Key Features Every Modern Control Room Should Have

Designing a modern control room isn’t just about fitting in screens and desks. It’s about creating a safe, ergonomic, resilient space where people can see the right information at the right time and act quickly. Below are the features that matter most today, along with practical tips you can use straight away.

Operator-First Ergonomics

A modern control room should start with the people who’ll use it, not the hardware. International ergonomics guidance (ISO 11064) sets out clear principles for workstation layout, sightlines and operator reach so staff can work effectively over long shifts. Following these principles reduces fatigue and errors.

Adjustable Consoles and Screens

Height-adjustable consoles let operators switch between sitting and standing, improving comfort and alertness on 12-hour shifts. Displays should align to natural sightlines to avoid neck strain and keep critical data in the primary field of view. ISO 11064-4 covers workstation layout and dimensions for both seated and standing work.

Reach, Access and Cable Discipline

Controls used most often belong within easy reach; less frequent tasks can sit further out. Good cable management prevents snagging and keeps maintenance safe and quick - small details that make a big difference in live environments. ISO 11064-5 gives guidance on arranging displays and controls for efficient human-system interaction.

Clear Visual Information Strategy

Before picking a video wall, decide what information matters moment to moment, and who needs to see it. This avoids “wallpaper” screens that don’t help decision-making.

Shared displays and sightlines

Shared displays (e.g. media walls) should support situational awareness without blocking lines of sight between team members. ISO 11064-3 covers where to place off-workstation displays and how to arrange the room so information is visible without awkward head movements.

Alarm Management and Prioritisation

If everything shouts, nothing is heard. Use clear alarm tiers and visual hierarchy so true priorities stand out. ISO 11064-5 discusses presenting information in ways that support quick, correct actions.

Lighting that supports 24/7 focus

Lighting affects alertness, eye comfort and screen readability. Aim for uniform, glare-controlled lighting with dimming for night shifts and task lighting for detailed work. CIE guidance and EN 12464-1 inform best practice on illuminance, glare and colour quality in workplaces.

Glare control and contrast

Avoid bright fittings in operators’ lines of sight or reflections on screens. Use indirect lighting, baffled luminaires, and matte finishes on nearby surfaces to keep contrast gentle.

Colour Temperature and Shift Work

Neutral white light (often around mid-range CCT) keeps colours consistent across screens and printed materials. What matters most is consistency and the ability to dim without flicker during night operations, which CIE material addresses at a principles level.

Acoustic Comfort and Speech Intelligibility

Noise raises stress and makes radio or intercom messages harder to follow. ISO 11064-6 sets environmental requirements for control rooms, including acoustics. Treat ceilings and selected wall areas with absorbent finishes, and isolate noisy kit (servers, power supplies) away from operators.

Healthy Environmental Controls

Air quality, temperature and humidity must stay stable across day and night shifts. ISO 11064-6 also covers thermal environment and air quality, helping you plan ventilation rates, diffuser placement and operator comfort zones. Avoid drafts on necks and hands; place vents where they won’t cause cold spots on seated staff.

Resilient Power, Networks and “No-Single-Point-of-Failure” Thinking

A modern control room needs to keep running when things go wrong. Build in UPS and generator strategies for the critical kit, and design networks with redundant paths and segregated segments for operational technology (OT). NIST’s guidance on OT/ICS security highlights resilience and availability as core design goals.

Structured cabling and maintenance access

Use labelled, serviceable cable routes with slack for future changes. Provide rear or under-desk access panels so engineers can work without taking positions offline.

Cybersecurity Designed-In (Not Bolted On)

Control rooms increasingly connect IT and OT. Secure by design is a must: segment networks, harden endpoints, restrict remote access, and use role-based permissions. NIST SP 800-82 and the ISA/IEC 62443 series give recognised frameworks for safeguarding industrial and critical environments.

Collaboration and Quiet Zones

Modern operations blend heads-down monitoring with short huddles and investigations. Plan small collaboration points away from the main operator line to avoid distraction, plus quiet rooms for investigations or welfare breaks. Keep doors and traffic away from primary sightlines.

Space for Growth and Change

Tech stacks evolve quickly. Choose modular consoles and scalable display systems so you can add positions or screens without starting from scratch. Modular, engineered technical furniture systems make moves and changes far easier than traditional joinery — and help you stay future-proof.

Sustainability and Materials that Last

A modern control room should be built to serve for years with minimal waste. Look for recyclable materials (e.g. aluminium structures), engineered components, and finishes with consistent colour matching so replacements blend seamlessly. Thinking Space, for example, highlights recyclable materials, an adaptable build system and man-made, future-proof colour matching — all useful when you’re planning upgrades over time.

Practical Checklist

There’s a lot to juggle, so here’s a quick checklist you can copy into your spec:

• Map tasks, roles and lines of communication before fixing the room layout. (ISO 11064-2/3)
• Apply workstation ergonomics for reach, sightlines and sit-stand working. (ISO 11064-4/5)
• Plan glare-controlled, dimmable lighting with stable colour rendering. (CIE/EN 12464-1)
• Treat acoustics and keep noisy kit out of operator areas. (ISO 11064-6)
• Build in redundancy for power and networks; segment OT from IT. (NIST SP 800-82, IEC 62443)
• Choose modular, serviceable furniture and plan for future additions. (Thinking Space capabilities)

Ready to Plan Your Modern Control Room?

Thinking Space can help you translate these best practices into a real, future-proof space - from a free site survey and award-winning 3D design visuals to global installation and project management. Speak to our team to get started.

FAQs About Modern Control Rooms

A short Q&A can help search engines surface quick answers while guiding your internal teams.

What standards apply to a modern control room?

The ISO 11064 family is the go-to set covering design principles, room layout, workstation dimensions, displays/controls, environmental requirements and evaluation. It’s widely used across sectors from transport to process industries.

How big should the room be?

There’s no single size. Start with a task and link analysis: how many operators, what roles, what adjacencies, and which shared displays are needed. ISO 11064-2/3 explains how to plan the control suite and room layout based on your workflows.

Do we really need height-adjustable desks?

If you staff long shifts, yes - sit-stand workstations support posture changes that reduce fatigue and help concentration. ISO 11064-4 focuses on the layout and dimensions of control-room workstations, including seated and standing use.