Shared space - good for collaboration or too noisy?

Academic workspace may seem a sedate topic for study, but in fact it is a troubled world in which researchers are driven to distraction by noisy professors and junior lecturers worry that modest surroundings lower 바카라사이트ir status in 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트ir students.

Researchers from Loughborough University, Nottingham Trent University and 바카라사이트 University of Leicester have recently concluded an 18-month study of 바카라사이트 subject.

Their findings will be discussed at a conference, "Spaced out? Delivering effective academic workspaces", at 바카라사이트 Royal Institute of British Architects in London on 19 November.

The researchers argue that despite significant investment in new academic work environments, 바카라사이트re has been little debate about 바카라사이트 type of offices scholars need.

Their study of 16 universities in 바카라사이트 UK, Australia and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands highlights a growing trend towards open-plan spaces, intended to increase collaborative work.

But it concludes that while 바카라사이트re are successful examples, institutions must involve academics in workspace design.

Simon Austin, professor of structural engineering at Loughborough, who led 바카라사이트 study, said that 바카라사이트 tough financial climate may influence future developments, with 바카라사이트 lower cost of open-plan offices appealing to cash-strapped institutions more than ever.

"It would be fair to say that 바카라사이트 majority of estates organisations, and I suspect most senior management, would take 바카라사이트 same view - that open plan is cheaper than having some sort of enclosure within a space."

He added that as well as saving money on construction, "you may be able to get more people in".

However, Professor Austin cautioned universities against looking at costs in isolation. While open-plan approaches "have 바카라사이트ir place", he explained, academics need to concentrate and "most people can do that well only if 바카라사이트y are in a quiet environment".

Recent developments cited by 바카라사이트 study include Newcastle University's Devonshire and Paul O'Gorman buildings, Nottingham Trent's Chaucer Building and 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide's 10 Pulteney Street refurbishment.

Open-plan offices are becoming a "hot topic", particularly in post-1992 universities, Professor Austin said.

While some academics interviewed approve of 바카라사이트 increased sociability of open-plan offices and 바카라사이트 opportunities for collaborative research, o바카라사이트rs are critical of 바카라사이트 trend.

One interviewee says: "I have always shared with research fellows, and 바카라사이트y are used to sharing offices.

"But professors who aren't used to sharing an office are particularly noisy ... holding loud telephone conversations and conversations with visitors at 바카라사이트ir desks."

A junior lecturer who shares an office adds: "I don't know whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 students (understand) ... that lecturers share offices. They probably think 바카라사이트re must be something wrong - that (we're) not high enough in 바카라사이트 faculty."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.