Multi-space offices, as the name suggests, offer a wide range of spaces: open-plan office-style workspaces, quiet spaces for concentration, telephone booths and meeting and conference rooms of different sizes. The basic idea is that employees can choose their own workspace depending on the task at hand. The design should always start with the person and their work.<\/p>\n
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The different areas of a functioning multifunctional office<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe area of open interaction
\n<\/strong>An area of open interaction is often a customer service area for both internal and external customers. This is a public space open to all, where opportunities for encounters and collaboration are good, but opportunities for concentration are relatively poor. In addition to shared spaces, this area often includes workstations for private customer service.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"Activity-based](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/monitilatoimisto_2018_kuva1_new.jpg\")
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Intensive cooperation area
\n<\/strong>In the area of intensive cooperation, tasks are carried out where it is beneficial and helpful to be close to other people. This area often consists of various meeting and conference centres where the focus can be on cooperation without disturbing others around.<\/p>\n![\"Activity-based](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/monitilatoimisto_2018_kuva2_new_.jpg\")
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Intensive individual work area
\n<\/strong>The Intensive Individual Work area allows for varying degrees of concentration and single-task work. This area is characterised by telephone booths, various retreats and, for example, quiet rooms for both work and rest.<\/p>\n![\"Activity-based](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/monitilatoimisto_2018_kuva3-1.jpg\")
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Short-stay area
\n<\/strong>The short-term drop-in area comprises those spaces and places where people, usually members of a company or organisation, spend short periods of time moving from one facility to another and from one task to another. These inputs include lobbies, coffee machine environments, copy rooms, office supply depots, etc.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"Activity-based](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/monitilatoimisto_2018_kuva4-1.jpg\")
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When designing a multi-space office, it is worth considering:<\/strong><\/p>\nFind out what you want from a multi-storey office
\n<\/strong>It is important to define what is expected of a multifunctional office and why people are moving to a multifunctional office. Whether it is more people-to-people encounters and innovation, or flexibility to accommodate varying numbers of staff.<\/p>\nAn effective multifunctional office plan is always based on carefully considered strategic objectives.<\/p>\n
Involve your employees in the planning
\n<\/strong>It is important that employees can participate in the design of their workspaces. If not all employees can be involved, at least representatives from all staff groups using the facilities should be involved.<\/p>\nParticipation can mean, for example, workshops or answering questionnaires. These should look at the needs and working patterns of employees now and in the future: what are the company's employee profiles, how many are always on site and how many are mobile? Who works closely together? Who needs a quiet workstation at all times? How much space is needed for external clients? What other activities are organised in the office?<\/p>\n
When designing the space and considering how it will be used, it is also important to make the space as easy to navigate as possible, so that employees and customers can easily move around the premises. It is also important to take into account the peace of mind of the employees.<\/p>\n
Ergonomics of the premises
\n<\/strong>Ergonomically sound premises increase work efficiency and employee well-being. A variety of furniture solutions that support active work and working postures create a pleasant acoustic environment.<\/p>\nCommon rules for the use of premises
\n<\/strong>At its best, a multi-user office supports collaboration, interaction and information flow. Some well-functioning MCOs also have jointly defined rules on how to use the space, which contribute to greater peace and consideration for others.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
TOP 3 solutions for a functional multifunctional office
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n1. Quality phone booths<\/strong>
\nIn a multi-room office, you need a space where you can have phone conversations in peace and quiet, without disturbing others. However, there are differences in the quality of telephone booths, and in some workplaces they are not used because of poor soundproofing.
\nPOD PHONE phone boxes<\/a> are in quality class A of the standard SFS 5904 \u201dAcoustic classification of spaces in building\u201d. More importantly, the Speech Transmission Index (STI) of our phone booths has been measured at normal speech sound between 0.10-0.15. This means that speech intelligibility outside the POD is poor. When speech intelligibility is unclear, speech variation (single syllables, words and sentences) is difficult to understand. This ensures the necessary privacy.<\/p>\n![\"Activity-based](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/into_the_nordic_silence_pod_phone_terkko2.jpg\")
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2. Storage space
\n<\/strong>Even in a multifunctional office, storage space is important for employees. Papers, computers and other office supplies need somewhere to go, for example, during lunch.
\nFOCUS<\/a> is a workstation for private work. Not only is this handy wheeled workstation sound-friendly and visually protective, it also has a lockable space where employees can leave their personal belongings while away. The curved baffle surrounding the Focus acts as a good diffuser of the speech sound reflected from around the Focus.<\/p>\n![\"Activity-based](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/into_the_nordic_silence_focus.jpg\")
3. Meeting rooms
\n<\/strong>The central idea behind the multi-space office is to make space for people to meet.
\nPOINT sofas<\/a> are sofa modules in different sizes, which you can combine to create the meeting space that best suits your needs. All our sofa pieces are designed with ergonomics in mind: for example, the seat height is the same as a standard office chair, the backrest is slanted backwards to ensure the best sitting position, and although the sofas are soft to sit on, they are stiff enough to sit on for longer periods without sore muscles.<\/p>\n![\"Activity-based](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/into_the_nordic_silence_point_top_lift.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>An area of open interaction is often a customer service area for both internal and external customers. This is a public space open to all, where opportunities for encounters and collaboration are good, but opportunities for concentration are relatively poor. In addition to shared spaces, this area often includes workstations for private customer service.<\/p>\n
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Intensive cooperation area Intensive individual work area Short-stay area <\/p>\n When designing a multi-space office, it is worth considering:<\/strong><\/p>\n Find out what you want from a multi-storey office An effective multifunctional office plan is always based on carefully considered strategic objectives.<\/p>\n Involve your employees in the planning Participation can mean, for example, workshops or answering questionnaires. These should look at the needs and working patterns of employees now and in the future: what are the company's employee profiles, how many are always on site and how many are mobile? Who works closely together? Who needs a quiet workstation at all times? How much space is needed for external clients? What other activities are organised in the office?<\/p>\n When designing the space and considering how it will be used, it is also important to make the space as easy to navigate as possible, so that employees and customers can easily move around the premises. It is also important to take into account the peace of mind of the employees.<\/p>\n Ergonomics of the premises Common rules for the use of premises <\/p>\n 1. Quality phone booths<\/strong> 2. Storage space
\n<\/strong>In the area of intensive cooperation, tasks are carried out where it is beneficial and helpful to be close to other people. This area often consists of various meeting and conference centres where the focus can be on cooperation without disturbing others around.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Intensive Individual Work area allows for varying degrees of concentration and single-task work. This area is characterised by telephone booths, various retreats and, for example, quiet rooms for both work and rest.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The short-term drop-in area comprises those spaces and places where people, usually members of a company or organisation, spend short periods of time moving from one facility to another and from one task to another. These inputs include lobbies, coffee machine environments, copy rooms, office supply depots, etc.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>It is important to define what is expected of a multifunctional office and why people are moving to a multifunctional office. Whether it is more people-to-people encounters and innovation, or flexibility to accommodate varying numbers of staff.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>It is important that employees can participate in the design of their workspaces. If not all employees can be involved, at least representatives from all staff groups using the facilities should be involved.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Ergonomically sound premises increase work efficiency and employee well-being. A variety of furniture solutions that support active work and working postures create a pleasant acoustic environment.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>At its best, a multi-user office supports collaboration, interaction and information flow. Some well-functioning MCOs also have jointly defined rules on how to use the space, which contribute to greater peace and consideration for others.<\/p>\nTOP 3 solutions for a functional multifunctional office
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nIn a multi-room office, you need a space where you can have phone conversations in peace and quiet, without disturbing others. However, there are differences in the quality of telephone booths, and in some workplaces they are not used because of poor soundproofing.
\nPOD PHONE phone boxes<\/a> are in quality class A of the standard SFS 5904 \u201dAcoustic classification of spaces in building\u201d. More importantly, the Speech Transmission Index (STI) of our phone booths has been measured at normal speech sound between 0.10-0.15. This means that speech intelligibility outside the POD is poor. When speech intelligibility is unclear, speech variation (single syllables, words and sentences) is difficult to understand. This ensures the necessary privacy.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Even in a multifunctional office, storage space is important for employees. Papers, computers and other office supplies need somewhere to go, for example, during lunch.
\nFOCUS<\/a> is a workstation for private work. Not only is this handy wheeled workstation sound-friendly and visually protective, it also has a lockable space where employees can leave their personal belongings while away. The curved baffle surrounding the Focus acts as a good diffuser of the speech sound reflected from around the Focus.<\/p>\n3. Meeting rooms
\n<\/strong>The central idea behind the multi-space office is to make space for people to meet.
\nPOINT sofas<\/a> are sofa modules in different sizes, which you can combine to create the meeting space that best suits your needs. All our sofa pieces are designed with ergonomics in mind: for example, the seat height is the same as a standard office chair, the backrest is slanted backwards to ensure the best sitting position, and although the sofas are soft to sit on, they are stiff enough to sit on for longer periods without sore muscles.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n