We know a hybrid workforce is here to stay. And we know the post-pandemic experience of participating in meetings from the office to home office, to on-the-go calls should be seamless but isn’t always so.
Through planful, integrated design, there are ways to create a more balanced experience between physical and remote office spaces using acoustics, technology, lighting and furniture. Here are five considerations for creating meeting spaces that support both in person and remote attendees:
#1. More Than One Room Type is Essential
Depending on the size of your organization, you will need small (1-2 person), medium (2-4 person), and large (6-12 person) hybrid meeting rooms, with a variety of technology for each room. A small hybrid meeting room may not need the same technology as a large meeting room which has different needs for furniture, technology, and acoustics. But the greatest trend in hybrid meeting rooms is that all of them support video conferencing; this wasn’t the case just a few years ago.
#2. Rectangle Tables are a Thing of the Past
Furniture solutions such as guitar pick-shaped tables, or V-shaped tables improve the experience so participants in the room can see the monitor/screen and remote participants can see you.
#3. Acoustics Matter
Acoustics in your meeting rooms are more important than ever, both for in-person and remote participants. Striking a balance between hard, glass surfaces and acoustical treatments, such as wall coverings and floor-to-ceiling wall construction are effective in controlling the sound within the room and preventing it from transmitting through the walls. However, the baseline for all conference rooms, no matter the size, is that noise and conversations neither enter nor exit the enclosed room.
#4. Lighting Quality sets the Tone
Lighting quality plays a key role in the experience of space for people at the office and those working remotely. Flexible zoning and dimming are essential to today’s modern work environment. The ability to choose an intimate environment for focused work and a bright uniform space for virtual meetings is key to creating a variety of comfort levels for different individuals. High color rendering, increased vertical illumination, and reduced aperture glare allow for seamless vision from both the meeting room and remote attendees on the screen. The interaction of light with interior finishes should consider reflectivity and background contrast to the people using the space.
#5. AV Equity
Virtual meeting platforms such as Teams and Zoom have changed how we participate in meetings. Conference rooms and collaboration spaces are evolving to meet this need while hybrid working from home allows us to participate remotely. How do we ensure that all participants can see and be seen, hear and be heard? The concept of AV Equity addresses the spaces, systems, setup, and etiquette needed to level the playing field for all.
Hybrid technology and meeting spaces are here to stay. When you’re in office, remote teams have the right to be seen, heard, and experience the meeting equally. By factoring in space dimensions, lighting, acoustics, technology, and furniture, we can design a more equitable hybrid workplace for all.