The workplace is an ever-evolving design challenge. With continuous upgrades in technology, advances in telecommunications and rising costs of commercial real estate, space for individual employees keeps shrinking'whether for assistants or executives. The average allotment per office worker fell from 225 square feet in 2010 to 176 square feet in 2012, and these days can go as low as 60 square feet. High-walled individual cubicles have given way to smaller, open cubes, and to benching and the temporary, flexible desk space known as hoteling.

But these trends don't necessarily mean that more people only work remotely'collaboration is the buzzword across many industries'and that means face time, as architects of offices know. For brainstorming or serendipitous encounters, they have been designing more conference rooms, breakout spaces, huddle areas, kitchens and snack bars, lounge seating, and stadium-style stairs.