You can accommodate more people in an open plan environment and layouts can be changed or rearranged as your team grows. Open-plan offices are flexible so you don't have to commit to a single layout. Open offices are flexible and can be changed around Many start-ups and businesses, working at shared desk space locations, have formed this way.Ģ. There is a term for this phenomenon and it’s called ‘culture collision' which is when chance encounters occur between workers in an open-office space. Open plan offices are beneficial for freelancers or people who rent deskspace because there is a greater chance of communication and networking, which can be beneficial to their skillset and respective businesses. Naturally, improved communication boosts performance and collaboration. When an office lacks visual and physical barriers, employees are more likely to communicate with one another and work as a team. Now that we have established the differences between an Open office and a Closed office we explore the Pros and Cons of both options.

Low levels of verbal communication between employees and employers. Less noise or better acoustics than an open plan office.Ī number of room dividers and screens defining workspaces. It is for this reason acoustic pods, meeting pods, acoustic phone booths have often been introduced (to open offices) to create more of a closed office. There has been however, for some time, a desire to return to the closed office as it offers employees a quieter space to work and offers more privacy.

This type of office can also support each department within the company by offering separate rooms and providing each team member with their own space.ĭue to the fit out cost implications of creating a closed office, such as stud walls, separate air conditioning units and doors, it can mistakenly be overlooked and regarded as ‘old hat’ in favour of the more ‘trendy’ familiar open plan option. The lack of walls and partitions often allows natural light in.Ī closed office supports individual and team working by using screens or fixed walls to create a separate office for every team or employee. High levels of verbal communication between employees and employers. None (or very few) room dividers, desktop or floor standing screens. Rows of desks with workers working side by side and face to face

Open the office