For designers who read this please do not think because this works for the nature of the job demands and culture at Google or FB that this will work for all client types. Unless you have a clear understanding of the cognitive & physical demands of a job called a JDA (certified ergonomists provide this science to the design process), work flow, SOP’s the use of Open concepts are not for every workplace or every department in a workplace. Some job demands require quiet concentrated types of work with high mental demands for example. Some employees may have alternate learning and working styles and require less distraction. Some employees may be deaf, deafened or hard of hearing and need an alternate style of workstation. The human element is key in all designs yet rarely measured by ergonomists for designers.