All that togetherness can cause problems, though, with cries for quiet piercing the office buzz. Putting people too close together without places they can go to concentrate can backfire. That’s why smart companies are using some of the real estate they save to design other types of spaces, such as community zones, gathering areas, quiet rooms, and phone booths, so people have choice and variety in where they work. These companies are cutting real estate costs while giving employees a better workplace. It becomes a matter of making real estate work harder, so it costs less and it gives people an appealing, inspiring place where they can to do their best work.

“How can the workplace evolve to respond to the contemporary realities of work culture?” challenges Allison Arieff, author of the Times piece. “I’d argue that the focus should be less on floor plans and more on ways of working.”

We agree, and advocate for choice, creativity, and variety in workspaces to best support the people and the work being done in them. But we also recognize that culture differs from organization to organization and one formula will not work across the board.

There are no easy answers, but the fact that people are talking about it is encouraging.