Conclusion
By analysing a large POE database from CBE, this study identified
that survey responses on various IEQ issues differ between different
office layouts (classified as enclosed private, enclosed shared, cubicles
with high partitions, cubicles with low partitions, and open
office with no/limited partitions). In general, satisfaction level with
workspace environment was the highest for those in enclosed
private offices. Significant discrepancy existed between occupant
groups in private office and open-plan office on their perception of
privacy, acoustics and proxemics. Distraction by noise and loss of
privacy were identified as the major causes of workspace dissatisfaction
in open-plan office layouts. Multiple regression analysis
indicated that relative importance of different IEQ factors affecting
occupants’ overall assessment of their work environment was
different for occupants of different office layouts. While the amount
of individual space available was identified as the most important
predictor of overall workspace satisfaction across all five office
layouts, some other IEQ factors also showed noticeable differences
in their implicit importance. ‘Visual privacy’ and ‘noise level’
received higher priorities by open-plan office occupants, whereas
‘amount of light’, ‘ease of interaction’ and ‘comfort of furnishing’
were more important to private office occupants. Finally, our results
categorically contradict the industry-accepted wisdom that
open-plan layout enhances communication between colleagues
and improves occupants’ overall work environmental satisfaction.
This study showed that occupants’ satisfaction on the interaction
issue was actually higher for occupants of private offices with very
low dissatisfaction rate (APD < 5%). Moreover, the increment of
overall workspace satisfaction due to the positive impact of ease of
interaction in open-plan office layouts failed to offset the decrements
by negative impacts of noise and privacy. This implies that
even though occupants are satisfied with interactions in open-plan
layout, their overall workspace satisfaction will eventually
decreased unless a certain level of privacy and acoustical quality are
provided.