Software guru Joel Spolsky recently renovated some new office space for his company Fog Creek. His requirements for the space were insightful, and typical of a software startup:
* Private offices with doors that close were absolutely required and not open to negotiation.
* Programmers need lots of power outlets. They should be able to plug new gizmos in at desk height without crawling on the floor.
* We need to be able to rewire any data lines (phone, LAN, cable TV, alarms, etc.) easily without opening any walls, ever.
* It should be possible to do pair programming.
* When you’re working with a monitor all day, you need to rest your eyes by looking at something far away, so monitors should not be up against walls.
* The office should be a hang out: a pleasant place to spend time. If you’re meeting your friends for dinner after work you should want to meet at the office.
I’ve always had a passing interest in office ergonomics, and always enjoyed those articles in Wired at the height of the dot-com boom about weird and wonderful office configurations. Joel’s approach seems wise and financially-responsible.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
I read Joel’s article earlier on today. He’s one well clued in guy. I especially liked the private office idea. When you are pair programming it is nice to be separate from others, it is also nice to retire to your own space where you can play your music without needing to stick head-phones on. The best point is that he did it within a fairly conservative budget. Fair play Joel.