A recent report from global design and architecture firm Gensler (1) found that while 4 out of 5 respondents want to return to the office in some way each week, 67% want more flexi-bility in the future. This includes both the ability to choose where they work and when they work there. One upshot for employers is that offices will have to support “activities and ex-periences” that cannot be done at home. There will also be a trend towards smaller offices so companies can reduce their rental and/or operational costs.
Office of the Future Report, (2) authored by workplace design consultants Peldon Rose is also insightful on this subject. The office of the future, it states, must allow staff to be “con-nected, collaborative and creative.” Larger premises will continue to be needed by some companies, but it will become more common to share space with other businesses. For landlords, in particular, the emphasis will shift to ‘ready to work’ offices that don’t require much preparation by tenants.