Return to Office

When people have options, we need to ensure we are creating compelling spaces that are enticing enough that people want to be there. Therefore, hubs, or main offices, must offer better technology, more intuitive work points, access to services and amenities and to clients and colleagues to make them desired destinations. And we also have an opportunity to create lifestyle studios that incorporate some of the best elements of remote working into our shared spaces. Be it neighborhoods that are pet-friendly; maker spaces that enable people to continue their newly adopted hobbies with their colleagues; or collective gardens or kitchens where teams can cook or eat together.

The lens needs to be more firmly on "where do people do specific tasks more effectively". Look at productivity, efficiency and human metrics to determine which tasks are typically carried out better where (by individuals, teams and departments). Collaboration, celebration and community are three strong use cases for the office. The power of casual collision cannot be underestimated. Forcing people into using the office, like forcing them to use PowerPoint for everything they do, is futile. They will quickly realize it is not always fit for purpose and in some instances can hamper their deliverables.

Hospitality, convenience and ESG are now front and center with the same enthusiasm as a consumer environment. It is with this in mind that we move forward. From home to desk, we are looking for opportunities to increase the quantity of options and quality of service delivery, looking specifically at dynamic, frictionless and technology-driven innovations. In doing so, we can help occupiers find a balance between comfort and productivity. Just as important, we are empowering their ability to project culture and community onto one of their most tangible resources, physical office space.

This article shares perspectives on trends we are seeing in commercial cleaning and how cleaning for health instead of just cleaning for sight will effect our indoor environments going forward as well as how these expectations will impact facilities management. We will also need better cleaning validation metrics and tools.

The December 2021 Newsletter shares the articles and trends that are impacting the intersection of real estate, offices and technology.

This month's articles will look at return to office stats after the Delta surge, office utilization data, employee mental health, office market data and worker anxiety. We hope this content is helpful as you build out and execute your return to the office plans with employees.

The Delta variant delayed many return to the office plans and this research report looks through the data by location, occupancy and vaccination rates to try and determining the most likely return to office dates. It's worth checking out the latest data that will impact office re-openings.