30 Years of Control Room Innovation: What Sustema Has Learned

Thirty years ago, control rooms looked very different.

Pictured above: from left to right, CSA mission-control room before renovations, CSA mission-control room after installing Sustema consoles. Read the case study here.

Operators worked with bulky CRT monitors, dedicated hardware, paper logs, and fixed workstation layouts. Technology occupied a significant amount of space, and rooms were often designed around the equipment rather than the people using it.

Today, control rooms are connected, data-driven environments where operators monitor complex systems, interpret real-time information, and make critical decisions around the clock. Multi-monitor workstations, large-format video walls, advanced analytics, and rapidly evolving software have transformed how these spaces function.

This year, Sustema celebrates its 30th anniversary. Over three decades, we have evolved from our beginnings as a systems integrator and amassed extensive experience designing and manufacturing furniture for mission-critical environments. We have seen technologies come and go, operational requirements become more complex, and expectations around operator wellness rise considerably.

Through it all, one principle has remained constant: a successful control room must support the people who depend on it.

Here are some of the most important lessons we have learned.

1. Technology Changes Quickly, but Good Design Endures

The technology inside a control room rarely stays the same for long.

A workstation that once supported a single CRT monitor may now need to accommodate multiple displays, communication equipment, specialized peripherals, and additional computing infrastructure. New software platforms, video systems, and visualization tools continue to change how operators receive and interpret information.

Designing a console solely around today’s equipment can create limitations tomorrow. A monitor configuration may change. A team may grow. New hardware may require additional power, data connections, cooling, or cable capacity.

That is why control room furniture should be designed for adaptation rather than a single technology configuration.

After 30 years, the essential operator requirements remain remarkably consistent:

• Clear visibility of critical information

• Comfortable access to frequently used equipment

• Reliable performance during continuous operations

• Organized power and data infrastructure

• A workspace that can evolve with changing technology

The strongest control room designs balance immediate operational requirements with the flexibility to accommodate what comes next.

2. Control Rooms Must Be Designed Around Operators

In the 1990s, control rooms were frequently organized around technology. Equipment dimensions, monitor depth, wiring requirements, and hardware placement often determined the layout.

Today, operator performance is a central design consideration.

This shift is especially important in environments where people may work long or overnight shifts. Poor monitor positioning, limited adjustability, cluttered work surfaces, and uncomfortable postures can contribute to fatigue and make demanding work even more difficult.

An effective operator-centered workstation considers:

• Seated and standing working positions

• Monitor height, distance, and viewing angles

• Access to keyboards, communication devices, and controls

• Appropriate reach zones

• Legroom and freedom of movement

• Cable organization

• Collaboration between adjacent operators

• The needs of different users and body types

Sit-stand functionality and adjustable monitor supports can also help operators change

position throughout a shift without losing access to essential information.

The lesson is straightforward: even the most advanced technology cannot compensate for a workspace that makes it difficult for an operator to perform comfortably and consistently.

3. The Control Room Has Become a Strategic Asset

Control rooms were once viewed primarily as places for monitoring equipment and responding to alarms. Today, they often serve as the operational center of an organization.

Utilities, transportation networks, public safety agencies, security operations, and manufacturing facilities all rely on control room teams to maintain situational awareness and coordinate timely responses. In these environments, the control room is not simply another workspace. It is where information becomes action.

This evolution has changed what organizations need from their facilities. A modern control room must support:

• Rapid access to critical information

• Clear communication between operators

• Collaboration during complex events

• Effective supervision and escalation

• Uninterrupted operation

• Shared situational awareness

Furniture plays a supporting but important role in this environment. Console placement can influence sightlines and communication. Worksurface organization can affect how quickly an operator accesses equipment. Cable management can simplify maintenance and reduce unnecessary disruption.

Every design decision should contribute to a room’s operational purpose.

4. Flexibility Is No Longer Optional

During a control room’s service life, almost everything around the furniture may change.

Organizations introduce new software. Monitors are added or replaced. Teams expand. Responsibilities shift. Workflows change. Facilities may also need to support remote collaboration or hybrid operating models.

Replacing an entire control room every time technology changes is neither practical nor cost-effective. The environment must be able to adapt.

This makes flexibility an essential part of control room planning. Depending on the application, that can include:

• Modular console components

• Scalable workstation layouts

• Accessible cable-management systems

• Accommodations for additional monitors and equipment

• Reconfigurable storage

• Space for future power and data requirements

• Components that can be serviced or replaced individually

Flexibility is not about predicting every future technology. It is about creating an infrastructure that can respond when requirements inevitably change. See how the City of Springfield achieved this, read the case study.

Our experience has shown that planning for adaptation at the beginning of a project can reduce disruption and protect the organization’s investment over time.

5. Durability Delivers Long-Term Value

Mission-critical environments operate differently from conventional offices. Many run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with workstations shared across multiple shifts and subjected to constant use.

In these conditions, durability is not simply a product feature. It is an operational requirement.

Materials, construction methods, hardware, finishes, and serviceability all influence how a console performs over its lifespan. A lower initial price can become less attractive if surfaces deteriorate, components loosen, adjustment mechanisms become unreliable, or maintenance repeatedly interrupts operations.

Long-term value should therefore be evaluated using more than the purchase price. Organizations should also consider:

• Expected service life

• Frequency and ease of maintenance

• Availability of replacement components

• Ability to upgrade or reconfigure the workstation

• Resistance to wear from continuous use

• Potential disruption caused by premature replacement

Control room furniture is not a short-term accessory. In a mission-critical facility, it is part of the operational infrastructure.

6. The Best Furniture Supports the Work Without Distracting From It

A well-designed control room console does not need to be the center of attention.

Instead, it should allow the operator, technology, and workflow to function together naturally. Equipment should be accessible. Cables should be organized. Sightlines should be clear. Operators should be able to change position and collaborate without unnecessary obstacles.

When the furniture performs as intended, people notice the results:

• More organized technology

• Comfortable and supported operators

• Efficient workflows

• Easier equipment access

• A professional, cohesive environment

• Smoother day-to-day operations

This may be one of the most valuable lessons we have learned over the past 30 years. The success of control room furniture is not measured by how much attention it attracts. It is measured by how effectively it supports the people and operations around it.

Looking Ahead to the Next 30 Years

Control rooms will continue to evolve. Artificial intelligence, increased automation, new visualization systems, remote collaboration, and expanding data volumes will influence how operators work and how mission-critical facilities are planned.

The precise technologies may be difficult to predict. The underlying purpose is not.

Control rooms will still need to help people understand information, communicate effectively, maintain situational awareness, and make sound decisions under pressure. They will still require furniture that is ergonomic, dependable, flexible, and built for continuous operation.

For 30 years, Sustema has worked alongside organizations to create control room environments that respond to these realities. Every project has added to our understanding of what operators need, how technology changes, and why thoughtful design matters.

As we celebrate this milestone, we are proud of the experience we have amassed and grateful to the customers, partners, operators, designers, and team members who have contributed to our journey.

The next generation of control rooms will undoubtedly look different. Our commitment will remain the same: creating environments built around the people who depend on them.

Ready to Plan Your Next Control Room?

Whether you are developing a new facility, modernizing an existing control room, or preparing for future technology requirements, Sustema brings 30 years of experience to the conversation.

Contact Sustema to explore how your next control room can support today’s operators and adapt to tomorrow’s challenges.