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As companies look to boost employee engagement, they’re revamping the workplace to bring more communal spaces into the mix for creative collaboration and social connection.
These rooms include thoughtfully designed lounges, lobbies and other ancillary spaces. Though the rule in ancillary space design is ‘anything goes,’ a common feature is the central occasional table.
The occasional table, side table or coffee table, whether presented as a solo piece or configured as a pair or trio of tables, provides a focal point—a hub that workers can gather around for dialogue and discussion.
The occasional table’s key benefit is functional—it’s a place to set a notebook or, a cup of coffee. But there may be a psychological benefit as well; as a tangible object, the occasional table serves as a social buffer, helping people feel more secure and less exposed.
Central to this corporate lobby is the Circa Table, available in maple or walnut veneer.
We’ve talked before about the trend to make the workplace feel more like home. According to James Ludwig, Steelcase’s vice president of global design, this trend is part of an anti-corporate backlash.
“The term ‘corporate’ implies that a space has been created for the benefit of the organization, not the person,” Ludwig said. “The design challenge is to meet business needs while we’re serving the needs of human beings.”
Ancillary spaces with lounge seating and occasional tables are a great way to take workers out of the corporate mindset and meet their needs for comfort, collaboration and informal interaction.
Two nested CH008 Coffee Tables by Hans J. Wegner create a residential vibe when combined with the Millbrae Lifestyle Three-Seat Lounge.
The occasional table also serves as an ideal vehicle for expressing personality, communicating a brand or making a statement. Imagine specifying a CG_1 Table with a base painted in your client’s corporate color, using the Coalesse Color program.
This CG_1 occasional table with a painted dark bronze color creates a custom look in an office lounge.
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