What is the Future of Offices Post COVID-19?
Unsurprisingly, the office sector of commercial real estate has been a hot topic this past year. The office is typically known as a place of collaboration within an organization that allows social interaction, creative partnerships, communal development, group mentoring, and a productive environment to excel as a team. Due to the pandemic, the office setting was disrupted, and now the question is how it will return and what that “new” office space will look like.
According to “Purpose of Place: History and Future of the Office External Link,” five prominent factors will determine the office’s future. The five dynamics identified include:
- Productivity
- Innovation
- Company culture and branding
- Employee satisfaction/ retention
- Location and building strategy
Mainly, it boils down to the pros and cons of office versus remote work capabilities specific to companies or brands. Does your company produce more in a collaborative workspace, or are your employees’ content and able to produce the same, if not more, in a remote environment? Either way, the office sector will not completely dissolve, yet it will evolve to what makes the most sense.
Above all, what makes the most sense is to make sure office spaces are healthy and safe to return to work. This also means structurally, so if your office building is in need of a seismic retrofit, contact us today.