Conference Rooms & Collaboration Spaces: Two Distinct Concepts
If your team is still trying to make hybrid work work, or if traditional conference rooms aren’t delivering the results you expect, it may be time to consider a shift.
Search interest in “collaboration space” has nearly quadrupled since 2014, peaking this past summer 2025. But what exactly are these spaces, and how do they differ from the conference rooms most offices already have?
Let’s unpack the meaning, benefits, and use cases of collaboration spaces—and why they’re quickly becoming essential across industries.
What Is a Collaboration Space?
A collaboration space is an environment purpose-built to support idea generation, creativity, and problem-solving with some hybrid communication. Unlike traditional conference rooms that often cater to static presentations, collaboration spaces are interactive and flexible.
These rooms should feature modular, easily-moved furniture, dynamic room layouts, and technology designed to enhance group productivity, whether the team is in-person, remote, or both. Think interactive whiteboards, integrated video conferencing, in-ceiling audio, and intuitive room controls, all working together in one seamless solution.