Why The Open Office Might Not Actually Be The Workplace Of The Future

At college, you probably had open working environments all over campus—in the library, in dorm common areas, in social centers. Ironically, your first job may look strikingly similar to some of those spaces—and it’s intentional. In recent research by global manufacturer KI Furniture, 75% of employers recognized that collegiate design can have an influence on workplace design. And indeed it has—almost 70% of U.S. workplaces, which are increasingly filled with college graduates, have an open layout.

But what’s the real thinking behind open offices? We asked employers and millennials for feedback.

Community And Collaboration Matter—A Lot

According to office design expert Jonathan Webb of KI Furniture, millennials value community and collaboration, just as they did in college. “We know that newly hired graduates’ top desires are the latest and greatest technology and a sense of community and collaboration,” says Webb. “Companies that cannot offer these two things are at risk of not being able to attract the talent they require to succeed.”

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