The Rise of Office Pods - From Mobile Acoustic Booths to Modular Collaborative Rooms

Office pods have become a staple throughout London and UK offices, offering a solution for privacy and focus in open-plan offices. But where did these innovative room-in-rooms come from?

Early Innovations: Orangebox (2004)

The term "office pod" can be traced back to Orangebox, a leading furniture company in the United Kingdom. In 2004, they introduced the "Area Office Pods" a pioneering example of the concept. This initial model focused on being acoustic, unfixed, portable and a sleek design that could integrate into various office environments. While not strictly designed solely for work, its functionality extended beyond simple meeting spaces.

Evolution of the Office Pod: From Off the Shelf to Bespoke

Orangebox's innovation sparked a revolution in unfixed room-in-room workspace solutions. Other companies began creating their own versions of office pods and booths, catering to diverse needs of the changing workplace. The offerings range from:

Phone Booth: A fully enlcosed acoustic cabin with basic support shelf and stool providing a fundamental level of privacy and focus for calls.
Work Pods: A slightly more spacious cabin for extended periods and focused work and it provides a space to work at a desk height
Office Pods: An un-fixed self-contained acoustic room-in-room that features AV functionality for a TV or Monitor, furniture and power points - essentially providing a truly personalized work environment.
Bespoke Office Pods: Modular system like the Cell Pod Office Pod are modular and fully customisable in size, finish, configuration and features. The Cell Pod system allows for both small meeting pods, split room configurations and large conference rooms.

Conclusion:

Office pods have evolved greatly since their inception. Today, they offer a spectrum of functions, from primary acoustic booths and work pods to feature-rich collaborative meeting pods. This evolution reflects the changing needs of modern workplaces and employees.

Looking for a way to boost privacy, focus, and employee wellbeing in your open office?

Adding Office pods to your office can provide free-standing and multi-functional room-in-room solutions that can be used by small teams to meet and collaborate. These effectively divert small groups of employees using and wasting the larger meeting rooms for bigger teams. Office pods feature soundproofed structures, doors with drop seals and some even have sound-masking technology to prevent users from outside listening in. If you are a business that occupies a leased premises and dont have enough meeting rooms, then office pods are solution to enhance your office without the need for planning permission or building walls.

Here's how office pods can benefit your business:

Enhanced Privacy & Focus: Offer employees dedicated quiet spaces for focused work, confidential calls, and video conferencing.
Improved Wellbeing & Reduced Stress: Create a calmer work environment that reduces noise distractions and promotes better employee well-being.
Increased Productivity: Soundproof pods minimize noise disruptions, allowing employees to concentrate and be more productive.
Easy Installation & Reconfiguration: Freestanding pods require no planning permission, and they eliminate dilapidation costs.
Wide Range of Sizes & Customization Options: From phone booths to large meeting pods, find the perfect solution for your space and team size.
 

We offer a variety of office pod options, including:

Phone Booths: Single-user call space ideal for private calls.
Meeting Pods: Acoustically-treated pods for focused meetings and brainstorming sessions (available in various sizes).
Work Pods: Compact, enclosed workstations for individual work with minimal distractions.
 

Spoilt for choice and unsure what pod to get?

At furnify, our team can help you choose the perfect solution based on your space, needs, and budget.

Contact us today to explore our wide range of office pods and create a more productive and peaceful work environment!