A tight spot; Some executives are trading their corner offices for smaller spaces to show they mean business about creating an egalitarian, cost-effective workplace. Managing partner Richard A. Lifshitz says his law firm may face culture shock when partners and associates move into same-size offices next year.

Crain's Chicago Business, March, 2001 by Littman, Margaret

When John R. Horne opens the door to his office at Navistar International Corp.'s new Warrenville headquarters after Memorial Day, he'll have considerably less space to hang his coat, not to mention welcome analysts and conduct meetings. At just 165 square feet, his new digs will be almost two-thirds smaller than the 450-square-foot office that the chairman, president and CEO has now in Chicago's NBC Tower.

While the corner office has long been the ultimate corporate status symbol, Mr. Horne is one of a growing number of executives who are willing to eschew the perk to show that they're serious about creating a collaborative, cost-conscious company culture. Not just chief executives are slimming down their office space to fatten margins. Even bastions of...

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