Mix and Match

Cost-conscious, nimble, innovative companies are increasingly expecting their workspaces to be the same.  The result, according to this article, is a new emphasis on modularity in office and product design.  Flexibility and adaptability are the keynotes, with a particular eye on collaborative or mobile space – “You’re not making [employees] adapt to the environment – the environment adapts to them.”

Old panel systems connected only panel to panel at certain connection points; new systems allow panels to connect midpanel, allowing greater flexibility and cost savings.  Products like sliding doors and flat screen displays take up less room, while modular units with built-in IT functions allow for plug-and-play setups, cutting out the cost of frequent rewiring and cabling.

The author lauds the increasingly broader palette in color, texture and design of modular units, which she sees as contributing to greater sales as modular units are finding their way into the executive floors of insurance companies and investment houses.

Source: Katie Weeks, Contract; May, 2004