This or That on Break Rooms – Collaboration or Privacy?

Are break rooms breaking away from the norm? Sure, OstermanCron knows that in balanced office designs there’s a mix of both privacy and collaboration. Office cubicles and refuge spaces give workers an outlet of privacy and concentration and also help increase productivity for the whole office. Contrarily, many modular furniture options naturally foster impromptu meetings and trigger idea bouncing with one another. However, what about an employee’s favorite spot in the office: the break room?

Reported by the LA Times, break rooms are becoming less about solitary coffee making and taking a turn towards collaboration. Law firm Morrison & Foerester recently made an office move to a larger space in downtown LA. One main focus during their office relocation was to create a specific space where work and play could go hand and they achieved this in their break room.

The design of the Morrison & Forerester breakroom looks much like a kitchen and lunchroom separated with a library area. The room’s work and play atmosphere quickly earned it the name the “Loungebrary” among the firm’s employees. The Loungebrary’s office furniture design, mix of kitchen fixtures, comfortable office furniture, and big screen TV gives the employees a casual place to hang out, share ideas, and collaborate away from their desks.

“People bring lunch in more often because it is more inviting,” said an Morrison & Forerester employee about the new break room. “…or they can leave their office desk and get work done in a more comfortable setting.”

As companies are always making office moves and looking for ways to rejuvenate teamwork in their company culture, we think collaborative breakrooms are a great idea. If you need a spark for some great break room ideas, here are a few of OstermanCron’s top picks.