FEATURE : MODERN WORKPLACE
Meeting room design is an essential contributor to employee satisfaction and ultimately , business success . Ed Morgan , COO of DisplayNote , outlines the key points about good and bad meeting room design in the new era of hybrid working .
All of these requirements are amplified by the demands of today ’ s new era of hybrid working . Now companies are having to radically rethink the traditional layout of meeting rooms as they strive to design collaborative spaces that are suitable for hybrid meetings . Having employees work on a flexible schedule and use office spaces at their discretion prompts companies and their facilities management teams to examine workplace functions like office design and space allocation , how meetings are held and how employees engage with the space .
Elements of a meeting room design that can lead to unproductive meetings
Everyone in business is keenly aware that meeting spaces are a crucial part of every workplace . These are the spaces where creativity flows , key discussions are brought to the table and important decisions are made . Of course , as we all know , meeting rooms are also the place for some of the mundane yet important everyday stuff like project updates or check-ins . Therefore , because they are used so often and for such a wide range of activities , meeting rooms should be designed to accommodate the various interactions that take place inside .
Running central to the success of all these requirements is collaboration . Good collaboration is necessary for workplace productivity and innovation , so the more a company can provide spaces that foster collaboration , the better . In addition , the impression a meeting room design makes with a prospective client or interviewee means the implications of transparency , trust and professionalism should also be considered .
Meeting rooms are frequently overlooked in terms of design . Believe it or not , design elements such as the type and placement of furniture , meeting room technology , lighting and room decor play an important role in the direction a meeting can go . Yet , many meeting room designs seen today fail to support the types of conversations that take place inside . There are a number of key issues that commonly prevent effective meetings , but two main issues are :
1 . Faulty / difficult to use technology
2 . Outdated designs including uncomfortable furniture , inadequate lighting and the wrong screen size for the room
Elements of a good office meeting room design
Today ’ s offices are now adopting a wide range of meeting room design options , bringing modern interior design ideas into collaborative workspaces . This can involve utilising cutting-edge technology , ergonomic furniture and embracing natural light . Here are four
Why good meeting room design matters
42 INTELLIGENTCIO EUROPE www . intelligentcio . com