The huddle room - where to assemble, create, brainstorm and innovate

Prior to the pandemic, employees mostly used the company huddle room(s) to seek privacy, silence and calmness to concentrate on work tasks.

But after the covid changes and the manifestation of the new hybrid workflows, the company's small, intimate meeting place has returned to its original purpose: To the space and the frame, where you can spontaneously sit down and brainstorm with colleagues.

"Huddle rooms are not a new invention, but have retained their relevance because many meetings often involve only a few employees. A huddle room is for short but often spontaneous and active meetings.

Usually it won´t be necessary to book or reserve the huddle rooms of your company. They need to be open and invite impulsive use among employees all day long," according to Allyson Strowbridge, founder of design and interior design firm Ctrl+Shift+Space.  

Feel-good frame

A huddle room defines a small private meeting room designed for informal and/or spontaneous meetings for 2-3 up to 6 people and typically equipped with a screen and audio-visual equipment so your gatherings can also embrace remote participants.

"It is not required to equip a huddle room with a lot of fancy technologies if it primarily targets for small meetings. You should equip your room or rooms based on the specific needs," Allyson Strowbridge emphasizes.

Usually it is not necessary to book or reserve the huddle rooms of your company - they need to be open and invite impulsive use among employees all day long.                                                                                                                            Photos: iStock

The conversation room's intimate format and informal atmosphere make it ideal for brainstorming, team discussions, quick status updates, etc.

First and last, the huddle room should offer a pleasant atmosphere and feel-good setting for workday's spontaneous, short meetings or quick knowledge-sharing sessions and breaks among team colleagues.

Design and gamechanger

Studies show that up to 75-80% of all meetings in modern office companies today have just 2 to 4 participants. That is why the building's large meeting rooms or conference rooms are often more than half empty.

After the pandemic, the global office environment in the spread of hybrid work patterns has developed in the direction of extended flexibility, increased innovation and intensified collaboration.

First and last, the huddle rooms should offer a pleasant atmosphere and feel-good setting for workday's spontaneous, short meetings or knowledge-sharing sessions and breaks among team colleagues.

At the same rate and time frame, the huddle room has developed into a significant game changer in modern office design with its very own mindset for accessibility, focus, atmosphere and team spirit.

Thus, many companies today put honor and prestige into setting up fancy, spectacular huddle facilities that stand out in the office environment and appeal to conversation, cohesion and collaboration.

Invite and inspire

There are no specific guidelines for a functional huddle room other than that in design, form and expression overall and, in every respect, it must invite and inspire quick and spontaneous joint communication.

Usually, the rooms are equipped with a large screen, whiteboard, technology for video conferences, screen sharing and other remote communication combined with comfortable seating arrangements that can promote and facilitate a relaxed and informal atmosphere during dialogues and discussions.

Today, many companies place honour and prestige on setting up spectacular and fancy huddle facilities, which stand out in the offices and appeal to conversation, cohesion and collaboration.                                            Photo: Splunk, San Francisco

"When the company has to create a huddle room, it is crucial to design it flexibly and adaptable: Movable furniture and partitions, if necessary, as well as the technical equipment to facilitate collaboration and communication.

Overall, the space should appear as a most inviting supplement to the surrounding office environment by focusing on and optimizing collaboration, bringing the company's teams together on ideas, problems and decisions," the Australian office developer Mel Pikos points out.  ●
 

Read more:
Blog.rampart.ca: How to design a huddle room
Blog.cort.com/workplace: How huddle rooms are different
Officespacesoftware.com: What is it and how can you build one that works?
Mediascape.ltd.uk: Everything you need to know about huddle rooms in your workspace