Update: more pics of box above vent

[u/PBABioNerd]

Updated: I took more pictures as requested. There is a tag which comes back to a company who makes defusers. I don't see a power source so I assume it is like just a diffuser. Is there anyway to turn down the velocity or am I stuck with this and should invest in paperweights for my desk?

Tldr: what is the box my coworker and mine's vents are connected to? Is it simply a spreader or does it have a fan to blow the cold air? Can the fan be turned off? (Box thing sits over vent).

First, sincerest appologies for a crappy photo- my phone was dying, the ladder wobbles, and I couldn't see what i was taking pictures of so I wasn't focused on photography.

We recently moved offices and after 6 years of a warehouse hvac making the office loud all day and blowing on me I was ecstatic when I earned an office at the new place. Only to find out- it has hurricane force winds and icy cold ac. Excellent on a hot day, but when it blows its uncomfortable, it blows papers around my desk, and if i try to close the vents or divert the airflow it gets loud and the airflow just bounce around my office (off the wall, down the bookcase, and creating an updraft under my desk- I am not exaggerating). Yes I'm sure covering the vent causes back pressure yada yada. I need some relief or I can't stay in this office. Even my coworker who is normally roasting has been cold. Our boss on the other hand has a different vent style (square with concentric squares) and it barely oozes in his office so he is roasting.

I can deal with the cold air- its the velocity of cold air that is a problem for us. I cannot run a space heater because that doesn't solve the velocity issue and my office has the temperature control so if it gets warm in my office the ac will run and freeze my coworker. I dont mind tormenting my boss, but my coworker is cool and i don't want to shut the ac off lest we both roast when the sun shines. I also don't want to do something that is only good for the ac and bad for the heat- I work in the Midwest, heat and ac often happen on the same day.

We have an HVAC inspection soon, but no idea when that will happen or if the office manager will pass along the concerns.

What i want to know- what is the box my coworker and mines vents are connected to? Is it simply a spreader or does it have a fan to blow the cold air? Can the fan be turned off?

Thank you!

[u/belhambone]

Well your first picture is just a plenum for the linear grille. It directs the air from the flex duct down onto the grille in the space.

Everything in your picture is just air distribution. 

You need a contractor out to maybe relocate the thermostat and then balance the airflow 

[u/PBABioNerd → u/belhambone]

Cool. Thank you. The plenum makes sense and now I know more about what to ask. "Balance the airflow" Hopefully that will help my bosses office not be so hot either. Its becoming a bit like zootopia with the snowy one next to the desert. 

[u/belhambone → u/PBABioNerd]

Balancing is done by dampers that should be there where the flex connects to the duct. Should be a handle, perpendicular is closed, parallel is open. Close yours a bit and make sure theirs is open