I had the same revelation in an actually quiet library v. libraries co-opted by study groups.

The first time I studied in a quiet library, I was blown away by my ability to sustain a flow state. The atmosphere, the minimalism and reduced distractions helped tremendously. That said, I had to keep my guard up and avoid falling into a routine of "going to the library" with the expectation of GTD automagically. To that end, I would consciously sit in different places (to mix things up) and make sure I had a To Do list which I worked through.

Edit: Another key revelation is the expectation that if someone needs to make/take a call, it was expected for that person to step OUT of the room. Remarkably, this was the status quo.

You also need private 1-2 person conf rooms for folks who simply can't work in an open environment even if it's quiet.

Also some people need privacy lots of the times (i.e., HR, senior management) as they discuss sensitive topics. Unless your organization is structured to be completely open, some folks are going to need a near-permanent office.

That's a great point. It reminds me of the "Library Rules" at the 37 Signals office: https://signalvnoise.com/posts/3357-an-office-with-ldquolibr...

At the same time, I think visual distractions also need to be taken in consideration.

Visual distractions are huge. Huge huge huge. As someone who has trouble concentrating in the first place, tiny visual distractions (even just someone shifting in their seat in the peripheral) are enough to pull me out of flow.

I manage that with three 27-inch monitors, arrayed slightly concave towards me.

I'm jealous that your workplace springs for such luxurious accommodations :)

I could get them for $250 each, so combined they came in cheaper than the standard Apple branded monitor.

There is a point when super quiet environment with other people becomes uncomfortable. We often keep music on quietly even if there are just a couple people in the office.