From Cubicles to Open Plan: The Evolution of Commercial Office Spaces

Walk into any office building today and you will be likely to see a variety of working areas and seating arrangements. These will include shared tables, small team areas and possibly some secluded spaces for focused work. It hasn’t always been this way, though. The rise of open-plan working over recent decades has been preceded by other office design trends.

Not so long ago, most office environments were likely to be dominated by cubicles. Office design has long been influenced by the prevailing attitudes and beliefs around work and workplaces. 

In the past, office layouts and furniture have varied from strictly regimented desk areas to the open and flexible seating arrangements and shared workstations found in most office environments today. Each of these changes has provided insights into the ever-changing needs of businesses. 

So how did we arrive at the open plan offices that are the norm in today’s offices? Let’s take a look.

The Rise of Office Workstations and Early Layouts

Today’s office workstations Melbourne businesses rely on are designed for flexibility, collaboration, and comfort. Bright, open layouts give teams space to connect while still allowing individuals to focus when needed. It’s a far cry from the rigid setups of a few decades ago, where the thinking behind office design was very different.

Cubicles ruled the office as the productivity space of choice back in the 80s and 90s. The theory was that if everyone was given their own designated space (enclosed just enough to minimise distractions), everyone would stay focused and work harder. Office layouts from this time are a window into the office culture of the time: organised, hierarchical, efficiency-focused.

Work culture in general informed office culture for many years. These days, the culture of work is slowly evolving and in turn, influencing the design of office spaces. But the guiding question that has come out of this 80s/90s thinking still shapes our approach to workplace design: how do we balance privacy and collaboration?

The Shift Towards Open Plan Offices

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was an increasing sense that the cubicle may not be the best environment for employees to perform at their highest levels. The new catchphrase was collaboration. Employers wanted their workers to be able to share ideas, generate creativity, and feel part of a larger whole.

Open plan offices were the solution. By removing physical barriers, businesses created new cultures that prized collaboration, transparency, and accessibility. The fact that managers could now occupy the same desks as junior staff members sent an important visual message. Hierarchies were flattening out and a more connected and egalitarian way of working was taking their place.

It was inevitable that this would have a major impact on the way people communicated and how work got done. With walls removed, conversations could occur more easily, projects could be completed with greater speed, and cross-department cooperation became standard. Not everything about the open plan revolution was ideal (noise and distraction became familiar concerns), but it represented a significant shift in how the design of office space influences work.

Balancing Collaboration and Privacy

With the shift to open-plan offices came another problem, noise. Conversations, phone calls, printers and more became common across the office and some workers found it increasingly difficult to focus on their own tasks. Collaboration was great but not if it came at the expense of focused work, and it quickly became obvious that office design didn’t have all the answers when it came to productivity.

This is where those small, sometimes-overlooked factors that make workplaces more productive began to enter the equation. Clever design, such as the inclusion of quiet pods or soundproof booths or dividers, began to make open offices a more well-rounded space. Breakout zones provided teams with an area to workshop ideas without the formality of a boardroom, while the inclusion of dedicated quiet spaces allowed for deep concentration without the open-plan interruptions.

The best contemporary workspaces recognise that it doesn’t have to be an either-or. There’s a balance to be found when mixing collaboration-based spaces with solutions focused on privacy, providing people with a feeling of connection while also allowing them to do their best, most focused work. It’s this middle ground that works.

The Role of Technology in Office Evolution

Each major office design movement has been driven by technological advancements. Typewriters and filing cabinets required heavy-duty desks and expansive storage in early office designs. Computers and laptops saw workstations and layouts become lighter and more open, allowing for greater mobility.

Connectivity became the next major tech driver as wi-fi, cloud storage, and mobile devices allowed for increased team mobility, which facilitated layouts that could transition towards collaboration and communal spaces. This was also when the question of “how to optimise your workspace for growth” began to take shape, with companies taking a closer look at what technology could offer in terms of space-saving, reducing clutter, and supporting various mobility initiatives.

Current smart office design is centred around seamlessly integrating new technology. From room booking apps to sensor-controlled lighting and HVAC systems, tech is not only streamlining operations but also increasing comfort and productivity. A well-designed smart office is one that can adapt and evolve as technology continues to advance.

Designing for Employee Wellbeing and Productivity

Ergonomics has been a focus in recent years, with better chairs, monitor placement, and even standing desks to create healthier workspaces that allow people to work while on their feet. Something as simple as allowing employees to either sit or stand has a positive impact over a single work day.

Comfort has a focus with elements such as natural light coming through windows, plants scattered throughout the office, and even adding small touches that create more “cozy” spaces. Calming an environment like this helps employees concentrate, be more creative and innovative, and helps them enjoy their time there.

Mental health is also another consideration. Feeling comfortable in your office environment and supported in the mental aspect at work (this can come from design elements, having quiet spaces, and just feeling like your comfort is a priority) helps employees feel more positive, creative and productive.

The Future of Commercial Office Spaces

The workspace of the future is likely to look quite different than what we step into today, but what will remain constant is the need to provide people with places to do their best work. Hybrid working models, flexible layouts and technology solutions will continue to influence the way we approach the space we use – as well as how we strike a balance between collaboration and personal focus.

The importance of environmental sustainability and personal well-being are also influencing how we design the offices of tomorrow. Green, bright and flexible workspaces that focus on mental health, comfort and productivity are here to stay – with more consideration given to making the most of space. More dynamic workplaces that can shift and change as a team’s needs evolve (from collaborative brainstorming areas to quiet, tech-enhanced workstations that take into account how people actually work) will become the norm.

In the end, the future of commercial office spaces won’t just be shaped by the latest rules and trends, but by businesses’ understanding the importance of creating an environment that empowers their employees to do their best work. The ability to combine flexibility with innovation and wellbeing are key to creating workspaces that work – not only in today’s changing work culture, but for the years to come.