The 13 Best Cubicles and Work Stations of the 80s and 90s

As our staff and officers trickle back to campus from their summer vacations we asked our outgoing unpaid summer interns to climb through the Carol M. Highsmith Archives one last time before heading back to Ohio and Nebraska, respectively.

In the latest entry of our ongoing series Back to the Office, we examine the absolute best cubicles and workstations from the 1980s and ’90s. As was the case in the previous entry, these photographs lack fundamental identifiers and archival information. All we know is that they were taken with an analog camera between 1980 and the early 2000s, somewhere in the United States. But let’s not let their mysterious origins distract us from how wonderful they are.

#13 Perfect Carpet, Immaculate Ceiling Tiles, No Windows

*Office Interior* from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

This photo has both a computer and a typewriter in it so we are going to assume this is probably from the early to mid 1980s. The carpet is perfect and there are no stains in sight. Excellent form, a very streamlined and efficient work environment.

#12 Fine Mahogany Particle Board and Classy Wall Art

*Office workstations* from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

Your shoe prints softly imprinting onto this soft vacuumed carpet were likely only one of the things the cleaning crews had to clean up at the end of the work week. Exceptional aura.

#11 Teamwork Divides the Task and Doubles the Success

*Commercial office interior* from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

“Teamwork divides the task and doubles the success” is seen on a whiteboard in the distance. At the Department we agree, so long as you log the hours.

#10 Dentist Office, No Windows

*Dental office digital* from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

Ok, this is a dentist’s office, sure. But given the ambiance, the rounded particle board corners, and lighting this is squarely in the domain of cubicle-office-ecosystem.

#09 Regional Public Radio Office Aura

*Office cubicles. New Carrollton Federal Office Building, New Carrollton, Maryland* from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

This is a classic cubicle workstation office, albeit a little messy.

#08 Floors Mopped Twice Daily

*Office building interior in Washington, D.C.* from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

Rounding off at number 8 we have one of the most shiny of hallways. Don’t spill anything on the floor.

#07 Infinite Rounded Hallway

*Corridor. New Carrollton Federal Office Building, New Carrollton, Maryland* from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

Round and round we go. This is clearly some kind of never-ending round hallway. No one knows what floor it’s on or what wing it is. The carpet leads the way.

#06 Experimental Flex Space for Office Parties

*Interior office space, Sidney Yates Federal Building, Washington, D.C.* from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

This is where the mandatory potlucks are held. Great use of particle board. Five stars.

#05 Slightly More Formal But Still Kooky Flex Space

Feel free to let your animal self out and breathe in the wispy grassy air. But make sure you register the space first.

#04 Windows 95 Training Lab

*Computer training room* from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

This room is where you take mandatory Windows 95 training courses and learn how to type at at least 60 words per minute. IT has uninstalled solitaire from all of the computers.

#03 Top of the Line Cubicles

*Office cubicles at the headquarters building of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, or WSSC, the water and sewerage utility for the immediate suburban counties around Washington, D.C*. from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

This space really utilized cubicles in an important way. These were best in class cubicles for the era too, they did not spare any expense in this office. Five stars.

#02 Large Municipal Office, Built for Kings

*Office. U.S. Custom House, New Bedford, Massachusetts* from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

This was likely some kind of shared office. There aren’t technically any cubicles here but the vibes are immaculate.

#01 The Rounded Corner Office

Office, James V. Hansen Federal Building, originally the Federal Building United States Court House, is constructed in the Modernist style is a six story structure located at the northeast corner of Grant Ave. and 25th St in Ogden, Utah from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, between 1980 and 1990

If you had to count how many corners in your office were rounded you’d lose your mind! That is why we voted the Rounded Corner Office as the absolute best cubicles and/or work station(s) of the 80s and 90s. Bravo.

This is part of an ongoing series and we welcome input. If you have photographs of strange workspaces please email them to info@departmentofinformation-org-496074.hostingersite.com.

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