Open-plan offices were supposed to boost collaboration, but after 10 years of managing software teams in them, I'm convinced they destroy measurable productivity. A 2018 study by the University of Exeter found employees in open spaces report 32% lower focus and 18% more stress, yet we keep building them because they're cheaper per square meter. Even with noise-canceling headphones and private phone booths, the constant visual interruptions reset your mental context every few minutes. Should we really prioritize real estate savings over the cognitive cost that quietly eats away at every code review and design meeting?