The modern office is no longer defined by four walls and a cubicle. With the rise of open-plan spaces and the ever-increasing popularity of coworking, the way we work is changing rapidly. The traditional office model is becoming increasingly irrelevant, and a new breed of office is emerging to meet the needs of the modern workforce. One of the most significant trends is the rise of zoning.

Zoning is the practice of dividing an office space into distinct areas, each with its own purpose. The most common type of zoning is activity-based zoning, which divides the space into areas for specific activities such as collaboration, concentration, and socializing. Activity-based zoning has several benefits. It can increase productivity by giving employees the ability to choose the right environment for the task at hand. It can also create a more cohesive workplace culture by fostering opportunities for socializing and collaboration. And, perhaps most importantly, it can make the office more flexible and adaptable to the ever-changing needs of the modern workforce.

The rise of zoning is just one of the many ways that the modern office is evolving to meet the needs of the 21st-century workforce. As the workplace continues to change, the office will need to change with it.

Open-plan office spaces are thought to have several advantages over the traditional cubicle style offices of the past. These are more cost-effective as they eliminate the need for creating individual work cubicles, they increase employee interaction and therefore collaboration.

Zoning is one such solution to open offices and consists of putting up partitions in an open space in order to create designated workspace areas without the need for building walls or reconstructing the physical space. These partitions are lighter in weight and temporary, meaning they suit spaces that are constantly evolving. Changing the layout of an open-plan office, therefore, is no problem with zoning and the partitions can be rearranged also. Office zoning is made up of a grid system that is personalised to any given space by adding functional accessories such as shelves, lights, plants and acoustic panels to the basic building module. If you find that the open-plan office space is hindering workflow, you should consider zoning as a promising solution.

Office planning requires a deep understanding of the company’s culture and habits. The Zoning trends aims the seek of a perfect balance of the team’s needs with the spaces available in the office. Accommodating several realities in the office will align the office plan with functions, tasks and meeting assets, turning the office zones into a space that helps employees collaborate more effectively.

Different spaces as confidential talks, focus activities or impromptu meetings require dedicated spaces. This requirement is not only to make meeting more effective but also to allow each other to do their tasks without disturbance. Those spaces should be equipped with tools that make the meetings flow efficiently.
The “menu” of work stations will depend on the dynamics of each organization: Concentration, Collaboration Space, “Plug & Work”, “Silent Room”, Team Room, Meeting Zone, Break Out Area, Focus Area.

Dedicated zones allow people to do more without interruption and with more efficiency. These spaces should have the necessary tools for an efficient work environment. The different zones and workstations will depend on the organization’s dynamics, so it’s mandatory to know how the office functions when choosing the furniture and equipment.

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