by Susan WardThe office kitchen sink used to be the place where employees would catch up on the latest news and gossip but now, in many modern working environments, it is the focal point for official workplace meetings.The offices of Pontiflex, a mobile advertising firm based in Brooklyn, New York, are one such example.Zephrin Lasker, Pontiflex chief executive, reveals his company spent 75,000 on creating office space with an open, airy atmosphere. There are no individual offices instead, a giant communal table has been installed in the kitchen.I think, just like home designs centre around kitchens, office designs are increasingly shifting focus around kitchens too, he says.We have a very large kitchen with a long counter that we use for a daily meeting. That big communal space becomes a place to relax, but it also becomes a place for sharing of ideas. We found a huge amount of ROI and value there.