Workplaces need more walls, not fewer (2014)

Re:Workplaces need more walls, not fewer (2014) by padobson on Wednesday January 18, 2017 @08:51AM (#13426257)

I was thinking about this the other day, and I sat down and designed an office space for a company built around paired programming.

The design is focused around four-office bullpens like so: Two programmers share a 225 sqft office. Offices open into common spaces for collaboration and reception. Some sort of gatekeeper sit at a desk in the reception area, playing interference for anyone trying to interrupt programmers at work, either in their office or in a collaborative session.

The offices themselves could have windows, and each bullpen would take up 1100 sqft or so. Here's a rough design of a bullpen:

+---------------+----------+---------------+

    office     collab       office

+---------------+----------+---------------+

    office    reception     office

+---------------+----------+---------------+

               entrance

So, in a 2500 sqft space, you could provide a controlled work environment for 16 programmers.

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Re:Workplaces need more walls, not fewer (2014) by logfromblammo on Wednesday January 18, 2017 @01:15PM (#13428695)

I'd rather work in something like this (each char is about 4 ft high by 2 ft wide):

  ######@@@@####@@@@@@  # = 8'x12' office
  ######@@@@####@@@@@@  @ = 8'x12' office
  @@@@  @@@@####  ####  % = 30"x6' tables (4)
  @@@@   %""""%   ####  = = wall
  @@@@   %%%%%%   ####  * = gatekeeper's desk
  ####            @@@@  $ = 8'x14' kitchenette
  ####   ======   @@@@  & = 8'x14' equipment
  ####            @@@@  ^ = entry/egress
  &&&&&&&  **  $$$$$$$  " = projection screen
  &&&&&&&****  $$$$$$$
             ^^

That's 40'x40', but it also gives you space for the local printer, the fridge, sink, and microwave oven, and some local servers. The central area is about 16'x24', which is reasonable for 8 people, and cramped for 10. The accessible path is compliant with ADA guidelines, I think.

I don't like shared offices.

Outside of the basic 40'x40' pod, it would make sense for the kitchenettes to share a wet wall with bathrooms, and try to get at least one exterior window to the offices closest to the entry, like this: (each char is 10 ft high by 5 ft wide)

  ########   ########  # = 40'x40' office pod
  ########   ########  M = men's restroom (2+1)
  ########   ########  W = women's restroom (3)
  ########MMM########  . = corridor
  ...................  
  ########WWW########
  ########   ########
  ########   ########
  ########   ########

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