--- Forwarded Message from Daniel Tom <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:36:30 -1000 >From: Daniel Tom <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Help with redesigning office space >To: "'Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum'" <[log in to unmask]> >Importance: Normal We have a rather large office space, half of which we are considering reconfiguring over the summer. The area we are redesigning is approximately 47 feet long and 22 feet wide. Some of you on the list have seen it while visiting us. A portion of the space (16x12) is currently taken up by shelves holding archival reel to reel and cassette tapes. These tapes are being digitized and preserved on CD and when this is completed we can get rid of the shelves and the tapes thus freeing this area for other use. Our secretary retired at the end of December 2005 and her desk, file cabinets and shelves occupy a back corner space (15x12) just beyond the shelves mentioned above. In other words our secretary was not up front by the main door to our office and was not the first point of contact for faculty or students. Instead my desk is opposite the main entrance and I'm the first point of contact for anyone coming in. We have not yet hired a new secretary and the plan is to have the new secretary move to the front near the door to have more interaction with faculty and students which the previous secretary did not have. Currently as you walk in the door, you see a row of 4 computers to your left against a wall. These are for anyone to walk in and quickly check e-mail. These computers would probably stay in their present position. On your right are two 3 x 3.5 foot bookshelves that serve as a countertop and space divider. Beyond those is a 2.5 foot high x 5 foot long cabinet with counter top containing checkout equipment. We check out tape recorders, CD players, camcorders and tripods from our office and the equipment to be checked out is placed on the counter top of the cabinet for instructors to pick up before class and to return after class. This way they don't have to walk too far into the office to get the equipment. If we move our secretary to the front, then her desk and accompanying file cabinets and shelves would occupy that space and we would have to relocate the equipment check out area. In addition we check out AV Carts with Monitors and VCRs and/or DVD players. These currently are "parked" in rows a little beyond the aforementioned computers against the windows and faculty come in and then wheel them out the door to take to class. They are a short distance down from my desk and are easily accessible. However, it has been suggested that these be moved to the space being freed up with the removal of the shelves. This could mean that faculty will have to walk further into our office to get them. We are limited in what we can do to the space along the windows as there are built-in teacher carrels that were once used by teachers to listen to students' oral production on cassettes. Since these are built-in with 3 inch thick sound proof wall dividers, they can't be moved or easily dismantled. The best we can do is convert them to other uses such as a video viewing station or video to DVD conversion station, etc. Since we are a service unit we want to keep our office as open as possible with easy accessibility to check-out equipment and with smooth traffic patterns. We also want easy accessibility to personnel for assistance. We do have money to buy new office furniture and portable panels or partitions if necessary. Right now it is the nine foot high shelves that serve to partition off spaces. It is very difficult after being used to one configuration for over 10 years to try to envision new configurations and spatial patterns. Do any of you have experience redesigning your office space and could offer suggestions or models? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Suggestions from those of you who have actually seen our office would be most helpful. Aloha, Daniel Tom Language Learning Center University of Hawaii at Manoa E-mail: [log in to unmask] Voice: 808-956-5118 *********************************************** LLTI is a service of IALLT, the International Association for Language Learning, and The Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning (http://consortium.dartmouth.edu). Join IALLT at http://iallt.org. Otmar Foelsche, LLTI-Editor ([log in to unmask]) ***********************************************