Interaction and communication are key aspects of effective workplace design.

"Of course, there are many factors that affect where and how often people communicate with their colleagues at work," says Dr. Margaret Serrato of TVS Interiors. "But, when it comes to those all-important serendipitous encounters that are the hallmark of high-performance organizations, circulation patterns are key, and Space Syntax analysis offers a means to ensure that you have the best one."

According to Serrato, applying Space Syntax analysis to an office space plan reveals areas where movement and interaction are likely to occur. "The arrangement of individual offices and groups of offices in relation to the circulation pattern influences where and how often people engage in informal interactions," she points out. "Even slight changes in a plan, such as moving a wall or adding a secondary corridor can dramatically alter circulation patterns and affect communication. By applying Space Syntax analysis during the Schematic Design phase, designers can refine the space plan to match desired communication outcomes, making better use of space and increasing the organizations' efficiency and performance.

There are various tools used for enhancing Space Syntax. One of them is NetScan by EuroCres, a nominee for CoreNet Global's 2005 H. Bruce Russell Global Innovator's Award.

NetScan is a tool for analyzing network structures which measures and visualizes actual communication behavior, links interpersonal communication with workspace design, illustrates communication relationships on the office floor plan, and enables optimum workspace planning for effective communication. The system visualizes the ideal employee distribution in cluster form. T-Online, a telecommunications firm, used NetScan in the construction of a new office consolidating more than 2,000 employees.