Deloitte, Cisco redesign offices for ‘future of work’ 

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND and CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Deloitte and Cisco have recently opened offices designed to cater to the changing nature of work. 

Deloitte’s new “future of work” office in Edinburgh’s city center was created based on its survey revealing that 86% of respondents ranked collaborating with team colleagues and interacting with others as their top ways of utilizing the office.

The office features open and transparent floors, state-of-the-art technology such as 360-degree cameras, and adjustable height desks. It also includes ‘dancing’ walls in collaboration spaces that double as interactive screens for presentations and workshops.

Meanwhile, Cisco is redesigning its offices with a focus on hybrid work. The company aims to create spaces that facilitate connection and collaboration among employees. 

In locations like Atlanta and New York City, Cisco has reduced the number of offices and incorporated video capabilities in almost every room. Instead of designated desks, there are more open areas called ‘huddle spaces’ for impromptu meetings. Boardrooms are designed in a triangular fashion to ensure that remote participants feel equally engaged in meetings.

Both companies recognize that the future of work involves a more flexible and collaborative approach. Deloitte’s office design emphasizes the importance of collaboration and interaction, while Cisco’s redesign caters to the needs of hybrid workers. 

Douglas Farish, office senior partner for Edinburgh at Deloitte, said, “We’ve created a very open and welcoming space for our people and clients, and it really is a physical manifestation of our culture – a place for collaboration, connection, and innovation.”

Jeetu Patel, Cisco’s EVP and General Manager of Security and Collaboration, also stated that they’re “thinking about the way people treat the office when they do go in—as a way to connect with other people—rather than focus on the work they could be doing remotely alone.”