Proponents of open offices claim that the design promotes employee collaboration, but a recent study found just the opposite.
Wide open workspaces actually reduce the time employees spend in face-to-face interactions by 73%, according to researchers at Harvard Business School and Harvard University. The researchers studied people who switched from individual cubicles to an open office plan.
After the switch, study participants turned more to electronic means of communication, with 67% spending more time on email, and 75% spending more time on instant messaging.
Providing conference rooms where people can have private conversations doesn't appear to offset the reduction in face-to-face interaction.
Related Stories
| Mar 18, 2013
USGBC to GAO: 'Schools need over $271 billion in maintenance fixes'
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its first “State of our Schools” report, highlighting the critical need to modernize school facilities to meet current health, safety and educational standards.
| Mar 14, 2013
Survey: Market demand now key driver for green construction
Construction firms across the world expect 60% of their projects to be environmentally friendly by 2015, according to the SmartMarket Report of McGraw-Hill Construction.
| Mar 14, 2013
Possible tax code changes prompt action from various industries, including construction
With Congress potentially tackling tax reform, businesses, trade groups and others are jockeying to get their voices heard.
| Mar 14, 2013
Concrete Polishing Association of America releases new standards
The Concrete Polishing Association of America(CPAA) Standards Committee, which reflects a cross-section of the concrete polishing industry, has created terminology to define the products and processes used to produce insitu polished concrete.
| Mar 14, 2013
World Green Building Council: Green buildings help mitigate real estate risk
Green buildings can offer benefits to a wide array of stakeholders throughout their life cycle, according to a report released by the World Green Building Council.
| Mar 14, 2013
Sustainability index aims to evaluate REITs on the greenness of their properties
FTSE Group, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, and the U.S. Green Building Council are working on a sustainability index that measures the portfolios of real estate investment trusts to provide transparency about LEED certification and Energy Star ratings.
| Mar 6, 2013
OSHA: Employers must post injury and illness summaries
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reminding employers to post OSHA Form 300A, which lists a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during 2012.
| Mar 6, 2013
Study provides guidance to states on linking utility efficiency programs with energy codes
As states increasingly look to utilities to play an active role in supporting building energy codes, a new report from a coalition of energy efficiency advocates, has been issued to provide guidance for how state regulatory commissions and energy offices can best develop and evaluate such efforts.
| Mar 6, 2013
Triple-pane windows, heat pumps part of New York’s plan to meet 2050 emissions goal
Renovations providing better insulation, triple-paned windows, heat pumps and other techniques that minimize heat loss and save on energy use for residential and commercial buildings are key to New York City’s goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 90% by 2050.
| Mar 6, 2013
EPA asks for feedback on Energy Star criteria on tubular daylighting devices and skylights
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested feedback from stakeholders about draft two of the Energy Star tubular daylighting devices (TDD) and revised skylight criteria.