No issue generates more discussion in our industry than the architectural Pandora’s box: an open floor plan. 

In cities like Philadelphia, the workforce now skews younger; millennials tend to favor collaborative work environments. An open floor plan doesn’t intimidate them—they’re used to team cultures from their college years onward. 

However, wide-open spaces aren’t necessarily productive ones for an older generation that cherishes the privacy of four solid walls and a door. Per a 2017 Forbes Coaches’ Council blog post, the pros and cons of an open floor plan are subjectively debatable.
It can simultaneously: 

• Disrupt deep work
  
• Offer a 360-degree viewpoint
  
• Drain introverts
  
• Foster inclusion and communication
  

An approach to open floor plans coincides with a crucial point in the article: it depends on your culture and line of work. If your company encourages constant collaboration as part of the workflow process, a hybrid open floor plan is a good idea. That’s because: you’ll still need secure spaces for confidential meetings. (We’ve NEVER seen a completely open floor plan!) Industries most conducive to a modified open floor plan include: Continue reading....