Conference 7.286::digital

    > We are currently evaluating the Nashua, N.H. (ZKO) facility to 
    > determine whether it can be refitted to house the CSS Engineering 
    > organization currently located in MKO.  This evaluation is designed to 
    > determine how the facility can be refitted to create a world-class 
    > engineering center that accommodates all tenants.  
    
    Does anyone know how many people are in CSS Engineering in MKO ? How 
    small is a refitted world-class cubicle ?

    rumor has it that the offices in ZKO are being evaluated for 8'x 8',
    downsizing from mostly 10' x 10' (although there are many smaller
    offices currently in plce throughout the 3 buildings).
    
    Mark
    

    RE: .1

    I don't know the exact CSS headcount in MKO but I'd venture to say it's
    somewhere between 300 and 400.  We occupy about 40% of the build,
    counting lab space.
    
    Kevin    

Rumor is they're going to push a big Weight Watchers program and give hiring -
raise - promotion preference to shorter people to decrease the size of the
population.

Reminds me of a Kurt Vonnegut novel where the Chinese figured out an unusual
way of dealing with the population problem...

On a much more serious note, I understand that the population of MKO is
decreasing (in numbers, not size) right now; I wonder how that's going to
affect the proposal.

						Brian

	The new "veal cubes" im MKO1 are 7.5 x 10.  I had to give up some
equipment when we moved over from MKO2.

						--D

    Get a look at the Salem NIO.  The new core C area looks to be 6' x 8'.
    Room for a Desk, file cab and chair.
    
    /jim

Here in NIO, the new standard cube is precisely 7.5 x 8 feet.
Eronomics is a TOTAL JOKE!   The cubes are provided with a 'hanging-off-the-
wall' style desk, which has a single pedastal of drawers to one side, and NO
deck drawer.  The cube is also provided with a table, that fits with the  
desk to make an "L".

Nearly my entire group revolted, and we insisted on bringing our old steelcase
double-pedestal decks, bookcases, and 4-drawer fileing cabinets with us.
I also brought my terminal stand, for my VT320 monitor.

I have the deck and table on opposite walls, my chair in the "slot" between
them, and my terminal stand in the open end between the desk/table.
Its all a very tight fit but at least I still have my terminal stand.
Only one other fellow in my group kept his stand (and arrainged his office
like mine).  Everyone else has a VT290 monitor, its keyboard, and also a
PC monitor and keyboard, jammed onto their desk or table.  Making for an
ergonomically very poor setup.  The overhead lighting is terrible, too - 
the flourescent tubes do not have the sort of grid-reflectors that channel
the light downwards.  The light is very diffuse and BADLY washes out monitor 
screens.  I have a 30" sq. piece of cardboard balanced on top of my workstation
monitor - works great!   Anyone in NIO is invited to check out my office
confituration - I'm in the aisle between C15 and C16.

 Josh

    If we shrink cubes here in ZK, I wonder if I can build a loft like I
    had back in my dorm in college?  I sure could use 2 levels of work
    space!
    
    				-John

    I was with a field group when we moved into SHR3. The building was
    layed out with the standard cubes of 10x10. I was happy to see we would
    be getitng more room, but then someone figured out that the standard
    for field cubes is only 8x8, so they came in, tore down all the walls
    and moved them back, making wider aisles, but smaller cubes.
    
    some idiot finance person was happy because the internal rent was based
    on cube area, not actual building floor space. we were stuffeed into
    small spaces, not allowed to put things like file cabinets into our
    wide aisles.
    
    Of course, now we are all on the home-alone program. We get to provide
    DECs floor space out of our own home, and pay the heat, light, etc on
    it. lots cheaper than even 7x7 cubes, for DIGITAL

re .8:

John,
    Will Elvis be inhabiting the loft, then?  Inquiring minds want to know...

					cheryl

RE: .8

	I want to call my loft a Mezzanine.. 

	I've actually seen an office here in ZK that has a wall hanging
	unit mounted high up so that additional systems could be put in
	the office. I'm probably going to have to go for that when it
	happens to me. I've just got too much stuff! (To paraphrase
	George Carlin)

								mike

re: .11

Think of it as an opportunity!  Brace your boss for a "double" office.

There are lots of folks who now have non-standard-sized offices.  I can
guarantee you that if the standard office is "downsized," there will be a 
whole lot more.

After all, approving a bigger office is easier than approving a bigger 
raise...

Ray 

    Adding a second floor, now that sounds good to me. Will I be allowed to
    take over my neighbours second floor if they don't use it ? I think
    I'll wait until I get back on site to see how I would put in a third
    floor. Now, what about getting there ? Stairs ? Pulley ? I have it !! A
    Transporter !!!.
    Seriously, today any visitor to my cube had better be after the Weight
    Watchers program. (No room for more than one). I wonder where I'll put
    him/her under the new scheme.
    And maybe we should put some body strecthers (and thinners) in the gym
    ? That way we could fit into our offices better. On the other hand,
    that would make us taller and we couldn't put in the additional floors,
    could we ?
    Back to the drawing board then.....
    [Should I insert a smiley here or not ?]

RE: ALL

	The people @SNO have had there cubes reduced.. I am a rather 
bigger person, and I was offered a cube where I couldn't even fit 
INTO the cube because of a pole right in the middle, and was told if 
you don't want it complain to Facilities.. So it Did and got put 
somewere else.. These cubes I don't think are acceptable according to 
Council Regulations and I am thinking about complaining to workcover. 

	All I can say is peoples.. get used it to.. Digital is 
getting smalling in more ways than one

    Re: -1
    
    Perhaps after the next round of [ insert favorite term here ] we 
    won't need such drastic actions...
    jc

    
From:	WLDBIL::KILGORE      "Stop Global Whining!" 11-MAR-1996 11:37:15.80
To:	GRANIT::GRANIT::"SALES::A1::RELATIONS"
CC:	ZEKE::FACILITY,KILGORE
Subj:	RE: New England Facilities Consolidation


Dear Corporate Employee Relations and/or Property Development person:

Who is in charge of the "team including ZKO employees" evaluating the possible
refitting of ZKO, mentioned in the attached memo? Who is the contact person?
Who are the ZKO employees, and what are their jobs?

Thanks for your help.

Bill Kilgore
Software engineer and concerned ZKO resident


------------



From:	GRANIT::GRANIT::MRGATE::"SALES::A1::RELATIONS"  4-MAR-1996 13:58:00.33
To:	@Distribution_List
CC:	
Subj:	New England Facilities Consolidation                                   1

From:	NAME: Corporate Community Relations  <RELATIONS@A1@SALES@AKO>
To:     See Below

THIS MESSAGE IS FROM PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND CORPORATE EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
    
    As part of Digital's commitment to return to profitability, we will 
    .
    .
    .
    [rest is in .0]
    

Probably employees of ZKO Facilities - not the actual "tenants" of the
buildings.

				Steve

    Well, on the "home-alone" program, I've got two windows, a dog and a
    porch with my office.
    
    But no DECnet :-(
    
    FJP

    Home alone, I've got a puppy, a cat, a patio door and my own personal
    outdoor smoking area.  My "cube" however, is small enough to make 7.5 x
    8 seem generous.
    
    M.
    

    
    After chasing a couple of leads generated by .16:, I was called
    by Ken ZEKE::MADOR, who seems to be in charge of the ZKO study.
    
    He assures me that professionals with 25+ years of relevant experience
    are talking to focus groups of 60+ ZKO tenants and that 500+ tenants
    will receive associated surveys.
    
    It has also come to my attention that at least two engineers in my
    immediate group have been selected to participate in focus groups.
    
    We'll see what happens...
    

Along the zko lines:
	If they end up getting more offices in here, are they going to force
car pooling?  Right now most of the lots are full by 3'ish.

bjm

    The ZKO Work Environment Evaluation is a hoot.
    Makes all kinds of claims around confidentiality, etc. but asks for the
    following info:
    
    Employee type (Manager, Professional, Admin)
    Job Function (Prod Mgmt, Marketing, HW Eng, SW Eng., Service, Support)
    Organization (UNIX, OVMS, CSBU, Sales)
    Job Code
    Job Title
    Years and months with Digital
    Years and months in current position
    What Floor and What Building are you located
    
    At least they didn't come out directly and ask for name, phone number,
    office numbers, etc.
    
    Mark
    

>	If they end up getting more offices in here, are they going to force
>car pooling?  Right now most of the lots are full by 3'ish.

There are two vanpools that serve ZKO, one from Brighton-Newton-Lexington
and one from Acton.

Parking lot A is never full.  It's relatively convenient to all three buildings.

    
    Re .23:
    
    However, there have been years when ZKO was seemingly at capacity
    (with the current sized offices) and legal parking was literally
    impossible.
    
    I remember two occasions, probably around 1988 or so, when, out of
    sheer curiosity, I drove through every row in every ZKO parking lot
    and could not find an open space.
    

OK.  Change my office.  I don't require a second floor.  But I sure could use
a verranda.

    re: survey
    
    Is one of the questions:  "If your office area is reduced by 40%,
    would you consider contributing to the voluntary attrition rate
    that has been painfully experienced by the corporation in recent
    years?"
    
    Chris

        I'm a bit puzzled by the logic:  we have 2,000 empty offices,
        so let's make the offices smaller.

        Bob

    >>    I'm a bit puzzled by the logic:  we have 2,000 empty offices,
    >>    so let's make the offices smaller.

    >>    Bob
    
    So there will be less unused space, of course!!!

>        I'm a bit puzzled by the logic:  we have 2,000 empty offices,
>        so let's make the offices smaller.

  The memo mentions several facilities that will be closing, including MRO2.
Closing these fcailities and shuffling people around will get rid of the
empty offices. Making smaller offices will free up space so that more facil-
ities can be closed.
  The memo mentions several groups moving out of MKO1, but nobody moving in.
I get the impression that the long-range plan is to close MKO1.
  Re "hanging" furniture: This was done in a facility I worked in in 1990.
It was a major pain in the neck. We could not rearrange furniture on our own
and the drawers got warped and didn't close right. If you do have to settle for
smaller offices, try to stick with regular (wood/metal, sitting on floor)
furniture.

>        I'm a bit puzzled by the logic:  we have 2,000 empty offices,
>        so let's make the offices smaller.
 
      Wasn't there a Dilbert cartoon on this? I think the theory is that
    your cost centre only pays for the space you actually use, so that if
    they make your cubes smaller, then it costs them less. The fact that
    this leaves even more of the rest of the building empty, and probably
    doesn't actually save money overall is irrelevant. The cost of the
    empty parts of the building fall under someone else's cc.
    
    Ken

re .29:
>>If you do have to settle for
>>smaller offices, try to stick with regular (wood/metal, sitting on floor)
>>furniture.

ZK offices have been partitions and hanging furniture since day one (approx.
1982).  Desks, "primary" tables, and shelves are all hanging (desks and tables
have front legs, but no back ones).  File cabinets, additional tables, and
chairs are free-standing.  This seems to work fine for people in general (at
least, it's not a common complaint topic in hallway conversations).

						cheryl

The type of hanging furniture they use in NIO does not allow (so I am told)
for multiple configurations and tends to result in horrible ergonomics.

				Steve

  The group I report to will be moving from MRO1 and 2 to SHR.
  In the memo announcing the plans, they specifically told us
  that any traditional wooden furniture would be unacceptable.
  No reason was offered although I *ASSUME* fire safety and
  concerns over the age of the wooden furniture may have been
  issues. The need for "conformity" may also have been a reason.

  The Real Time Unix group also owns a large, cast horse's head
  which has been hanging in Marlboro for years as a sort of a mascot.
  The announcement memo specificially stated that "no horses head
  will be accepted at Shrewbury". There was no mention of whether
  Shrewsbury would accept (or already housed!) other portions of
  equine anatomy.
                                   Atlant

    
    	I believe Bob was talking about FXO in his reply, and if I
    	remember correctly there were a few layout choices that we
    	could select from before we moved down there.
    

>  The announcement memo specificially stated that "no horses head
>  will be accepted at Shrewbury". There was no mention of whether

   phew, I guess that means the other end of the horse is acceptable.
   And rightly so given the circumstances.

  
  

    
    >  The announcement memo specificially stated that "no horses head
    >  will be accepted at Shrewbury". There was no mention of whether
    
    
    Must be that SHR is not a very stable environment.
    
    jc 

	Is Mr. Ed the plant manager?

    
    	Neigh.
    

    "No Wooden Furniture in Offices" has been a rule for quite some time. 
    Many municipalities outlawed it quite some time ago (1950s or 1960s)
    for fire hazard reasons.  I know people who worked at Western Union
    sites in New York City who got a lot of well made solid oak furniture
    (roll-top desks, chairs, some tables, file cabinets, etc.) at bargan
    prices when they had to re-furnish all of their offices with metal
    furniture.
    
    Even if the local city / state / whatever doesn't require it, your
    insurance carrier may.
    
    Since the desk tops in ZKO are particle board, there is apparently no
    such requirement in Nashua; but I would not be the least bit surprised
    if Massachussets had such a law.
    

� no horses head will be accepted at Shrewbury

SHR didn't want it because it has been shown that horses' heads cause DECnet
problems.

Oh, sorry, wrong note.

Paul

    They just don't want to let it into the tent.
    
    WRT wooden desks being a fire hazard ... has anybody every tallied
    up the amount of paper lying around in the typical office
    environment?

    Heck, I've given up on unpacking my office, so I have cardboard cartons
    filled with paper.. 
    
    Maybe they'll have to close SHR before I get there..
    
    ...tom

    You folks being given "mini-cubes" ought to consider a few things ...
    
        -   That SteelCase is a customer of ours; they buy ours, so we
            buy theirs.
    
        -   That the goal may be to go to furniture that *CANNOT* be 
            configured like a regular office (i.e., no retrenchment).
    
        -   That this is an interium step to even *smaller* amounts of
            personal space (the open pods popular here in Canada).
    
        -   That smaller space prevents the accumulation of paper as well
            as people.
    
    As for the wood stuff - have a look around and see if any of our
    170-odd VP's that live in your neck of the woods have given up
    theirs.
    
        Have fun!  
    
        Charles
    
                                                                      

From:	ZEKE::ZK_MGMT "NEW HAMPSHIRE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (NHPM)  1-Apr-1996 1022"
To:	@GROUP_SECRETARIES
CC:	
Subj:	PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY - Spit Brook Office Plans

+---------------------------+ TM
|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| d | i | g | i | t | a | l |
|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
+---------------------------+

                       I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M

TO:  Spit Brook Tenants

                                      DATE:  Apr 1, 1996
                                      FROM:  Larry McMall
                                      DEPT:  NH Property Mgmt
                                      MAIL:  ZK03-2/Y02
                                      EXT:   381-1463
                                      NET:   ZEKE::ZK_MGMT
                                                                 


SUBJ: BOSTITCH - ZKO Space Analysis and Office Recommendations

As many of you already know, Bostitch Associates has been hired by
Digital to conduct a study of the Spit Brook work environment. The aim
of this study is to find ways to improve the effectiveness of the Spit
Brook facility, as well as to improve the effective utilization of
Digital's real estate assets.

The initial phase of this study has been completed. We have found that
the space utilization of many offices to be sufficiently low to
indicate that reducing office size, and in many cases even doubling
office occupancy to be entirely practicable. However, there is a
significant percentage of offices with a space utilization that is
sufficiently high so that simple reduction of the offices to a uniform
smaller size might cause some difficulties.

Further study is warranted to determine the need for the large
quantity of materials and equipment in some of these offices. We must
also investigate alternatives for equipment deployment that would
allow a smaller uniform office size.

Such further study, however, will be time consuming and there is a
need for near-term results. While we found a significant variation in
the utilization of office floor and wall space, we found a uniform
lack of utilization of vertical space. In studying the utilization of
space in the computer labs, we found a model solution to the problem
of effective office space management: Just as multiple pieces of
computer equipment can be mounted vertically in cabinets to reduce
their floor footprint, offices can be stacked vertically to
substantially improve the occupancy rate of the facility's square
footage.

We have initiated negotiations with office furniture vendors over the
availability of vertically stackable office environments. We are
considering both conventional designs and alternatives that allow for
a more open feel to the office environment while still permitting full
utilization of the available vertical space.

Negotiations are underway with a vendor, M. C. Escher Offices, Inc.,
that provides a solution to this problem. Escher's office module
provides for comfortable and effective double occupancy of office
space by adding an inverted office setup to the existing space. Each
occupant's floor occupies the other's unused ceiling space. A patented
drawer design and fixtures on the office furniture allow each
occupant's supplies, as well as the occupant, to stay securely in
place. Escher Offices' recent purchase of the primary manufacturer of
Velcro assures their ability to meet volume orders.

Initial studies have shown that office occupants rapidly become
accustomed to the inverted work position. Preliminary results of
medical studies indicate that persons with back problems can benefit
significantly from the new environment. However, the inverted position
has been found unsuitable for employees who are pregnant or have sinus
problems.

We are looking forward to the benefits of the inverted office concept,
which make Digital a leader in office space efficiency as well as a
pioneer in the paperless office concept.

    Check the note reply title as well...
    
    		Steve