The open office was created on the foundation that by reducing barriers and physically bringing people closer together, the free flow of communication and collaboration would be improved. Despite noble intentions, the goal of maximizing collaboration has come at the cost of individual privacy. These open office spaces fail to provide occupants with a sense of home and security. Occupants are surrounded by prying eyes, auditory disruption, and visual distractions. This problem has been compounded by a drive to increase workstation density. More people have been packed into smaller workspaces leading to an ever-dwindling sense of place for the individual.

These challenges have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Giving employees more space is no longer just a way to improve morale and satisfaction; it is a matter of life and death. It is also only part of the equation. A traditional open-office plan with fifty percent of the desks unoccupied may address the distancing requirements, but it will do nothing to solve the underlying issues of privacy and distractions in the office. Maximizing privacy cannot be the only target; at the same time privacy needs ebb and flow as work requirements change. The workstation must be adaptable to these shifting requirements. For employees to accept the added risk of coming into the office, it must become the best place to do all varieties of work.

To keep up with the constantly shifting requirements of today’s world, workstations must have the flexibility to adapt to any number of challenges. Whether it’s the near-term threat of COVID-19 or the future breakthrough technology that changes how everyone works, companies must be ready to adjust. The adaptability of Edison allows for just that.

Beyond its ability to provide power, voice, and data to every user along its path, Edison also provides the platform upon which the balance of privacy and collaboration within the office are defined. Each segment of Edison is connected via a patented pivoting connector that allows for a continuous 180 degrees of angle adjustment between segments. This allows for an infinite array of layout possibilities without the need to add or remove any components. The top of the rail has a continuous mounting slot to allow for a wide range of different accessories. Fabric screens, planters, shelves, tables, whiteboards, lights, coat hooks. All these different elements can mount anywhere along the rail in a non-prescriptive manner to create a landscape that balances the needs of each user.

This flexibility creates the opportunity to think beyond the traditional layout measurements of square feet per person and square feet per seat. By addressing the characteristics that satisfy our deep-rooted needs as humans, Edison can make the office both a safe and rewarding place to be.