Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2018, but has been updated to reflect the increased emphasis on collaboration and conferencing due to remote work.
Companies that choose a certain name, along with colors and design, to represent their brand pay careful attention to what it conveys–and for good reason. A name says plenty about you, your values, your direction and how you want people to perceive you. The same can be said for meeting room names.
If you’re simply settling for a name like “Room A-310,” you probably should give more thought to it. Are you indicating what goes on in those spaces are generic or a bit boring?
With more attention being paid to the power of collaboration in the workplace due to hybrid work, it’s a good idea to assess what your meeting rooms are conveying about your company’s brand and values. It’s common for organizations to choose meeting room names based on themes that reflect local sites, attractions and sporting teams – and that can be a nice, fun touch that strengthens the connection between work and community.
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Others seek naming conventions that promote their corporate mission or brand. For example, Twitter uses bird species and San Francisco monuments as room names in a nod to its brand and location. Employees may meet in rooms that go by names like Ostrich, Mallard, Bluebird, Golden Gate or City Lights.
SpaceX, the space travel company owned by Elon Musk, features conference rooms with names of famous astronauts and scientists, including Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, John Glenn and Albert Einstein. When it comes to choosing meeting room names for offices, the sky really is the limit.
Space Naming Related to Technology
While boardroom/meeting room names can inspire thoughts about your brand and community, they also can bring clarity to your organization. Another line of thought related to organizational space naming is tied to the types of technologies that are anchored in various spaces. Today’s technologies are incredibly flexible and can be integral to what happens in a room.
One wall-mounted display can facilitate various employee behaviors and, therefore, support multiple business tasks and objectives. That is, a software-supported wall-mounted display can help fuel collaborative interactions, connect multiple people over video, simultaneously mirror images from several mobile devices, distribute digital signage or offer interactive wayfinding.
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Because of that, a person cannot always tell – just by looking at it – what a display actually ‘does’ or what capabilities it provides. Such discernment can be similarly challenging when selecting a space via a room scheduling system.
That is why strategic thought around naming conventions can help. Attaching names that reflect the behaviors that are most directly supported in the space can go a long way toward helping people more effectively embrace new areas and better utilize the technology that was chosen to accelerate, enhance and empower their work habits.
Meeting room names can be creative! Consider the following as a few examples:
High-Level Group Meeting Space (e.g., Board Room)
- Pontification Station
- Decision Accelerator
- Pressure Cooker
- Bored Room
- Visionary Vista Facilitated Learning Space
Head Down Space (e.g., Cubicle/Office)
- Crown Down
- Prefrontal Engagement
- Cranium Focus
- Noodlin’ Space
- Noggin Chamber
Facilitated Learning Space (e.g., Training Room)
- Learning Loft
- Indoctrination Location
- Mind Expansion Mansion
- Germination Potential
- ABC Room
Collaborative Space (e.g., Huddle Space)
- Ideation Zone
- Inspiration Station
- Collective IQ Room
- Team Territory
- Creative Arena
Social Space (e.g., Break Room, Lobby)
- Community Spot
- Gathering Field
- Hospitality Hub
- (Blow Off) Steam Room
- Social Sphere
Stephanie R. Stilson, Ph.D., handles Collaborative & Immersive Strategy for Sensory Technologies, an integration firm headquartered in Indianapolis with six locations. This blog first appeared on Sensory’s site, and is re-posted with permission.
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