Are Private Offices Going Away?

As interior design advances along with technology and these modern ideas of "working", the open floor plan has become increasingly popular. So much so, that many CEOs don't even use private office for themselves anymore. Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, says "in 30 years time, as technology moves forward even further, people are going to look back and wonder why offices ever existed."

The truth is, most young talent coming into the workforce is already immersed into this culture of working remotely. With technology's hand in nearly every aspect of our lives, the office could be just a reach away at any point in time, literally, right there in your pocket. Though this may sound alarming for us in the "office furniture" sector of the business, we're not too concerned. Sure, technology is taking over a bit, but we're not convinced that offices will be completely extinct any time soon. Many successful owners, managers, CEOs, etc. prefer to be mobile and out in the open areas of their employee spaces to provide a secure sense of camaraderie among the office and really get a sense of what's happening with the business - which is extremely smart.

Jack Dorsey, the master mind behind Twitter and Square, says "I don't have an office. I don't have a desk. Mainly I am just walking around the office. Sitting down with people. Figuring out what is going on. What the biggest challenge is. What we've built. Resolving any issues that occur. I have my space in my iPad, I have my space in my head."

So, office buildings in general won't be going away any time soon. Businesses still need a place to get work done and a productive space in which to share ideas. However, the more open the floor plan, the more technology utilized, and the more modern the ideas for collaboration...the better - and we're planning on being around through that shift.

Branson adds, "The key for me is that in today's world I do not think it is effective or productive to force your employees one way or another. Choice empowers people and makes for a more content workforce."

How do you utilize these new ideas for your own workspace?

Earth Day Awareness

Keeping in mind that today is Earth Day, we thought we'd take a moment to highlight some of the best green products out there and our philosophy on doing good for the environment.

At NWOI, we strive to provide our clients with interesting, unique spaces come project completion and try to keep in mind the idea of "being green" during the process. We also find it important to get behind companies and manufacturers who feel the same way. One of our major allies in the business, HON, feels strongly about their green practices and we're happy to support that. Check out their philosophy on the issue:

"At HON, we take pride in helping our customers create productive environments that leave a lasting impression. But often, the best impressions are the ones never seen. Our greatest impact is our ability to change the business world without changing the environment. By making a commitment to responsibly design and manufacture quality products, we exceed our customers’ expectations while being good stewards of the earth. We work diligently to build a culture that encourages excellence, involvement, ongoing education, diversity and responsibility. We continually challenge ourselves to always do more. “HON Thinks Green” is more than a slogan, it's a promise."

All HON products are designed from materials that have been carefully chosen to reduce environmental impacts and manufactured using methods that allow for proper recycling at the end of their usage. HON's "Lean Manufacturing" system maximizes the use of raw materials and is efficient in its use of natural resources to reduce the company's environmental footprint. Their facilities also utilize strict conservation and efficiency programs to help save natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and major energy consumption. 

As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), HON is continually innovative in their quest to be truly green and they use a variety of new technologies to help create products that are really sustainable. For example, material innovations like Comold^® and Nature Core^® put HON right in the front of the line by diverting 10,000 tons from landfills each year. Soy-based foam, paint reclamation, fabric recycling, and packaging innovations are among the things that help set HON apart.

Here's a look at some of their best green products, the Initiate workstations.

Happy Earth Day, everyone!