Many people now seem to take a pretty dim view of office partitions, instead of thinking that a wide-open office plan is the best way to arrange things. Perhaps it does work for some companies, but office partitions are critical for any business and still have many useful functions. Far from being an old-fashioned vestige of yesteryear’s office, they’re a great way to make your modern office work better.
Office Partitions Create a Flow in the Workspace
An office benefits from a sense of structure and flow. The open office might be trendy, but it’s a kind of “wild west” landscape where staff doesn’t really feel any sense of where things are, where certain tasks are done, and how the work done in the office flows between departments. Using partitions effectively allows an office to group different teams. Demonstrate a flow of work, and create defined collaborative and individual workspaces.
It’s More Cost-Effective than Remodelling
One approach to setting up a new workspace would be to take an existing shell; Then remodel it with larger more solid walls and partitions. Making separate offices, meeting rooms, and other spaces. With partitions, you can save a lot of money by creating separate work areas. But without the expense of building those walls. You can thus save resources for any construction that’s really needed, such as for private meeting rooms, executive offices, etc.
It’s More Sustainable: Office Partitions are Useful
By extension of being more affordable. It’s also more sustainable for a company to use office partitions instead of bigger construction. If the office space has to be reorganized in changing circumstances, then doing so with partitions is easy and can be finished in a day with no other expense than time. The partitions last for many years when properly cared for, and require little to no maintenance. A business trying to minimize overheads should find great benefit in that.
They Create a Look of Organisation and Structure
There are people who think the wide-open office plan is a good look. But in other ways, it’s just chaotic and unorganized. Partitions create structure and in doing so create a sense of order and tidiness. A sprawl of desks with drawers, papers, and other furniture covering the negative space isn’t as good a look as you might think. Especially when making an impression on visiting clients and others.
Partitions Use Space More Effectively
Creating random desk clumps, or octagon-shaped desks and seating areas can look edgy and cool. But is that the best way to use the space? Irregular shapes are an inefficient use of space and in the long term make it harder for a business to expand. Accommodate new team members, and possibly install new equipment or facilities. Spaces created with partitions can allocate a room in a more equitable and sustainable way for the office partitions.
They Help with Noise Management
Open-plan offices can get very noisy. Especially in workplaces where teams have to spend long periods of time calling clients on the phone to make sales or follow up on leads. The noise of others can be distracting and disrupt productivity. Furthermore, it’s hard to make a call and focus on that call when you can hear the voices of other colleagues around you.
Partitions help to limit the spread of noise by blocking at least some of it from escaping the immediate area. This creates a more comfortable working environment for everyone. Finally, they also may help to contain the spread of illness. Which in the post-pandemic age is a big concern for many.
Therefore, let’s not think of office partitions as a symbol of a by-gone office era. They still have a lot to offer modern office spaces in the 21st century.
