The Risks of Symmetry in Control Room Layout and Design

When it comes to architecture and interior design, symmetry is often equated with beauty. A symmetrical room feels orderly, balanced, and visually pleasing, which is why so many organizations request symmetrical layouts when planning their facilities.

But in the context of control room design, symmetry can be a trap. What looks balanced on paper may create significant challenges in real life: restricted sightlines, poor monitor ergonomics, and layouts that don’t support how operators actually work. In mission-critical environments, visual harmony can’t come at the expense of performance, comfort, or safety.

As modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe famously stated, “form follows function.” Nowhere is this principle more important than in mission-critical environments. A control room must prioritize operator health, efficiency, and safety over purely aesthetic considerations.

This post explores why sometimes symmetrical room design is problematic in control rooms, the pitfalls it creates for operators, when is it appropriate and what smarter alternatives look like.

The Appeal of Symmetry in Architecture

Symmetry has long been valued in architecture and interior spaces. A symmetrical room design conveys balance, harmony, and order, qualities that make a space feel complete. For architects and project stakeholders, symmetry often becomes a natural design instinct, especially when creating highly visible environments meant to inspire confidence.

In traditional settings, this approach works well. Hotel lobbies like the Hyatt Regency in Cleveland and architectural landmarks such as Santiago Calatrava’s Oculus in New York rely on symmetry to create order and impact. Others, like Zaha Hadid’s Leeza SOHO in Beijing, experiment with a mix of symmetry and asymmetry to achieve dramatic visual effect. In such environments, aesthetics take precedence over ergonomics. The visual rhythm of mirrored furniture, fixtures, and architectural lines reinforces brand identity and creates a sense of stability.

It’s no surprise that many organizations approach their control room design with the same mindset. Stakeholders want their investment to not only perform well but also look impressive, and symmetry can deliver a powerful first impression. The challenge, however, is that in mission-critical environments, those visual priorities rarely align with the ergonomic and operational needs of the people working inside them.

The Trap in Symmetrical Control Rooms

While symmetry is appealing on paper, applying it in control rooms often undermines the very purpose of the space. Symmetrical rooms can look impressive, but they rarely support the complex workflows, sightlines, and ergonomic demands of 24/7 operations.

Control room symmetry tends to impact three levels of the design:

Operator Examples: When Symmetry Helps, and When It Hurts

At first glance, a symmetrical room design looks “right.” Our brains instinctively read balance as correctness: matching workstations, mirrored equipment layouts, and consistent footprints. That instinct can be powerful, but in a control room, it can also mislead.

This layout is visually jarring, especially when you compare it to the layout in Console 1. When you see an asymmetrical layout like Console 2, your mind immediately jumps to the things that you need to add or take away from the workstation to balance out the design.

But in this case, asymmetry reflects functionality. The operator on the right has a different role that requires three monitors. Forcing every station to match, in the name of symmetry, would mean stripping away the tools that operator actually needs.

This is the core danger of designing symmetrical rooms: visual harmony can unconsciously override functional requirements. Without realizing it, teams make design choices for appearance rather than performance, sacrificing ergonomics, sightlines, and workflow efficiency.

Designing Beyond Symmetry: Ergonomics and Real Solutions

Symmetry, in other words, appeals to instinct, not to operator needs. In a mission-critical environment, that’s a dangerous trade-off. ISO 11064 makes clear that the most important information must remain within the primary viewing zone (roughly 15° above and 25° below eye level). Yet in many symmetrical rooms, critical data is pushed into secondary or even tertiary zones just to preserve visual balance.

At Tresco, our consoles are designed to avoid this trap. The AEGIS line offers curated, compact configurations that support proper sightlines even in space-constrained environments. The modular NEXUS console adapts asymmetrically when needed, aligning with video walls and operator roles rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all footprint. And the VANGUARD console, with its motorized monitor backwall, allows each operator to adjust displays to their own ergonomic envelope, whether the room layout is symmetrical or not.

When function drives form, operators perform better, teams collaborate more effectively, and the space still achieves a professional aesthetic. That balance, not perfect symmetry, should be the real design goal.

When Symmetry Does Make Sense

Symmetrical room layouts aren’t necessarily a problem if operational requirements for different workstations aren’t being sacrificed just for the sake of symmetry. There can also be operational benefits to symmetrical workstations. If there are multiple operator stations set up to do the exact same job, it is easier for operators to orient themselves from any workstation in the room when their consoles are consistent.

Think Beyond the Bird’s-Eye View

It is also worth keeping in perspective that the way that you perceive the space in person will be completely different when you are standing in the control center versus what you see on a bird’s eye view of a layout drawing.

Operator Comfort Should Come First

Keep the actual goals for the space at the top of your mind; you may be able to meet the goals of the space better by providing workstations that are multiple different sizes, shapes, and asymmetrical.

For all the multi-operator control centers, it is worth considering localized heating and cooling options at each operator’s console. Even if the workstations aren’t identical, giving operators control over heating and cooling at their individual station can drastically improve comfort and satisfaction.

Don’t Let Symmetry Dictate Your Design

Symmetrical room layouts aren’t always bad, but they become a problem when they compromise functionality. Keep the real goals for the space in mind. You might find that asymmetry, when intentional, better supports workflow, comfort, and performance.

Design with purpose. Not just for appearance.