5 reasons to add acoustic work pods to your client’s workspace

Gensler’s 2019 U.S. Workplace Survey points out three key elements that workers need: choice, autonomy, and variety. In fact, work pods meet all these expectations. First of all, they address the sound issue for employees who work in the open workspace by blocking out office noise and providing a superior acoustic working environment for both focused and collaborative workflow. What’s more, the pods offer employees freedom, encouraging them to choose their most optimal work setting, and choose pods that best suit their workflow. An open-plan workspace purposefully equipped with work pods allows workers to move through their workspace every day, and unlock a substantial ergonomic advantage. In a nutshell, work pods make work meaningful again.

From the architect’s perspective, the introduction of work pods into the office offers several significant advantages. Within a few hours you can create a functional workspace meeting your client’s long-term financial objectives and aesthetic expectations. Additionally, pods allow for designing an effective collaborative space layout, while the use of plant-panelled pods effectively integrates elements of nature into the workspace.

1.   Create an effective workspace within half a workday.

Office work pods are unparalleled when it comes to their ease of implementation. Let’s consider our Hush pod line as an example. Manufacturing, customising, and delivering a Hush pod takes our team approximately 4 weeks in total. The installation time depends on the size of the booth: for our acoustic phone booth hushPhone, it takes 1 hour, while our meeting pods are ready within 2 hours. The hushMeet.L modular conference booth or meeting pod is installed in around 4 hours.

In fact, you can create an effective, modern office within a day using office pods or booths. As pods are fully mobile, you don’t need to negotiate and compromise with the landlord or a general contractor to approve any fit-outs and renovations. Why? Because there are no fit-outs or renovations.

• No time and energy wasted on obtaining approvals on fit-out or renovation
• 4-week lead time for the delivery of your customised acoustic work pod
• Installation time of 1 to 5 hours, depending on the pod model
• 1 week to set up an effective, functional, modern office

2.   Meet your client’s long-term financial objectives.

Work pods offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional built infrastructure, being a one-time investment that remains your client’s permanent asset. Instead of incurring a considerable cost of infrastructure that becomes outdated within a year or two, your client may choose a timeless solution: modular and mobile pods. Also, they may try introducing work pods into the workspace gradually, one at a time, maintaining cash flow and evaluating the effectiveness of each pod separately.

Additionally, modular work pods can be either expanded or sized down, depending on current needs. Their flexibility allows them to seamlessly adapt to fluctuating demands, eliminating the necessity for investments in state-of-the-art solutions. Unlike traditional infrastructure, pods are modular acoustic rooms that can be effortlessly relocated within the office space. Since all Hush pods can be effortlessly moved by pallet truck or a simple push, your client won’t need to cut their losses and abandon their infrastructure.

3.   Designing an effective participatory space and introducing stress-free layout changes: flexible solutions that clients need in an agile world.

Agility is a crucial feature of today’s working world. Working patterns, activities and tasks are becoming increasingly hybrid and less predictable. Introducing work pods into the workspace means creating a flexible, modular, Lego-like design that supports the unexpected fluctuations typical of an agile environment.

With office pods, creating working and meeting space is like a breeze: the Lego-like modularity allows for effortless rearrangement, involving a client’s entire fleet of talent into the workspace design process.

• Effortless workspace planning. Once you reach the conceptual design stage, upload the pod’s REVIT filesinto your modelling programme to provide all measurements, square footage, and outlets and begin your space arrangement.

• Effortless changes in layout. Our one-person pod (hushPhone) is equipped with castors and can be relocated by one person. Our larger pods can be moved without disassembly using a pallet truck (with the exception of our hushMeet.L conference pod).

• Change your office layout without additional approvals. One of the key advantages of pods over built constructions is that layout changes don’t require the landlord’s approval or collaboration with a general contractor.

• Modularity means flexibility. For example, depending on your needs, you can expand or size down our hushMeet.L within a day by simply adding or removing modules.

• Participatory space planning for workers. Since Hush pods work like Lego blocks, they enable quick layout modifications and effortless space planning, allowing workers to take an active part in the design of their workspace. Thus, employees can evaluate the direct relationship between the office arrangement and their productivity, which enables  them to pick changes that enhance their performance.

4.   Presenting your client’s branding after addressing their functional needs.

Well-designed work pods or office booths are a harmonious blend of practical functionality and innovative form.

• Connectivity and all features your clients expect. While ordering your mobile work pod, you can select the exact features your clients need. Additional features include a TV mount, sit-stand desk, stool, or Bluetooth speaker. HushMeet.L has a spacious room for your own furniture, such as a sofa, conference table, or table football. What’s more, our Hushoffice acoustic work pods are equipped with a robust power socket and excellent signal strength for perfect connectivity.

• Present your client’s branding using different colour options. While ordering a Hush pod, you can choose the colour of the body, interior upholstery, rear window, and central post, matching it to your client’s brand aesthetics.

• Acoustic work pods have an elegant and modern appearance. It’s plain to see – just have a look at the photos of Hush pods presented in this article. Unlike many pod manufacturers, our team always focuses on timeless elegance that stands the test of time.

5.   Additional benefit: biophilic and active office arrangement in one solution

The introduction of acoustic work pods into your workspace gives you a unique opportunity to bring nature into the office. Our Hush pods are also available with a “green wall”. We offer a fully-equipped system consisting of a frame, integrated flower pods, and electronic irrigation system, providing an attractive and simple way to connect with nature.

What’s more, pods ensure a more active working environment. Some models come with ergonomic accessories that make desk work more dynamic. Since they can be flexibly organised to promote a more active working style, they encourage more in-office mobility. In essence, they inspire employees to move around more.

→ Learn more: The hidden ergonomic benefit of work pods: How acoustic work pods afford two vital kinds of movement — triggering cross-pollination and engendering a more active, inspired office.