Private Office Layouts

I think I've been at this too long...I wrote the word "layout" and wanted to follow with "back handspring." My older sister was a gymnast so growing up in my house these two words are a natural pair.

But in this case I am writing about furniture layouts for private offices. The process for selecting furniture can be short or long - in the case of Human Ecology the process was long because the team felt it incredibly important for users to have a voice. For just selecting chairs we had a 2-week long "chair fair" where everyone got to test drive chairs for working, guests, lounge, for the cafe, studios, for classrooms, for the outdoor roof and so on. You get the idea. But this entry is about private office furniture.
Input
Unlike many other projects on the campus where private office furniture is simply decided, Human Ecology took the long way around - we started with a focus group to get feedback and ideas from the people who will actually be using the space. The invite went to the chair of each department or unit lead to send a representative to the April 27, 2010 focus group - the following people participated:

• Roberta Riportella (Consumer Science)
• Shannon Sparks (HDFS)
• Cynthia Jasper (Interdisciplinary Studies)
• Linda Dicks (Administration )
• Michele Mickelson (Student Academic Affairs)
• Roberto Rengel (facilitator along with Sasaki)
• Lesley Sager (Design Studies - unable to attend)
• Bonniejean Zitske (Centers - unable to attend)

The focus group discussed workflow and wrestled with questions like:

• is file storage more important than printer storage?
• is a wardrobe closet needed?
• are bookcases more important than binder storage?
• how do you like to meet with people -at your desk or at a separate table?

The design team brought small cardboard scaled models for people to move around and mix up, looking at a number of configurations. Feedback was so vital to this process. Participant comments like "I conduct a lot of small group meetings with students and it is important that they don't feel intimidated by having a desk between us" and "I prefer the surface area of the P-top desk to gather students around" were incredibly helpful. Lots of really interesting comments, opinions and ideas were offered by everyone.

Feedback and Process
Participants went back to their respective groups to get more comments, then reported back to the design team. Comments and adjustments were received until the end of May. From there the layouts were further refined and narrowed into four basic models. Those four models were offered for comment and more feedback received to determine the two basic furniture scenarios - which were then put out for bid.

Four vendors were selected to install a mock-up of an actual desk layout and an invitation to give feedback on the mock-up went to the entire School. Comments were received and two vendors were selected to bid on the project.

"L" Shape" versus P-top: Flexibility

The reason behind these 'L' layouts was actually in an effort to be more customer friendly. Offices in this configuration are also given a mobile table. In the focus group, several people preferred this option because it seemed more congenial to work with a visitor over a table rather than have a formal desk in between them. Also, don't forget these mobile tables have a drop down ledge and can abut or slide beneath the main work surface, giving these users a little more flexibility in their final layout.

Although we have located grommets to allow people to locate their computers where they wish, we have anticipated that most people will have their computers along the side wall where the hutch will be located. This is the case whether the desk is an 'L' or a 'U' shape People will not have their back directly to the door, but will be facing to the side.

Final Selection and Assignment
Last fall each department chair received a floor plan complete with furniture layouts - P-top and "L" shape. While space authority resides with the Dean, each department was asked to provide a recommendation for who would be assigned what office. The School did not prescribe a process but left the selection to each department. The only department that did not have two layout options was Interdisciplinary Studies -their faculty offices are on the north side of the existing building and the constraints on the space are enormous so we could not offer "P" top furniture.

Countdown to the move
I've been working on this project for five years but I didn't want to move into the building without taking a moment to thank you - all of you - for caring so very much. I forget just how much effort each of you has taken to participate in focus groups, test drive chairs, complete online surveys, attend work sessions and so much more. It is the nature of this School to engage students, staff and faculty and the building project is no exception. Nancy Nicholas Hall has a little bit of everyone in it.