What Are Office Pods? Benefits, Uses And Top Design Tips

By their very nature, offices are busy places. While high activity in an office may signal productivity in one sense, all of the bustle can be challenging when there’s a need to concentrate or hold important discussions. 

If a noisy environment is something that you can relate to within your office building, then an office pod could offer you the perfect solution. 

At ACI, office pods are one of the many features we can incorporate as part of our office design services. 

In this post, we’ll cover what office pods are and how they can improve your office environment in an instant. 

Office pods come in many shapes and sizes. But what all office pods provide is a secluded space for you to be able to do quiet work or focus without the background noise created by the likes of loud conversations, tapping keyboards, footsteps in the corridor and anything else that happens to creates a distraction. 

Similarly, office pods can be used to hold meetings and other private discussions, including phone calls. This then works to keep any noise away from the other areas of the office.

Using a pod to gain some quiet within the office can solve challenge of not having a formal room that’s separate from the office. However, it can also add convenience since the pod is found within the office itself. 

The beauty of office pods is that they can be selected to meet the exact needs of your team. Whether the pod needs to support individual or group work, they come in endless sizes, shapes and formats. 

Examples of the office pods we can install in your UK office include:

Whichever pod is right for your office, they can come kitted out with soundproofing, ventilation, lighting, power outlets and ergonomic furniture.

Depending on the nature of your work, each of these elements can also be enhanced or customised. 

As someone who owns or manages an office, the one thing you need to know about office pods is that they are more than just a design statement. Instead, they serve a valuable purpose in offices and for multiple reasons. 

Based on the office design projects we’ve worked on so far, these are our top office pod benefits: 

Could your UK office benefit from any of the above office pod advantages?

Our designers can help your business combat any environmental office challenges such as noise or distractions which are preventing your people from reaching their best. 

In addition to office pods, we can also suggest additional solutions to ensure your team have everything they need to succeed within the built environment. 

At ACI, our office designers help businesses with all aspects of their office design. This could range from helping to improve the layout to preparing the office for expansion.

When it comes to office pods, there’s a little more to them than just plopping them in a spare corner of the office!

Instead, our office team thinks broadly and holistically to ensure the best office pod selection and installation techniques are reached. 

As you might expect, reaching the potential of your design requires us to think about your office in terms of the building, but also the needs of your individual team. This calls for a solid office design brief, which we’ll take care of at the start of your project. 

The design considerations we’ll make in terms of office pods may include the following: 

Office pod size – The size office pod that would best suit your needs and also fit in the available space. The size takes into account the number of seats as well as the size of any tables. The key is to match the pod size to its purpose. For instance, a phone booth requires less space than a meeting pod designed for four to six people.

Acoustics – For office pods to give you a room within a room, they need to offer adequate soundproofing to reduce noise from travelling out as well as in. Well-built office pods should feature acoustic panels, insulated glass and sound-absorbing materials to minimise noise leakage.

Ergonomics – Like all areas of your office, ergonomic furniture is a must as it directly impacts health and productivity. Office pods can be kitted out with comfortable seating and adjustable desks. Larger pods also provide the most sufficient space to move around or adjust posture as needed. 

Ventilation – Even if an office pod offers seclusion, it will still require good airflow to meet the health and wellbeing needs of your employees. We choose office pods that offer our customers built-in ventilation or air circulation systems.

Lighting – LED lighting or adjustable brightness settings works to reduce eye strain and improves comfort during long work sessions. For any employees which experience headaches or fatigue when working at a computer, adjustable settings are especially appreciated. 

Aligning with your office aesthetics – When choosing an office pod, its colours and materials should seek to elevate your office. Our designers recommend selecting colours, finishes and materials that will blend seamlessly with your brand identity and wider office design.

Technology integration – Support the modern work needs of your team by selecting an office pod that will offer things such as power outlets, USB ports, wireless charging and strong Wi-Fi connectivity. 

Accessibility friendly – As with the rest of your office, any office pods also need to be accessible. They should be easy to enter, use and navigate for all employees, including those with mobility needs or other accessibility challenges.

If you are looking to solve any acoustic challenges within your office with an office pod, then the ACI team can help. 

We specialise in office redesigns and fitouts, meaning we can take care of the entire process on your behalf. Crucially, we can advise on the features and installation ideas which will set your team up for success. 

ACI is based in Nottingham and we’re enlisted to design and refurbish offices across the UK. 

Let us know how we can help by giving us a call on 0115 697 1943 or by sending us a message.