The need for third places—such as coworking spaces, libraries, and coffee shops—was heightened during the pandemic and is now impacting office design. Three workplace specialists from leading pod manufacturer SnapCab tell us how traditional office spaces are being changed to meet employees’ needs for more flexible and collaborative work settings.
Third places became essential as more people wanted an alternative work site from their primary residence. With the return to work, and the adoption of hybrid schedules, designers are now including third places in the office to provide staff with more choices. “People want a variety of spaces within the office, and a less sterile work environment. It has to be a place where employees feel comfortable,” said Heather Adams, a product representative at SnapCab.
Individuals have preferences for the types of third places they want both outside and inside of the office. Some people want to work alone in a quiet space, while others like to complete tasks surrounded by activity. “My third place might be sitting in a park where it’s quiet, and someone else may want to be in a coffee shop surrounded by hustle and bustle. And in the workplace as well, everyone has different needs, so it is key to create environments that are flexible enough to adjust in the future without a full redesign of the office,” explained Christopher Cramer, SnapCab’s workspace sales manager.
These additional areas for work are emphasized, as employees seek to strengthen relationships after extended periods of separation from colleagues, mentors, and friends. “Third places are even more important to consider because of the isolation that so many felt throughout the pandemic, whether it was in their personal or work lives,” Adams noted. “Third places offer people freedom and social interaction, and they really are the anchor of the community.”
While each organization will have to continually assess their particular requirements, third places in the office are suitable for the various activities that are part of a typical day, and staff does not have to leave the main hub and disrupt their routines. “I think being able to bring these third locations into the workplace is really the best of both worlds. It is a happy medium that balances all of these experiences,” said Carla Bostock, SnapCab’s marketing manager and art director.
Not only do third places allow groups to gather, they also help to support individuals with different abilities so that they can participate as fully as possible, which is often fulfilling for every team member. “When designing a workplace today, inclusivity is at the forefront, and ensuring that everybody has a space that is comfortable for them,” Cramer said. “And this lends itself to the concept of adding in corporate third places.
Pods and phone booths are placed to make effective use of available area, withouting detracting from the interior elements that are already included, from furniture to lighting. The SnapCab pods, with casters, can easily be grouped together in neighborhoods or zones for brainstorm sessions or heads-down work. “The pods are designed to be the right size for specific uses. So a single-person booth is actually going to take a smaller footprint, and more units can fit as well, which is helpful for building flexible spaces out,” Cramer noted.
The multiple uses of pods reduces the necessity for extra pieces of furniture, another space-saving bonus. “We are seeing the overall trend of companies reducing their brick-and-mortar square footage, and this is another great way to have the highest functionality within a small space,” Adams added.
While one-person pods are always popular, larger booths taking cues from residential style are also being specified as sleeker versions of meeting rooms. “We definitely see bigger pods being featured,” Bostock said. “A lounge chair will be in there, and it is a more relaxed kind of home environment.”
SnapCab is known for the vast material and color options that they have available, with more than 200 finishes alone to choose from. Brand detailing or logos can also be added for a more personalized product that complements the look of the workplace. “We can create a bespoke design for a client that is a solution for something that they are trying to address, and it is also seamlessly integrated into the design,” Adams said.
Cramer added that as how we use third places for work evolves, so too will the products that we utilize. “The goal of bringing people back to the office is for the collaboration and innovation which can happen when the ideas flow, and pods have been updated to reflect our priorities. We have seen pods, and what people use them for, transform over time, and that will continue,” he said.