The next phase of office refits will include more discussion hubs, "hush" zones and a greater variety of hot-desking areas to keep staff happy and the noise down.
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Most offices have been reconfigured to a hot-desking, or activity-based work format, which saves on space for the tenant. It also means less infrastructure pressure on the landlord as fewer internal refits are required when the tenant leaves.
On the positive side, there is less clutter on desks as most offices provide laptops and lockers and demand clean desks. People can choose where to sit and can also work off-site without fear of being seen sitting in a cafe and not at the desk.
However, it can be very noisy, with not enough desks and, over time, broken equipment and chairs. Staff can also spend hours walking around the office to find colleagues.
To ensure everyone is happy, most spaces have separate meeting rooms and "quiet" zones, but even these have not been popular as more people use mobile phones.
KPMG has spent $7 million upgrading its Adelaide office, where a new style of quiet areas and zones is on offer.
Westpac is said to be taking it to the next level in community working at new offices at Barangaroo South.
JLL Australia, which spends its days leasing new office areas, have led by example with the opening of the North Sydney office in the prominent Northpoint Tower. It features the firm's in-house-designed activity-based working model, WorkSmart.
JLL has remained in the tower at 100 Miller Street, moving from Level 27 to the new office fit-out on Level 33.
The fit-out was by the firm's project and development services division, which also completed the fit-outs for the JLL WorkSmart offices across the country.
JLL NSW managing director, Michael Fenton said the flexible working environment offered so much more than a traditional office space and nurtured collaboration, innovation and productivity.
"The new office has an energising look and feel and really delivers on both form and function," Mr Fenton said.
JLL's Melbourne office will also move to a WorkSmart space this year.
WorkSmart features include non-assigned desks, discussion hubs, meeting rooms, "hush" rooms, a cafe-style kitchen and a modern reception area.
JLL's head of North Sydney, Denys Bizinger, said the diversity of the working styles, such as the discussion hubs, "hush" rooms and flexible seating arrangements, offered a fresh environment for the team.
