Specialist technical furniture manufacturer TeamMate has launched WorksZone, a flexible working or learning environment designed to increase productivity and encourage collaboration.
The product started life within TeamMate’s own offices, where MD David Botting noticed his engineers struggling to find a suitable regular meeting space to work on product development and new ideas. Two old TeamMate units were cut up, a sleek red tabletop added and the problem was solved. Botting saw that the idea could be developed commercially.
“Most learning and presentation spaces are designed for teacher or presenter led delivery,” said Botting. “By that, I mean that information or knowledge travels in one direction. The WorksZone promotes the flow of ideas by helping people access and share information. Everyone has an equal opportunity to get involved with effective collaboration and contribution.”
WorksZone is an integrated structure that is fully movable. It comprises a sculptured table top in a choice of colour or finishes, with hidden tamperproof cables, provision for third party input/output requirements, and self-contained power management.
The beauty of the Workszone is its versatility, according to TeamMate. For example, a rotating input module in the centre of the table can be specified, allowing any type of peripheral to be connected – but disappears out of sight when not needed. There is a built in mounting system for single- or dual screen display – ideal for video conferencing or information collaboration. Each installation can be fine-tuned to each customer’s requirement, says the company
Botting is seeing demand for the product from higher education establishments. “Changes are taking place in the way universities deliver learning,” he said. “Open learning spaces are being developed, students are working in small groups in break out areas, and the remote delivery of lectures is growing. Increasingly, students need to work together and collaborate on projects. WorksZone addresses these fundamental shifts in behaviour.”
