The Agile Workplace Manifesto
By Robert Kroon
We believe that the future of work is defined by fluidity, adaptability, and empowered collaboration, not by static cubicles or rigid layouts. The traditional office, with its fixed power outlets and inflexible infrastructure, is a financial sinkhole and a relic of a past era. We are building the next generation of work environments—environments that are profitable, adaptable, and future-proofed.
Our approach to the Agile Workplace is guided by these core principles:
Freedom is Fundamental. Financial Flexibility is the Payoff.
True agility requires untethered freedom. We liberate workspaces from the tyranny of fixed outlets by embracing battery-powered Agile Furniture and innovative power solutions. This allows for effortless reconfiguration and ultimate mobility, empowering teams to work where and how they work best. This freedom eliminates the sunk cost of stranded assets and paves the way for a Zero TI model, where tenants can adapt their space without expensive, permanent electrical rework.
Infrastructure Must Adapt. Buildings Should Drive Profit.
Buildings should be as dynamic as the people in them. We champion intelligent power solutions and retrofitting strategies that transform static buildings into flexible, future-proofed environments. This solves common roadblocks like inflexible layouts and complex, expensive installations, allowing the space to evolve with the needs of its inhabitants. By integrating technologies such as fault-managed power (FMP) and battery-powered Agile Furniture , a building avoids the constant, costly need for major overhauls , which can range from $60 to $200+ per square foot.
Efficiency Drives Innovation. Avoid the Hidden Drain.
We build smarter, more adaptable spaces by integrating innovative technologies. Solutions like our Respond! system, which uses battery-powered Agile Furniture for unparalleled mobility, and products like CampFire desks and Juce mobile monitor stands are the tools we use to create efficient, high-performance workplaces. We also incorporate C-Power (delivering DC power through two USB-C receptacles) and Wallies to enhance this flexible power ecosystem. This efficiency combats the hidden financial drain of underutilized real estate (fixed workplaces are only used about 50% of the time) and drastically reduces the cost of disruptive reconfigurations
Simplicity is Key. Enable Seamless Tenancy.
The path to an agile workplace shouldn't be complex. We partner with building owners, architects, designers, and electrical firms to create seamless, user-friendly solutions. Our focus is on elegant, easily deployable systems that enable a better way of working without the usual complications, making space adaptation as simple as rearranging furniture—without the need for an electrician.
We are committed to building a world where the workspace is a dynamic asset, not a fixed liability. The future is flexible and powered by intelligent design and technology.
About the author:
Bob Kroon is a recognized thought leader and innovator with over four decades of experience in the electro-mechanical and furniture industries. As the CEO and founder of August Berres, he envisions overcoming the limitations of traditional building power by enabling the Agile Workplace through a smart power ecosystem.
Bob passionately advocates for technologies such as building microgrids, fault-managed power (FMP), and battery-powered Agile Furniture, which are transforming the design and utilization of commercial spaces. Under his leadership, a suite of innovative solutions has been brought to market, including Respond!, Juce, CampFire, and Wallies. These products empower building owners, architects, and facility managers to retrofit buildings for today’s dynamic work environment.
