Workspace dividing system

Abstract

A system for dividing a workspace includes first and second vertically extending walls having a respective upper and lower edge and respective side edges. The first and second walls are arranged in parallel to partially enclose an area. A ceiling is included that extends between the first and second walls to join the upper edges of the first and second walls and at least partially cover the partially enclosed area. The resulting arch-shaped divider system may include any of a plurality of features. For example, the systems may include integrated work surfaces, informational areas, or may include viewing passages and may be arranged in a variety of configurations designed to facilitate collaborative work.

1 . A workspace divider system comprising:
 a first workstation and a second workstation, each workstation comprising:
 first and second substantially vertically extending walls having a respective upper and lower edge and respective side edges and, wherein the first and second walls are arranged substantially in parallel and separated to form an area therebetween; 
 a ceiling member extending between the first and second walls to join the upper edges of the first and second walls and at least partially covering the area between the walls; 
   wherein the first workstation and the second workstation are arranged to have one side edge of the first wall and one side edge of the second wall of the first workstation adjacent one side edge of the first wall and one side edge of the second wall of the second workstation.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the side edges of the first and second walls include right-hand side edges and left-hand side edges and wherein the first workstation and the second workstation are arranged to have the right-hand side edges of the first and second walls of the first workstation adjacent the left-hand side edges of the first and second walls of the second workstation, and further comprising a spatial corridor forming an alley extending between the right-hand side edges of the first and second walls of the first workstation and the left-hand side edges of the first and second walls of the second workstation and further comprising a worksurface extending along the alley between the first workstation and the second workstation having a width of greater than eight inches and less than thirty inches. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the area between the first and second walls of the first workstation and the second workstation is configured to house a desk and a chair and wherein the chair, when seated at the desk of the first workstation, faces in a direction opposite of the chair when seated at the desk of the second workstation. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the ceiling member of the first workstation at least partially abuts the ceiling member of the second workstation and wherein the first and second wall of the first workstation are offset from the first and second wall of the second workstation, and further comprising a third workstation aligned with the first workstation and separated from the first workstation by the second workstation, and further comprising a semi-private area formed along one of the first and second wall of the second workstation and offset from one of the first and second wall of the first workstation on a side opposite the area between the walls and a public area formed on the other of the first and second wall of the second workstation on a side opposite the area between the walls. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a third workstation and a fourth workstation and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth workstations are arranged in one of an alley configuration, an alternating alley configuration, and an alternating desk configuration. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a desk is supported by the one of the first and second walls and a display supported by one of the first and second walls of each of the first workstation and the second workstation and wherein the display of the first workstation is visible from the second workstation when viewing the display of the second workstation. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second walls have a vertical rise of less than seven feet and the ceiling extends between the first and second walls at a termination of the vertical rise. 
   
   
       8 . A workspace divider system comprising:
 a first arch-shaped workstation having an elongated ceiling extending between a pair of sidewalls and a worksurface abutting one of the sidewalls to face a first direction;   a second arch-shaped workstation having an elongated ceiling extending between a pair of sidewalls and a worksurface abutting one of the sidewalls to face a second direction;   wherein the elongated ceiling of the first arch-shaped workstation and the elongated ceiling of the second arch-shaped workstation are arranged to extend along an elongated direction in parallel; and   wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially opposite.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising an alley extending between the first arch-shaped workstation and the second arch-shaped workstation along the elongated direction to separate the first arch-shaped workstation and the second arch-shaped workstation and further comprising a worksurface extending along the alley to join the first arch-shaped workstation and the second arch-shaped workstation. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the pair of sidewalls of the first arch-shaped workstation are offset from the pair of sidewalls of second arch-shaped workstation to create at least one semi-private work area and one public work area arranged along an area exterior to the first arch-shaped workstation and the second arch-shaped workstation. 
   
   
       11 . The system of clam  8  further comprising a third arch-shaped workstation having an elongated ceiling extending between a pair of sidewalls and a worksurface abutting one of the sidewalls to face the first direction, and wherein the third arch-shaped workstation is separated from the first arch-shaped workstation by the second arch-shaped workstation, and wherein the sidewalls of the first arch-shaped workstation and the sidewalls of the second arch-shaped workstation are aligned and wherein the sidewalls of the second arch-shaped workstation are offset from the sidewalls of the first arch-shaped workstation and the sidewalls of the second arch-shaped workstation. 
   
   
       12 . A workspace divider system comprising:
 a first plurality of arch-shaped workstations arranged in a first line of workstations;   a second plurality of arch-shaped workstations arranged in a second line of workstations;   an alley formed between the first line of workstations and the second line of workstations; and   a worksurface extending along the alley to join the first plurality of arch-shaped workstations and the second plurality of arch-shaped workstations.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a desk arranged within each of the first plurality of arch-shaped workstations and second plurality of arch-shaped workstations and wherein individuals seated at a desk in the first plurality of arch-shaped workstations are provided with a line of sight extending through the alley to the second plurality of arch-shaped workstations and wherein individuals seated at a desk in the second plurality of arch-shaped workstations are provided with a line of sight extending through the alley to the second plurality of arch-shaped workstations. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein individuals seated at a desk in the first plurality of arch-shaped workstations face a direction substantially opposite to individuals seated at a desk in the second plurality of arch-shaped workstations. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12  further a worksurface arranged within each of the first plurality of arch-shaped workstations and the second plurality of arch-shaped workstations and a display device arranged above each worksurface. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a third workstation and a fourth workstation and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth workstations are arranged in one of an alley configuration and an alternating alley configuration. 
   
   
       17 . A workspace divider system comprising:
 a first arch-shaped workstation having an elongated ceiling extending between a pair of sidewalls and a worksurface extending from a first end aligned along one of the sidewalls to a second end located under the elongated ceiling to orientate individuals seated in the first arch-shaped workstation in a first direction;   a second arch-shaped workstation having an elongated ceiling extending between a pair of sidewalls and a worksurface extending from a first end aligned along one of the sidewalls to a second end located under the elongated ceiling to orientate individuals seated in the second arch-shaped workstation in a second direction; and   wherein the second end of the worksurface of the first arch-shaped workstation and the second end of the worksurface of the second arch-shaped workstation are aligned to extend substantially linearly.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially opposite. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a display device arranged above the worksurface at the first end of the worksurface. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein an individual seated at the worksurface of the first arch-shaped workstation is able to readily view another individual seated at the worksurface of the second arch-shaped workstation but cannot readily view a display device arranged above the worksurface in the second arch-shaped workstation. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the sidewalls of the first arch-shaped workstation are offset from the sidewalls of the second arch-shaped workstation to create at least one semi-private work area and one public work area arranged along an area exterior to the first arch-shaped workstation and the second arch-shaped workstation. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein at least one semi-private work area is viewable from an area under the elongated ceiling of the first arch-shaped workstation and at least one semi-private work area is viewable from an area under the elongated ceiling of the second arch-shaped workstation. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a third workstation having an elongated ceiling extending between a pair of sidewalls and a worksurface extending from a first end aligned along one of the sidewalls to a second end located under the elongated ceiling to orientate individuals seated in the first arch-shaped workstation in the first direction and wherein the second end of the worksurface of the third arch-shaped workstation is aligned to extend substantially linearly with the second ends of the worksurfaces of the first arch-shaped workstation and the second arch-shaped workstation. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 17  wherein at least a portion of the ceiling of the first arch-shaped workstation and a portion of the ceiling of the second arch-shaped workstation abut to form a common ceiling portion extending between the ceiling of the first arch-shaped workstation and the ceiling of the second arch-shaped workstation. 
   
   
       25 . A workspace divider system comprising:
 a desk having a length and a width;   an arch-shaped workstation having an elongated ceiling extending along the length of the desk between a pair of sidewalls to partially enclose a workspace area under the elongated ceiling; and   wherein individuals seated at the desk are arranged toward one another to share the partially enclosed workspace area.