Open Office Plans, Popular in Europe, Gain Ground in U.S.

Via Scripps News:

Shelby Bryant admits she wasn't thrilled to learn she would be one of the guinea pigs testing a new open office environment for pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline near Raleigh, N.C.

An administrative assistant in Research Triangle Park, Bryant, 39, went from having a desk outside her boss's office to having no assigned desk or phone.

Instead of personalizing her workspace with family photos and funny cartoons, she was expected to leave her work area each day the same way she found it: pristine.

"It was a big adjustment," said Bryant, who has worked for the drug maker for 18 years. "There were a lot of distractions, and it was hard to stay focused."

But the new setup had its advantages. The lack of offices increased collaboration among colleagues, cutting down decision-making time. E-mail traffic was reduced, as was the time she spent on the phone.

For the complete article, please visit:  http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/60462

Office Plants have Hidden Benefits

From ASID, Eye on Design.  Studies have shown that office plants may help improve indoor air quality, but new research suggests they may have other benefits as well. In a study conducted in Norway, the researchers determined that cognitive performance is better in offices with plants than without plants, even when the offices included desks next to a window that looked out over a natural landscape.

For the complete article, please visit:  http://www.researchdesignconnections.com/content/office-plants-worth-fertilizer-01-21-11

Shown above is a dental office reception area featuring blooming and green plants, cut flowers and an original painting by Rogers, provided by Art Rent and Lease.  Flowers and artwork help to lessen patient anxiety and brighten the space!

Office Space + First Impression = Organization Culture

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The choice of building is increasingly important for staff considerations. The quality of your building and office space is an important factor for both recruitment and retaining quality employees. Today in order to insure a high performance workplace it is critical that building selection is aligned with Human Resource strategies. The building and your office space portrays the image that reflects your organization both to your employees and your customers. When a customer enters your premises, your office space is the first impression they have of the culture of your organization.

What does your office space say about your culture?  For help with improving the design of your space, call us for a free  consultation: 888-440-9260 x710.

For the entire article from Stumble Upon via ecobuildertoday, visit: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/6FoEZn/ecobuildertoday.com/blog/posts/Elements-of-a-High-Performance-Office-Space//r:t

Textiles - A Fabulous Art Form

Facility and building managers, corporate, executive and healthcare offices might want to consider textiles to decorate the office lobby or work spaces. There are unique qualities to woven cloth decoration that should be considered as part of the overall art strategy including aesthetics and sound mitigation.

When talking about textiles, I am referring to use of fabrics such as tapestries for wall coverings, window coverings, upholstery for furniture, or floor coverings. When used as part of the overall effect of a lobby or workspace, the use of woven textiles has certain distinct characteristics. Textiles can help to maintain a traditional look and feel while bringing softness. They can inspire strength and stability while bringing color and creativity to a floor when used with or instead of carpet. Textiles can even be placed in such a way to create a sense of chic.

Every culture has textiles as part of its art heritage. Woven into the textiles is much about the climate, geography and even the hearts and minds of those who share that culture. How the textiles are constructed, the colors and choice of images tells stories where words fail.

Do textiles fit into your overall plan for the decor of your office lobby or work area? Working with your art consultant, you will find the right style of art to speak the message of your business. She will guide you through the investment and business aspects or leasing, renting or purchasing art that makes your office the very place where people want to come to work and transact business, whatever business you are involved with. Contact us for a free consultation: (888) 440-9260 or lisa@artrentandlease.com.