Workspaces for knowledge generation: Facilitating innovation in university research centers

Changes in work patterns of knowledge-based organizations induce questions about how their workspaces should be planned in order to enhance work process efficiency. Contemporary workspace research indicates that the effects of space planning on interactive work are critical for work process outcomes in such organizations. While extensive research into the effects of space planning on encounters exists in various work settings, space planning in university research centers, where information consumption through consultations among scientists is crucial for innovation, remains unquestioned. This paper reports the effects of space planning on information consumption through various modes of consultations in a university research center. Spatial configuration, visibility, walking distance, perceived environmental quality, and space-use attractors, such as amenities, are shown to be significantly related to unprogrammed face-to-face consultations among scientists. Findings indicate that face-to-face consultations are not only predominant over those through electronic media but are also the highest priority information resources for scientists. It is in turn reported that overall spatial effects on scientists' consultations are over and above those of scientists' individual roles. This paper concludes with the suggestion that space planning is a potential precursor of innovation and its effects on information consumption need to be considered for facilitating innovation through space planning in university research centers.