More companies are embracing activity-based workplaces

Who’s in the market: JLL Canberra is among organisations embracing activity-based workplaces.

“Touchdown zones”, “hush rooms” and “town halls” are integral features of the JLL workspace in Marcus Clarke Street and they are likely to become elements of many more Canberra offices as the concept of “activity based workplaces” is embraced.

JLL managing director Andrew Balzanelli says ABW, embraced as WorkSmart by the commercial office leader, is foremost about people and building a community of colleagues.

“It’s a belief that the best people will grow a business and part of achieving that is in giving them more choice and autonomy about the way they work,” he says.

“It’s a casualisation of the workplace that promotes greater productivity and results by recognising that people have different ways of working.”

Balzanelli says JLL moved into its current address at the end of 2011 and WorkSmart was introduced then.

“It’s difficult to retrofit it into an existing workplace; you give yourself a much greater chance of success by starting with a blank canvas,” he says.

The JLL 1411-square-metre office has more than 130 “work points” – desks with battery packs and phones. Team members grab a desk, connect their laptops and start to work.

Nobody has a designated desk of their own, not even Balzanelli.

“I do the same as everybody else and make sure I leave a clean desk when I’m finished,” he says.

The office also features a number of “hush rooms”, smaller spaces where up to three people can work on a report or a project. There also “focus” spaces in quieter areas, and designated for things like report reading.

There are also lounges scattered throughout the space for informal meetings.

A popular hub for the JLL community is the “town hall”, essentially the kitchen and chill-out area where colleagues can take a break over a coffee or lunch.

“The workplace of the late ’70s where you had to be seen as an endorsement that you were working is long gone,” Balzanelli says.

“These days the workplace is about fostering a sense of community while acknowledging that people can achieve their work goals in more productive environments.”

Balzanelli says ABW is gathering momentum in Canberra with service provider-type companies showing a level of interest as it becomes time to relocate to a new building.

“It’s a cultural change; not just fitting in more work points – it’s about ensuring your team can excel in a collaborative, innovative working environment,” he says.