As construction of office buildings such as WS Development’s One Boston Wharf – whose steel skeleton is seen at right – continues, tenants and their advisers face decisions on how to maximize employees’ productivity in the hybrid era. Photo by James Sanna | Banker & Tradesman Staff

For too long, office design was about a kit of parts – matching desks, file cabinets, chairs – all easily rearranged on a dime. 

The advent of hybrid work has changed how we think about the typical office layout. It’s more than a bundle of matching furniture. Instead, employers are leveraging office space as a tool to lure employees back into the office in a productive, worthy, and beneficial way. That’s where workplace strategists come in. 

In mid-2020, hybrid office policies centered around the number of days employees spent in the office, and fewer days in the office meant less space. But to the surprise of companies and landlords alike, that is not the case today. Companies today are rethinking and investing in better, and often larger, office space, even as employees spend less time in the office. The reason for that is simple: even if companies are adopting hybrid schedules, most want to promote maximum attendance and overlap on the same days. Everyone still needs a place to sit. 

Raising the Bar for Experiences 

As workplace strategists, our role is to work directly with brokers, landlords and tenants in navigating the future of in-office work with innovation that uplifts dynamic new ways of working that support workforce needs, including design elements that improve the user experience. And as more employees return to the office, the bar is higher than ever for what in-office work experience means. 

Employees today want an office experience that is better than in 2019. This is forcing CRE experts, including brokers, to consult workplace strategists and often making them part of the process to help companies and tenants create a tailored vision for the future of work. Designing office space to be more personal, configurable and that draws people in beyond the free lunch and other infamous perks offers opportunities to unlock the full potential of their talent and time. 

As we emerge from the pandemic, we’ve learned that some teams don’t need to work in person five days a week to maintain high productivity levels. Therefore, employers should consider why they’re asking employees to return to the office and design the space supporting that vision. This means the office could be inspired by new archetypes. Could it be a mix of a clubhouse, Zen garden and learning hub? 

Lauren Hasson

Tech as a Leading Office Indicator 

In the latest JLL Tech Office Trends and Outlook report, we explored how tech companies are optimizing space for software engineers, because the tech industry has led office experience trends for a long time. When thinking of office space and design, offices will be: 

Intentional: When users come to the office, it will be for a specific purpose – to learn, focus, mentor, get feedback, or another defined intent.  

Agile:Form and function of space should support agile principles. Teams can easily adjust furniture to shift from a daily standup to a sprint review.  

Protected: Most technology workers want privacy to get their best work done. This requires a disruption-free neighborhood, nooks or other environment where they know their ability to focus is protected.  

Balanced: There will be a more diverse understanding of what workers need to downshift. Hypersocial game rooms and cafes only work for some, and we’ll see more low-sensory rooms and environments emerge as well.  

Zoe Benson

Creative: The future tech office, as well as other industries, will be a place for teams to display their work, inspiring cross-collaboration and new ideas. Quirks, curiosities, and unexpected moments will keep users on their toes.  

While there’s a stronger understanding of the value of in-office amenities and other features that impact overall experience, the ultimate draw to get people back to the office is to ensure their colleagues will be there too. There’s no silver bullet to guarantee a strong return to office, but remaining stagnant is not an option. Experimentation and investment in workplace strategy is the key. 

Lauren Hasson is vice president of workplace strategy and Zoe Benson is a senior workplace specialist at JLL.