Three people in an account team sit side by side along a 3.6-metre bench. Every quick question means leaning past the person in the middle or rolling a chair two desks down. The person on the end hears every conversation and joins none of them. When a team like this asks for "something more like a pod", they usually mean cluster workstations: desks that group people around a shared centre instead of lining them up.
This post explains how 120-degree clusters and corner pods work, how much floor they take next to a straight row, and where screens and power go. The cluster formats here are all in our corner and cluster workstations range.
How a 120-degree cluster works
A 120-degree cluster joins three wedge-shaped desks at a single point. Each person sits in a curved cut-out on the outer edge, with a wing of desk on either side. The seams between the desks radiate from the middle like the letter Y, and that is where screens go.
The Infinity 120 Degree Workstation – Profile Leg (from $1,742) is a typical example. Each position measures 1205mm by 1205mm at 730mm high, and the whole cluster is 2866mm wide by 2480mm deep. Tops are 25mm E0 Enviroboard melamine in Natural Oak or Natural White, on black or white profile legs with dual crossbars.
Because the wings angle away from each other, nobody stares straight at a colleague as they would across a back-to-back desk. Turn your head and the other two are there, which is the whole appeal. Each person also gets a surface that wraps around them: laptop on one wing, monitor ahead, paperwork on the other.
The Axis 3-Person 120 Degree Workstation (from $1,505) is the leaner option. Its worktops are 1200mm by 1200mm, 600mm or 750mm deep, on 50mm square legs rated to 140kg per workstation, with a 10-Year Warranty. Axis screens and cable management are sold separately, so budget for them.
Corner clusters: four people around a cross
A corner pod uses four L-shaped desks instead of three wedges. They meet in a square, and the screens form a plus sign in the middle. Each person sits in the curve of their own corner desk.
The Eternity 4 Person Corner Workstation Pod with Screens - White (from $3,021) comes 3030mm square, 3630mm by 3030mm or 3630mm square. Every user gets a 750mm deep top at 730mm high with cable entry holes. The screens are 500mm high and 30mm thick in pinnable fabric, so they double as a pinboard.
With screens, the pod stands 1200mm high overall. That blocks the view across the desktops, while anyone standing can still see over. More screen-fitted formats are in our workstations with screens collection.
Cluster workstations vs a straight row
A straight row is the default for good reason. The Deluxe Rapid Infinity 3 Person Single Sided Workstation - With Screen (from $1,520) seats three side by side at 750mm deep. It runs 3600mm, 4500mm or 5400mm long, depending on whether each desk is 1200mm, 1500mm or 1800mm wide.
A row tucks against a wall or partition and needs a walkway on one side only. A cluster is an island that needs room on every side, but it fits a squarish patch of floor that a long run never would.
| Factor | 120-degree cluster | Corner pod | Straight row |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example | Infinity 120, 3 people | Eternity pod, 4 people | Rapid Infinity, 3 people |
| Overall size | 2866mm x 2480mm | 3030mm x 3030mm to 3630mm x 3630mm | 3600mm to 5400mm x 750mm |
| Best spot | Open floor | Open floor or a square bay | Along a wall or partition |
| Screens | Optional 495mm | 500mm, included | Dividing screen |
| Cable access | 80mm hole per user | Entry hole in each top | Scalloped top |
| Price | From $1,742 | From $3,021 | From $1,520 |
In short, rows make the most of walls and partitions, while clusters use the middle of a floor and make conversation easier. Clusters take more floor per person once walkways are counted, and most offices end up with both.
Screens, cables and power at the centre
The centre of a cluster is where screens meet, cables drop and, on electric desks, power arrives. Plan it first and the rest falls into place.
On the Infinity 120, each user has an 80mm cable entry hole near the middle, and the cluster comes with or without 495mm SHUSH30 desk-mounted screens. Screens give each person a private corner, while leaving them off makes a small shared table that some teams prefer.
For sit-stand work, the AgileMotion+ 3C/2M Electric Rectangle 120° Workstation (from $1,635) is an electric 120-degree desk designed for 3-person clusters. It travels from 635mm to 1290mm, runs under 50 dB and has a 4-point memory handset. An optional integrated cable tray adds power and data plates, and it carries a 15-Year warranty.
Electric clusters need two extra decisions. Every frame needs power, and every cable needs enough slack to reach full height. A desk-mounted screen also moves with the desk it is fixed to, so decide which desk carries each screen.
Which teams suit cluster workstations
Clusters suit small teams that talk all day about the same work: project groups, sales teams sharing accounts, design studios and practice administration. Three or four people can check something without leaving their seats.
They suit long calls and deep focus less well. Voices carry across a small island, and low screens help with sight lines more than sound, so put those roles in a screened row. Clusters also suit shared desks, because every position is the same shape. If desks will be booked rather than assigned, read our guide to what a shared-desk office really needs.
Planning a cluster in an Australian office
In an office tenancy, power usually reaches an island through a floor box or a ceiling power pole. Fixed wiring is work for a licensed electrician, so mark the centre of each cluster on the plan before asking for a quote. One feed at the centre can serve all three positions.
Glare is the other local issue, especially low afternoon sun through west-facing glass. In a cluster each person faces a different way, so one screen often faces a window or has one behind it. Set clusters back from the glass and run rows at right angles to it.
Safe Work Australia's model Code of Practice on managing the work environment and facilities asks for clear space between furniture, so people can move freely and evacuate quickly. Aisles and walkways count on top of the space around each workstation, which matters more for an island than a row. Deliveries go to the ground-floor entrance, flat-packed unless the product page says assembled. The Infinity 120 comes in five boxes, the longest 2145mm, so check the lift before delivery day.
Cluster workstations — frequently asked questions
How much space does a 3 person 120 degree workstation need?
Allow about 1500mm on every side for chairs and passing traffic. On the 2866mm by 2480mm Infinity 120, that gives a planning zone of roughly 5.9 by 5.5 metres. Two clusters side by side can share the walkway between them.
Is a 120 degree workstation better than a straight desk?
It is better for conversation and open floor, and worse for long runs against a wall. Each person gets a wing on either side rather than one straight edge.
Can you get height adjustable cluster workstations?
Yes. The AgileMotion+ 3C/2M is an electric 120-degree desk designed for 3-person clusters, adjusting from 635mm to 1290mm.
Do cluster workstations come with screens?
Some do. The Eternity pod includes pinnable fabric screens, the Infinity 120 comes with or without them, and Axis screens are sold separately. Compare like with like, because screened and open clusters are priced differently.
Shop the range
Clusters, corner pods and straight runs sit together in our 3 and 4 person workstations collection. For a first cluster, the Infinity 120 Degree Workstation is a sound starting point. Metro delivery is a flat $75 per order, and prices include GST.
