Well-Planned Conference Room Layouts For Increased Productivity

The conference room in the office is the place where everyone comes together to discuss crucial business matters, take key business decisions and exchange ideas. It is the central place where business proposals from external clients, stakeholders or suppliers are discussed. It is the same place where ideas are brainstormed, future plans are discussed and objectives are set. As a conference room plays a vital role in an organisation’s success, the interior design of a conference room cannot be neglected. Since it’s a meeting place with external clients, the design of a conference room should reinforce the company values.

There are various types of design layouts available for a conference room. Some of the different types of conference layouts are:

1. Boardroom style:

The setup for a boardroom style conference room is very simple. It consists of a rectangular or an oval table in the centre with chairs around it. It is ideal for one-on-one interactions, especially interviews. Since this style allows for close proximity with each other, it is also suitable for short meetings involving discussions or for video conferencing. The Boardroom style can accommodate around 25 people.

2. U-shape Style:

It is one of the most preferred layout styles with the accommodation capacity of around 25 people. As the name suggests, U-shape style consists of a series of rectangular tables placed end to end to form a U shape. The chairs are placed on the outer side of the table. This style is suitable for presentations, video conferences and training sessions. Each group has a table in front of them which makes it an ideal seating for taking down notes. It also facilitates conversation between the speaker and the audience as well as amongst each other.

3. Theatre Style:

The theatre or auditorium style conference room is best suited when you need to house large groups of people, without the need to take down notes or have any interaction with each other. Just like a theatre, the chairs are placed in rows, the rows can be straight or in a semi-circle. The theatre style is apt for product launches or an audio-visual presentation. However, it is only recommended when the need for a two-way conversation is minimal.

4. Hollow Square:

Hollow Square, also known as Closed U, involves four tables in a rectangle, square or any other multi-designed shape placed adjacent to each other with an empty space in the middle. This style is good for a group of people under 30. Hollow Square style facilitates easy communication and interaction between team members. Hence, it is apt for a workplace interior design with an emphasis on group discussions.

For productive and successful meeting sessions, the layout of the conference room plays a vital role. It should be carefully selected depending upon the team size, the purpose of the conference room and office layout. A professional and experienced workplace interior design services provider would properly understand the functions expected from the conference room and then design an elegant meeting room that is functional as well as aesthetic.

Sachin Boradia is the Managing Director at Transcend Design Consultants, a leading interior design consultancy providing Interior Design Services to customers in India.