5 Office Space Trends for 2023 And Beyond
Category Commerical Property News
Workspaces are changing. With employees wanting to embrace remote work, integrations with AI and other technological advancements, and a demand for sustainability and balance, offices need to keep up. Office spaces that embrace these five trends can future-proof their businesses for years to come:
1. Offices As Destinations - It's Not Just About Work
Office spaces are becoming more enticing. With many people opting to work from home if they have the opportunity, offices need to up their game to make more people want to leave their homes for work. Wellness spaces are a popular way to do this. These spaces may include meditation rooms, yoga studios or classes, gyms, eating spaces, and even nap pods. According to Corporate Wellness Magazine, some of the top companies in the world (Google, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, and Zappos) are bringing in "nap pods" to their offices for their employees and are seeing improved productivity in return.
Creating an office environment that benefits the well-being of employees makes returning to workspaces much more tempting.
2. AI Incorporation
With the rise of remote work and digital collaboration tools, continued integration with advanced technology and AI will be the norm. This may include video conferencing systems, interactive whiteboards, and even virtual reality tools.
This will change many industries - don't think that there are office spaces that won't be affected. After all, remember the famous 90s prediction from economist Paul Krugman? "By 2005 or so, it will become clear that the Internet's impact on the economy has been no greater than the fax machine's." That's not quite what happened.
We'll see AI taking over more and more repetitive tasks to free up employees for more creative endeavours.
"...90% of leading businesses already have ongoing investment in AI technologies. More than half of businesses that have implemented some manner of AI-driven technology report experiencing greater productivity," tells Forbes.
3. Function, Flexibility, and Creativity
People coming into the office and sitting in the same cubicle or desk day after day is no longer how office plans are based.
Office spaces that can easily adapt to changing needs are likely to be popular in 2023 and for years to come. This means modular furniture that can be rearranged, open spaces that can be divided into smaller areas when needed, and desk sharing.
Desk sharing basically means that employees don't have a set workspace - there are a variety of desks that people can just set up at for the day. Plus, with the rise of cloud-based technology, desk sharing has become way more feasible. "The motivation behind desk sharing is better space utilisation and lower costs for the business. For employees, it's meant to eliminate the droll, repetitious concept of doing the same thing every day. Desk sharing offers the flexibility both sides need to function better, while promoting a positive, healthy workplace culture," says SpaceIQ.
If companies want to encourage innovation and creativity to stay competitive, office spaces need to be designed for out-the-box thinking. This may include colourful, visually stimulating spaces and playful elements like games.
Another workspace trend that will continue to gain traction is biophilia. This refers to making offices more lively with plants and green spaces. "Research has found that natural elements, such as daylight and indoor plants, can increase levels of creativity by up to 15%. Having colourful and vibrant plants with unique patterns and leaves have a high chance of helping boost creativity within the office space," explains AKKA Architects.
4. Sustainability
Environmental consciousness has moved higher up on the wish list of employees. In a survey of 1,000 employees, nearly 70% of respondents said that if a company had a strong sustainability plan, it would affect their decision to stay with that company long-term. "Millennials - who will make up three-quarters of the workforce in six years - are most likely to have done this," says Fast Company for the survey results.
Office spaces that are designed with sustainability in mind are going to become more and more popular. This may include buildings that are energy-efficient (great for cost savings, too), use renewable energy sources, or have green roofs and walls.
"The Internet of Things will play a huge role in creating these more sustainable office spaces. Using sensors to monitor activity across an entire building has serious potential in terms of preserving energy and avoiding waste," explains PrimalBase on Medium.
5. Remote First
You can't put the genie back in the bottle - remote work is here to stay. A 2022 survey conducted by McKinsey & Company (surveying 25,000 workers across a range of industries) found that seeking out flexible work environments is the third reason why people search for new jobs. In fact, remote work is such a large priority for the workers surveyed that 87% of them said that when offered the chance to work remotely, they would take it.
This is where hybrid workspaces come in. Hybrid workspaces combine elements of a traditional office with remote work to support collaboration, communication, and productivity, as well as work-life balance.
"As employees return to the office and further embrace the hybrid experience, there is less need for individually 'owned' spaces like closed offices. A larger emphasis is being placed on team and community-centered spaces that can be utilised for a variety of events," explains All Work.
Advancements in technology, remote work, and employee wellness will be some of the key drivers of office space changes. By embracing these changes, businesses can create more productive, efficient, and engaging work environments that benefit both employees and the bottom line.
Author: OfficePlace