Co3 Group, Ltd.Comparison Study:

Traditional Cubicle and Freestanding Collaborative Workstation

If we think our work environments should evolve to recognize and leverage the mobility of today’s workforce and at the same time do a better job of supporting collaborative work…. We need to question the assumptions of the last 40 years….

A “traditional” office work environment designed with enclosed offices hugging the perimeter of the space and cubicles with panels high enough to block seeing anyone while you are sitting down are pushed to the interior. Meeting rooms are generally the only “collaborative space”

A work environment more conducive to collaborative work might rethink seating in open studio environments to replace the cubicle. There are fewer assigned workspaces and less individual space. Technology is infused and not a tack on at the end. Technology is also very portable. The primary reason to go to the office becomes to work with other people face to face.

In comparing this new collaborative design with the traditional design……• Real estate footprint is decreased as is the installed infrastructure needed to support each employee • Focusing on a portable technology platform addresses the new normal of employee mobility • Provides for easily reconfigurable environments bettering enabling changes in teams and projects

We looked at only one element for this comparison: the traditional cubicle and how we might re-imagine what a workstation should be in a collaborative environment with a mobile workforce

Our concept for the new collaborative workstation was shaped in large part by the following design drivers…

• All components are “off the shelf” Nothing was to be specially designed • The primary computer used is a laptop • There is no telephony other than VoIP through the computer and mobile devices • The required real estate footprint had to decrease substantively (minimum of 20%) • Technology was designed into the workstation and not just added on . • The workstations could be easily reconfigured in the space, in large part by the users • Wireless internet was assumed, however, wired ports are also part of the program • Decreased desk real estate. Assume that the workstation can either be assigned or part of the infrastructure for mobile workers. •  Design for sustainability (more mobility, less paper, less energy consumption)

and …

cost per seat had to be less than a traditional cubicle

Description Manufacturer Qty Unit Cost Total Cost

6’ X 8’ cubicle with 54 inch high panels Steelcase 1 $4,531 $4,531

Task seating Steelcase Amia 1 $455 $455

Desktop telephone Avaya 1 $100 $100

22 inch LCD monitor Samsung 1 $250 $300 Keyboard and Mouse Logitech 1 $50 $50

Monitor Cable Kensington ComboSaver 2 $50 $100

Power Strip Belkin Compact 1 $20 $20

USB Hub D-Link DHUB-H7 1 $45 $45

Total Cost per seat $5,532 $5,582

PlanandAxonometricviewof“tradi4onalcubicle“areintendedforcomparison.Itisassumedtheworksurfacesarepanelhung,flipperbinsforstorageoverhead,withundersurfacepedestalfilesforstoragebelowtheworksurface.Poweranddataaresuppliedviathepanels.

Description Manufacturer Qty Unit Cost Total Cost Freestanding worksurface

Steelcase Baker 120 with casters 1 $1,532 $1,532

Task seating Steelcase Amia 1 $455 $455 Pedsestal File with cushion Herman Miller 1 $259 $259

Dual Monitor Arm Humanscale M4 Monitor Arm 1 $380 $380

Tech Box Enclosure Peerless PB-1 1 $252 $252

Ethernet switch DataGo 5port 10/100Mbps 1 $31 $31

Desktop telephone Avaya 1 $100 $100 22 inch LCD monitor Samsung 2 $250 $500 Keyboard and Mouse Logitech 1 $50 $50

Monitor Cable Kensington ComboSaver 2 $50 $100

Power Strip Fellowes 2 in 1 Metal 10 outlet 1 $30 $30

USB Hub D-Link DHUB-H7 1 $45 $45 USB to DVI Adaptors Gefen or Sewel 2 $129 $258 USB to DVI Adaptors Gefen or Sewel 2 $129 $258

Total Cost per seat $3,613 $3,992

mark.wartenberg@co3group.com IP address: 207.180.188.31 Twitter: @markdwartenberg Skype: markwartenberg Telephone: 857.205.2996 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/mark-wartenberg/1/6a4/256

Thank You.