only a few short years, we have seen a shift from 66" height to 42" height workstations. This rapid shrinking of horizontal and vertical dimensions — and higher employee density — is the result of a “perfect storm” of factors:

> With the goal of creating healthy places to work, LEED guidelines for commercial interiors require 42" panel heights to allow window views and maximize daylight for all workers. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability.

> Emphasis is on team-based work and collaboration.

> The need to reduce costs dictates less individual space — shared space is more cost-efficient on any given floor plate.

> No one “owns” any given space. Work happens everywhere.

> Workers move within “the office of the moment” at intervals.

Simply put, the challenge is to maintain a feeling of spaciousness and a sense of personal space while making use of every square inch of real estate. Planning also has to take into account the need to provide sufficient work surface and storage to accommodate computers and peripherals, along with files, supplies, books and other office clutter in a condensed space.

1. Figures are based on review of Teknion typicals since the mid-1980s


Home About Us Testimonials Press Services Project Mgmt Design Reconfiguration Inventory Mgmt Installation Rentals Standards Financing Projects Furniture Manufacturers Brochures Rentals Pre-Owned Links Tools Directions
Shrinking workstations. Is this my space? Since the early 1980s, the size of a typical workstation has decreased by 35%–40%. In 1980, a technical employee enjoyed a dedicated workspace of 81-square-feet; today, that person can expect a workstation of 48-square-feet or smaller. The trend is even less favorable to managers, or even executives, who have seen their own space reduced on average to 45%. A manager can now expect an office measuring perhaps 10' x 10' or 8' x 10', which may or may not offer the privacy of four full-height walls and a door. [1] The migration of people from private, closed-door offices to workstations providing standing-height privacy took more than a decade. But in only a few short years, we have seen a shift from 66" height to 42" height workstations. This rapid shrinking of horizontal and vertical dimensions — and higher employee density — is the result of a “perfect storm” of factors: > With the goal of creating healthy places to work, LEED guidelines for commercial interiors require 42" panel heights to allow window views and maximize daylight for all workers. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. > Emphasis is on team-based work and collaboration. > The need to reduce costs dictates less individual space — shared space is more cost-efficient on any given floor plate. > No one “owns” any given space. Work happens everywhere. > Workers move within “the office of the moment” at intervals. Simply put, the challenge is to maintain a feeling of spaciousness and a sense of personal space while making use of every square inch of real estate. Planning also has to take into account the need to provide sufficient work surface and storage to accommodate computers and peripherals, along with files, supplies, books and other office clutter in a condensed space. 1. Figures are based on review of Teknion typicals since the mid-1980s	01. Four generations. Who are they? 02. Working outside the box 03. Shrinking workstations. Is this my space? 04. A workstation with a view 05. Collaboration happens anywhere 06. Corporate nomads 07. Space is defined by workstyle, not status 08. Sustainable design: niche or normal 09. Design & the bottom line
Office Interiors \|260 Peachtree Street Suite 501 \| Atlanta, GA 30303 \| 770-804-1589