The Rise of the Huddle Space
Office design has come a long way in the past twenty years or so. What were once bleak spaces with fluorescent lighting, metal filing cabinets and utilitarian work cubicles have now been transformed into welcoming open spaces which encourage collaboration.
Time and time again, research shows that people perform better at work when they feel happier and valued, so when employers invest in healthy workspaces it pays dividends. Happy workplaces have fewer sick days, higher customer satisfaction levels and greater staff retention rates, not to mention being more productive.
Office design trends come and go, but one that seems to keep gaining popularity is the huddle space. As remote and hybrid working continue to be the norm, employees need a space where they can collaborate with their teams – both in and outside of the office. Huddle spaces are the perfect solution.
The Need for Huddle Spaces
With the increased popularity of open plan offices, people still need access to private spaces for meetings.
Huddle spaces are cosy little nooks where they can get together to share ideas and update each other on what’s been happening. Generally, they are small rooms or meeting places with seating for up to five people.
These comfortable, inviting spaces can be attractively designed with careful use of colour to inspire creativity, and because they’re more compact and less intimidating than a board room they foster honest, open discussions.
In a survey sponsored by CISCO, 93% of respondents said open office environments needed huddle spaces. But it was also found that simply having a space where a small number of people can sit together isn’t enough. For a huddle space to be really effective, it needs the right technology, with digital whiteboards and video conferencing abilities being cited among the most important additions. While a maximum of five people will be found in the average huddle space, video conferencing allows remote workers to dial in too, turning a tiny space into an area in which many more can meet.
The Value of Huddle Spaces
The research delved into the value huddle spaces bring to organisations. 76% of participants said the biggest benefit was the ability to have quick, easy meetings, with 61% saying they liked the privacy. Other values courtesy to other colleagues in terms of keeping noise down, increased productivity and more effective information sharing. Only 1% of those surveyed said they couldn’t see any value in huddle spaces, meaning an overwhelming 99% considered them to be a worthwhile investment.
Management of huddle spaces
The popularity of huddle spaces means they’re often in demand, and few things at work are more frustrating than trying – and failing – to find a meeting space when you need one. For huddle spaces to be worth the investment, they need to have reliable booking systems in place.
Advances in room booking technology means features like face detection, people count and analytics are becoming increasingly popular, providing users with valuable insights on how long spaces will be available for. As a minimum, huddle spaces can also be booked via online calendars like Outlook.
Ready to huddle?
If your organisation is looking to create – or improve – huddle spaces, the team at Workspace Audio Visual are here to help. We have extensive experience in creating collaborative workspaces that add value to all kinds of businesses. Contact us today to find out more.
