Informal meeting areas are relaxed environments in which to gather and share ideas - quickly and comfortably. They are also often used to simply collect one's thoughts. The days of hanging around the water cooler to share idle gossip are now some of the most productive aspects of people's days.

Spaces that stimulate the imagination and encourage brainstorming are becoming more and more prevalent in the workplace. Why? Because companies are recognizing how informal meeting areas enhance communication and the process of how knowledge is transferred within their organizations.

*There Are No Water Coolers In Cyberspace, The Wall Street Journal, 5/96