Open Workspaces: Efficient on Paper, Costly in Practice

Open-plan offices have dominated commercial design for years, promising flexibility, collaboration, and cost efficiency. On paper, they seem like the perfect evolution from the era of closed-off cubicles.

But there’s a tradeoff most organizations don’t see.

New research suggests open-plan environments may be quietly killing focus and productivity, costing far more than just floor space.

So, what’s actually happening inside the brain in an open office?