Looking at the evolution of the office ─ from the first dedicated office buildings, built in the early 1700s, to today’s offices, which may be open, mobile, or even home-based ─ a surprising pattern emerges. The vacillation between open office plans and workplaces segmented into many separate, walled-off spaces has been continuous.
Some say the modern cubicle was invented in medieval Rome, to give monks a spot where they could concentrate on their work. This is also where the first dedicated workspaces ─ or offices ─ are said to have appeared. From the 1700s to the 1800s, when business offices first proliferated, large spaces holding numerous individual workspaces, each secluded or semi-secluded from the others, were the norm.
During this time, it was generally agreed that people who did intellectual work performed best when given their own private space, free of distractions. Unfortunately, the execution of this idea, by most companies, was uninspired. Eventually, office buildings started gaining a reputation as institutional and dehumanizing places for employees.
In 1936, a young businessman named H.F. Johnson, Jr., the third-generation leader of the now world-famous SC Johnson Company (formerly SC Johnson Wax) decided he wanted to build an office building that was anything but typical. Though ground for the company’s new corporate headquarters had already been broken, he made the bold decision to toss the existing plans and hire the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design the building.
Johnson, who had just returned from an expedition to Brazil, was known as an adventurer, and hiring Wright was emblematic of his penchant for taking risks in pursuit of big payoffs. The building Wright designed was unlike any office building that had been seen before. It was spacious, open, and filled with natural light. Its ceilings were held up by “dendriform” (tree-shaped) columns that many worried was unsafe (it turned out they weren’t).
Wright’s vision was expressed in every detail of the office, from the warm shade of reddish-brown he chose for both the walls (both inside and outside) to the modern modular furniture he designed expressly for it. The SC Johnson Administration Building, as it was and still is called, is widely considered to have been the first open-plan office building, and it started a trend away from drab, impersonal offices that continue to this day.
Though Wright is credited with designing the first open-plan offices, his buildings still embodied a hierarchical approach to workplace layout. While sales staff was placed in the large open spaces, higher-level executives enjoyed their own private offices. A more “democratic” style of design did not emerge until the 1950s, with the Burolandschaft (“office landscape”) concept pioneered in Germany.
The philosophy behind the approach was to attend better to the needs of the human beings doing the work, to be less rigid and more “organic,” to encourage socializing among workers rather than just productivity and efficiency. Signature elements of Burolandschaft included loose groupings of workers doing similar jobs in pleasant environments, often including plants.
Areas housing creative workers were often less structured than areas where bureaucrats and managers sat, but the overall design was less hierarchical and more egalitarian. The free-flowing Burolandschaft office eventually evolved into the “Action Office,” which became the “cubical farm” office so emblematic of the 1980s.
Today’s open-plan offices, made popular by Google’s 2005 renovation of its headquarters to include less structure and more room for play, designed to spark creativity and collaboration as well as nurture employees’ humanity, are reminiscent of the Burolandschaft offices of the 1950s. Designed to facilitate face-to-face interaction among employees, these types of workspaces also save companies money on office space and construction.
But there is a reason Burolandschaft offices turned into action offices and then cubicle farms. A lot of research and anecdotal evidence on today’s open-plan office suggests the design may not be the most conducive to productivity. One reason is the prevalence of distractions and the lack of privacy. It’s a fact of office life that workers sometimes need private space – to focus or attend to personal business. It’s also a fact that, when they don’t have it, productivity suffers.
One reason for this is that, without privacy, workers find it difficult to express themselves candidly. This may lead to a decline in creativity and collaboration. Interestingly, it also leads employees to turn away from face-to-face interactions, opting to use email or other indirect, and potentially more time-consuming means like instant messaging to communicate with coworkers.
A well known Harvard Business School study found a shocking 70% decrease in face-to-face interactions and a 20% to 50% increase in email and IM interactions when office design was open plan. Less surprisingly, perhaps, studies have also documented a decline in job satisfaction among workers in open-plan offices.
As employers with open plan offices began to discover the drawbacks associated with a workforce deprived of privacy, they started looking for solutions. One that emerged was erecting “privacy pods” within open offices – places where workers could go when they needed a break from ambient noise so they could concentrate, or a soundproof place where they could have a private conversation.
The only problem was, these “pods” were expensive. Constructing a space within a space brings significant material, labor, and sometimes legal or other administrative costs – putting it out of reach for struggling start-ups or any business on a tight budget, not to mention those in rental situations where such construction isn’t allowed.
Enter the office phone booth. Office phone booths are ready-made, small, enclosed, often soundproof, spaces in the workplace where employees can go to make private phone calls. Thanks to a rapidly growing flock of innovative companies, they are available for a small fraction of what it would cost to build a booth yourself – in many cases, less than $4,000.
You can order one on the internet today and have it shipped to you tomorrow. From these same companies, you can also buy larger ready-made “pods” – sized for two, four, or even more people. There is a wide range of colors and styles, making shopping for your office phone booth as much fun as shopping for a new outfit (if you enjoy that sort of thing).
Like the open-plan office, the office phone booth isn’t new. However, because of the demand generated by the new popularity of open office concepts, it has evolved and proliferated. Today, an abundance of providers compete to provide the best office phone booths, and, as a result, the variety of available styles and features continuously increases.
These providers continuously expand their offerings to include additional portable rooms or pods that can be added to an open plan office without the hassle or expense of construction, and with the added benefit of modularity and flexibility. This is great news for anyone looking to install an office phone booth – because it means you have plenty of choices. To help you choose, let’s look at the top companies making office phone booths today, and the best options they offer.
[toc]ROOM
A global provider of soundproof office phone booths and meeting pods, ROOM has more than 3,000 clients, including top names like Google, Apple, Salesforce, Walmart, and NASA. ROOM’s products include phone booths, focus rooms, and meeting rooms (open and closed). Designed for single occupancy, the ROOM phone booth features:
- 1.6″ sound insulation made from recycled materials
- Built-in desk
- Magnetic board
- LED light
- Two ultra-quiet fans
- Smart motion-sensor controlling fans and light, for maximum energy efficiency
- Two power outlets
- Ethernet port
- Optional add-on ethernet port
- 100-day risk-free trial
- Pricing starting at $3,895
Getawayer
This proudly Canadian provider of portable, soundproof office phone booths micro-offices, and meeting pods emphasizes its products’ versatility and variety of uses. Its website calls them “distraction-free spaces for work, relaxation and self-development” and “a simple solution for open space offices, residences, and public areas.” Getawayer‘s “Coquitlam” phone booth features include:
- Compact desk
- Locking door
- Four wheels
- Adjustable legs
- Powerful but quiet electric fan
- LED lighting
- 110-V power socket
- USB charging slot
- LAN network port
- Soundproof design
- On-site assembly
- Variety of available colors
- Rounded corner design
- External dimensions: 41.3″ x 41.3″ x 88.6″
- Internal dimensions: 38.6″ x 35.4″ x 80.7″
- Pricing available upon request via Getawayer’s website
Wallenium
Wallenium‘s Silen Spaces line of soundproof acoustic pods, including the “Space 1” phone booth, is just one of the company’s product offerings. The company also has acoustic soundproof glass partition walls and solid or glass movable walls. Wallenium’s website will appeal to designers, or anyone interested in an office phone booth that not only does the job but looks good doing it.
Touting an “open office look with a closed-door feel,” the site shows the modules in various colors and configurations, within modern, tastefully decorated, color-coordinated spaces. It also offers a digital showroom and detailed information including technical specifications, AutoCAD models, and Revit models. Features of Wallenium’s Space 1 phone booth include:
- Table with magnetic surface
- Revolving barstool
- Casters for easy relocation
- Adjustable legs for stability and leveling
- Left or right-door
- Automated air circulation system
- LED lighting with motion sensor
- 110-V electrical outlet
- USB and USB-C ports
- Acoustic panels on walls and ceiling
- Acoustic, laminated sound-control glass with an STC rating of 40
- On-site installation
- Wide range of available colors (for an additional fee)
- Rounded corner design
- Exterior dimensions: 43″ x 43″ x 90″
- Interior dimensions: 40″ x 35″ x 81″
Framery
Founded in 2010 by two employees who’d had it up to here with the noise and distractions of their open-plan office, Framery says its focus is happiness. As pioneers in the office pod space, they discovered that removing noise from the work environment made employees happier and that happier employee was more productive. Framery’s website cites statistics like “a happy person is 12% more productive (University of Warwick)” and “Happy salespeople produce 37% more sales (Growth engineering).”
They went on to expand their line of pods, and to build a company culture focused on happiness. Their happiness formula seems to be working, as their client list includes heavy hitters like Microsoft, Tesla, McDonald’s, and L’Oreal, and their phone booth, the Framery O, is the world’s best-selling office pod. Office furniture icon Herman Miller partners with Framery to offer the Framery O to its customers.
Framery O highlights:
- Table
- Adjustable stool
- Customizable – Elements under the “Design Your Own” heading include:
- Frame color (12 colors available)
- Exterior color (14 available colors)
- Door – left or right
- Backrest
- Table – turntable, full width or oval
- Wireless charger (yes/no)
- LAN (yes/no)
- Screen bracket (yes/no)
- Booking system ready (yes/no)
- Available tilting screen bracket and the surrounding LED lighting, to optimize the space for video conferencing
- Rounded corner design
- Exterior dimensions: 40″ x 40″ x 87″
- Interior dimensions: 37.4″ x 31.5″ x 78″
- Pricing is available upon request on Framery’s website
Pillar
Pillar is a relatively new company that focuses exclusively on office phone booths. Founded in 2018 by a guy who’d worked in co-working spaces all over the world, Pillar believes, “You don’t have to be first, you just have to be better.” On Pillar’s website, under “Differentiators,” they compare their product to those of leading providers ROOM and Zenbooth on frame material, door thickness, removable acoustic panels, and stain-resistant fabrics, and list the following additional differentiators:
- Customizable interior colors and exterior finish
- Inside panels that can be removed, changed, and cleaned
- Twice the ventilation of any other booth on the market (4 fans)
- Height-adjustable desk
- Fast, easy assembly
Key Pillar booth features include:
- 2.75″ acoustic insulated walls, made of 12 insulated panels wrapped in acoustic fabric, steel and wood
- Acrylic door with magnetic door seal – to keep sound from escaping
- LED lighting
- USB ports
- Electrical outlets
- Made of premium materials, including steel and eco-friendly wood
- Ships flat in 4 boxes
- Can be assembled in less than 30 minutes using an Allen wrench
- Pricing starting at $5,295
Loop
Loop makes a couple of different office phone booths, the Loop Solo and Loop Flex, as well as the Loop Cube, a soundproof pod that seats four people, and desktop dividers and brackets. The company also just introduced a COVID-19 rapid screening booth. Loop prides itself on offering “unexpected” designs, which are created by Canadian industrial design studio Onetwosix. The company’s clients include Pokemon, Shopify, and L’Occitane en Provence.
Loop Solo
Loop Solo phone booth features include:
- Built-in desk
- Ergonomic bench seat
- Optional tempered glass whiteboard
- LED light
- Customizable outlets
- Optional network and USB ports
- Positive pressure two-fan circulation system
- Occupancy sensor
- 10 mm clear tempered glass (optional frosted glass)
- True hardwood exterior
- Durable laminate interior
- Cork, felt, or glass back panel
- Customizable finishes
- Round cornered, asymmetrical designs
- Modern aesthetic with its unique form and brightly colored interior
- Shipped in one piece, no assembly required
- Dimensions: 47.5″x 29.5 x 80.5″
- 550 lbs.
- Pricing: Request a quote on Loop’s website
Loop Flex
Like the Loop Solo, the Loop Flex is an acoustic pod designed for one person. The difference is it is “soft-shelled.” Unlike the Solo’s hardwood exterior, the Flex’s casing is made of PET felt panels. This material keeps sound from entering the booth and also absorbs ambient office noise, making the office a quieter place for everyone.
- Integrated, standing height desk
- Low transition floor
- Two integrated power and USB ports
- LED lighting
- Positive pressure two fan ventilation system
- Occupancy Sensor
- 10 mm clear tempered glass (optional frosted glass)
- Pressed PET felt panels
- Perforated powder coated-acoustic back panel and components
- Hook for hanging personal items
- Shipped flat
- Easy assembly in under one hour by customer or installer
- Dimensions: 39″ x 37.5″ x 86″
- 400 lbs.
- Pricing: Request a quote on Loop’s website
Zenbooth
Zenbooth offers an office phone booth, the Zenbooth Solo, as well as two- and four-person meeting pods. Zenbooth’s long list of clients includes Uber, Dropbox, ZipRecruiter, Shopify, and Pandora. Zenbooth Solo’s features include:
- Powered height-adjustable desk with a 26-inch range of settings
- User-friendly door handle & low 1/2″ threshold allows users to effortlessly enter & exit the booth
- Integrated dimmable LED lighting and full skylight ceiling
- UL-listed electrical interface allows you to stay plugged in and charge your devices while you work, including:
- Three 15A 110v electrical outlets
- Two fast-charging USB outlets
- Open port for data and telephone cables
- Occupancy sensor powering ventilation & lighting
- High-powered & breezy ventilation system constantly keeps you cool and feeling fresh while you work; activated by the occupancy sensor
- Optimized acoustic experience ─ layers of recycled denim insulation and acoustic felt panels to dampen sound
- ADA-compliant
- Two-color options: Maple Exterior/Maple Interior, and White Exterior/Maple Interior
- Lightweight
- Easy assembly and disassembly
- Free shipping on all orders and free returns on your first two Zenbooth Solos
- Pricing starts at $3,795
Urban Office
For the sheer quantity of options, Urban Office is hard to beat. The company offers a spectacular array of acoustic office pods, booths, and screens, including six different phone booths. In addition to the popular Framery O, Urban Office sells the Boston booth, the Hush Phone Box, the Domo hood, the Penelope booth, and the Teepee booth.
Boston booth
- Uniquely spacious and floor-less (integrates seamlessly with the existing floor)
- Ultra-thin frame made of high-quality materials
- Acoustically treated panels
- Reduces sound up to 34 decibels
- Highly customizable, with oak veneer, whiteboard, and fabric
- Comes in a “mini” version
- Can be fitted with an extension box for additional space and a different look
- Can be disassembled, moved, and reassembled
Hush Phone Box
- Drop-down laptop/tablet shelf
- USB charging and RJ45 data ports
- Side shelf
- PIR (motion) sensor-activated lighting and air circulation
- Optional hocker stool
- Rounded corner design
- Easily moveable, with small hidden casters and leveling feet
- Dimensions: 39.5″ x 35.5″ x 87″
Domo hood
Unlike the other phone booths on this list, the Domo hood is not a fully enclosed pod. Rather, it’s an enclosure with three walls and a ceiling, which can be hung on a wall. It is ideal for occasional, quick calls, and is often placed in an easy-to-access area like a hallway, a lobby, or outside a meeting room.
Made of acoustic foam upholstered with wool, it is designed to absorb sound, providing a degree of privacy. The hood is available in various colors, can be left- or right-handed, and is equipped with a small shelf.
Penelope booth
- Cost-effective “mini” pod
- Made of timber and upholstery
- Carpeted
- PIR (motion) sensor-activated lighting
- Intended for placement away from workspaces
Teepee phone booth
- Available in four different models, and in variations of each model
- Highly customizable – screen printing, phone tables, and various lighting options available
- Reduces sound by 34 decibels
- PIR (motion) sensor-activated lighting
Busypod
Specializing in sound insulation and acoustics, Busypod offers an office phone booth, known simply enough as the “Busypod.” They also make office pods in medium, large and extra-large sizes. The Busypod is simple and stylish, and comes with a comprehensive array of features:
- Ergonomic and customized table
- Floor-mounted, height-adjustable stool
- Three LED ceiling lights
- “Busy” warning light
- Ventilation fans
- Power module (Power socket, USB, the data line, and wireless charger)
- Sound control laminated glass
- Acoustic felt side panels
- Shiftable carpeted floor
- Hidden casters for relocating
- Fire warning and sprinkler system
- Unlimited color options for exterior surfaces
- Five color/natural wood finish options for door frame and table
- Six available upholstery colors
- Five felt colors
- Easy installation – 15 minutes, a screwdriver, and two inexperienced people are all it takes
YOURspace
YOURspace touts its pods as the most customizable on the market. YOURspace offers office pods in 11 standard sizes and will build one for you in any size you choose. In addition, after you’ve purchased and installed your pod if you decide you want to change it up (for example, make it bigger or smaller, add a shelf, change the color of the exterior, or switch your current desk for a different one), you can. This is because, not only are their pods modular, the pieces used to make them are too.
YOURspace offers two lines of pods: theFLEX and theHUB. Both are 100% customizable. The difference between the two is that theFLEX is collapsible, making it ideal for temporary use and frequent moving around, while theHUB is designed to stay in one place for a while. There is also significant variation in their prices. Pricing for theFLEX starts at $3,495, and pricing for theHUB starts at $6,495.
Features of both theFLEX and theHUB include:
- Ceilings made of lightweight PVC foam
- White Dimmable LED light
- Lightweight aluminum walls containing power inlet, power outlets, exhaust fan, and ethernet ports
- ADA-compliant
- Easy set-up
- 5 available metal colors
- 16 available finishes for walls and doors
- 8 available finishes for desktops and shelves
- Lightweight aluminum door with anodized aluminum hinge/stop and brushed aluminum lockable handle
