Exploring organizational architecture and space: a case for heterodox research Tuomo Peltonen Department of Industrial Management, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance the methodological self-understanding of the emerging field of organizational space and architecture by employing concepts and frameworks from multi-paradigm and mixed methods research. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a methodological re-reading of a recent research process that analyzed the spatial and architectural dynamics in a Finnish university organization. Findings – While the analysis of architectural meanings is often grounded in researcher-participants auto-ethnographic experiences, triangulating personal insights with other methods is important for the validity and richness of the subsequent description of spatial dynamics and its outcomes. Especially, the incorporation of architectural visions and representations into the analysis is argued to enhance our understanding of the emergence of particular social-material collectives. Originality/value – Although there is a steady stream of empirical studies on the meanings of organizational space and architecture, rigorous accounts of the methodological challenges of spatial analyses have so far been scarce. This paper aims to partially fill this gap. Keywords Finland, Universities, Organizational analysis, Architecture, Space utilization, Organizations, Multi-paradigm research, Methodology Paper type Research paper Introduction The organizational study of space and architecture has advanced rapidly during the past few years. In addition to numerous individual contributions (Clegg and Kornberger, 2006; Hernes, 2004; Dale and Burrell, 2008; Taylor and Spicer, 2007), two recent special issues (Culture and Organization, 2011 and Journal of Organizational Change Management, 2011) have been devoted to the topic. Taking its inspiration from fields such as aesthetics (Linstead and Ho ¨pfl, 2000), symbolism (Gagliardi, 1990; Berg and Kreiner, 1990) and poststructuralism (Foucault, 1979; Fallan, 2008), research into organizational space has opened new avenues to conceptualize organizations as embedded in and performed through built environments and architectural settings. Previous studies have examined the design and consumption of organizational spaces in diverse situations and contexts, including planned change (van Marrewijk, 2009; Dale, 2005), introduction of innovative work facilities (Warren, 2008; Halford, 2004), and spatial articulations of the fashionable (Taylor and Spicer, 2007; Kornberger and Clegg, 2004) as well as more unconventional organizational forms (Watkins, 2005; Knigma, 2008; Yanow, 1995). As a study of how material objects and artifacts take part in the creation of social forms in interaction with human action and symbolization (Warren, 2008), The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/1934-8835.htm IJOA 20,1 68 International Journal of Organizational Analysis Vol. 20 No. 1, 2012 pp. 68-81 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1934-8835 DOI 10.1108/19348831211215669