The History Behind the Cubicles in Your Office in Tampa, FL

The cubicles in your office in Tampa, Florida, owe their existence to a man named Robert Propst, a designer who, in 1968, introduced a product he argued would boost office worker productivity by giving them greater autonomy, independence, and privacy. It was called the Action Office II, and was similar in design to the cubicles found in many of today’s offices in the United States and around the world. Probst’s intent, contrary to what many perceive to be the cubicle’s enduring legacy, was to create a product that gave employees the ability to achieve their fullest potential. The office layout most common at the time was an “open office” that Probst accused of sapping worker productivity and being a drain on corporate profits.

After being introduced, cubicles skyrocketed in popularity. Companies soon found that they were cheaper to use, offered better layout flexibility, and enabled them to fit more employees into a finite office space. Indeed, cubicles perhaps more than any other object gradually became symbolic of the modern-day “white collar” work environment. Two years before Propst died in 1998, approximately 40 million Americans spent their work days toiling in cubicles that were direct descendants of the Action Office II.

Ajax Office Interiors is a full-service office furniture dealer serving Tampa, FL, that has a huge selection of new, used, and refurbished cubicles for sale. We sell “cubes” from Herman Miller, Haworth, Steelcase, Allsteel, and various other reputable manufacturers. If you’re looking to sell, why not sell to Ajax? We also buy office furniture from businesses throughout the Tampa Bay area and will quote you an excellent price.