[bambax]

> the alternative of course is smaller offices for 3-6 people (...) That was actually really nice.

Really? In my experience a small office with more than 1 person is worse than a complete open space (while an office for 1, with a door, is the best).

To be productive I need to not see and not be seen; I feel more anonymous in a big loud crowd than in a small office with 2 other people who can still speak to one another or to me, or on the phone, etc.

[dasmoth]

It can depend on the situation. There have been a few small offices where I've felt moderately productive, but looking back they've tended to be filled with people from across the organisation, working on different things. The "team office" which I know is the ideal for some is a recipe for high visibility and unhelpful pressure.