What should you do when your team keeps growing but your office can’t? Meeting rooms are maxed out. Privacy is scarce. The usual “expand the office” answer isn’t on the table. For this project, we had to rethink how the existing workspace could stretch to meet a big team’s needs.
The Brief
When every meeting room is taken and private calls are happening in corridors, it’s a problem that hits productivity quickly. If you work in a busy office, we’re sure you’re all too familiar with this situation. In this case, the issue went deeper. Meeting rooms designed for 6-8 people were being used for one-to-ones and private calls, leaving larger groups with nowhere to meet. The imbalance meant constant booking clashes, interruptions and a general sense of space running out.
The office layout was already running at capacity, with no option to expand or take on additional floor space. A traditional refit or renovation wasn’t an option from both a cost and disruption standpoint. What they needed, then, was a solution to create more private and focused spaces within the footprint they already had.
As the team grew, we recognised that their space needs would evolve too, so we took a phased approach. Each installation was planned to meet immediate demand while allowing for future adaptability. With limited internal space available, every addition required thoughtful design integration to ensure it complemented the existing workplace and maximised every square inch.
The Solution
Enter the meeting pod. These acoustic booths have been making waves in commercial design for a few years now, and it’s not just hype. Pods solve a problem that many growing teams face: the need for privacy, focus and flexibility whilst at work.
For this project, we took a staged approach. As the team grew and new pressure points appeared, we added pods as an acoustic office solution in phases. Each installation became a flexible extension of the workplace, rather than a one-off installation that might be obsolete in a year. This gave directors and decision-makers confidence that each installation is an investment in productivity, employee satisfaction and workplace culture.
The Meeting Booths
First to be fitted to the workplace was a set of external meeting pods. The purpose was to create dedicated meeting rooms within a fixed footprint. Each booth comfortably fits several people to provide a private space for team discussions, client calls and hybrid meetings.
Positioning these booths externally was a strategic move. It allowed the team to reclaim valuable internal floor space and utilised the area outside of the office to become an extension of the workplace.
With integrated screens and cameras, the booths are fully equipped for modern collaboration. They allow the team to connect easily without background noise or interruptions.
The Single Phone Booth
Next up, we installed a single-person phone booth internally within the office. This is a quiet and private space to house calls or focused work. Soft fabric panels line the interior, absorbing sound and reducing distractions from the surrounding office. A glass front allows colleagues to see when the booth is occupied to minimise disruptions. Integrated lighting and ventilation ensure this space is comfortable for longer use. It was a small investment that had an outsized impact on productivity.
The most recent update was two external single-person acoustic office pods. With a larger team, these added two more opportunities for focused or private work without the cost of expanding office space. In these external pods, a wooden slat backdrop provides a visually appealing and professional environment – especially for those all-important Zoom calls.
These soundproof pods are plug-and-play, designed to fit easily within the existing office layout without structural work or downtime. They’re installed quickly and ready to use almost immediately, minimising disruption to day-to-day operations while instantly expanding the workplace’s functionality. Plus, each pod is easily bookable through a digital scheduling system, ensuring seamless use and reducing time wasted searching for a quiet spot.
These simple upgrades helped the business manage space more efficiently, improved team flow and gave employees better control over how and where they do their best work. Small fit out changes that make a measurable difference to performance and wellbeing.
Looking to improve your team’s focus without expanding your office footprint? Let’s talk about how meeting pods can transform your workplace.
Services Provided
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Create focus zones within your office without the expense of expanding. Get in touch to find out how we can help maximise your office footprint.
