The Future of Office Buildings

Seven months into the pandemic as many office workers continue to work at home, facility managers at office buildings may be wondering about their job security. The good news is that although future offices may be smaller, they are still crucial, according to facility experts who took part in the virtual  Workplace Trends Summit earlier this month.

One summit session dispelled myths on Generation Z workers. Although some people believe this generation is blurring the line between work and leisure, data from workplace architects found this is a misconception. Generation Z workers want a clearer definition of work time versus and homelife and an office space can provide that separation.  An ideal office workspace provides areas where employees can carry out individual work and group work, for instance, quiet areas for concentration, research-based areas for exploration, and collaborative spaces for meetings and group projects.

The recent quarantine has given office workers time to consider what they miss by working virtually, especially a lack of in-person conversations. Many pre-COVID-19 offices were half empty as people began working remote more. As a result, companies tended to add more desks, but with less space. Facility experts believe this practice will change, with office managers designing a workplace to accommodate blended working—a combination of working from home, working locally in hubs, and attending a head office.

The key takeaway of the summit was despite the pandemic leading to enforced working from home, offices will remain that our designed to meet the needs of modern workers. For some, work can be more difficult to perform while an office offers identity and belonging.