THE WELL-BEING CONCEPTS SHAPING THE OFFICES OF THE FUTURE
Five trends set to change what business leaders look for when leasing a HQ. As the world emerges from the chaos of Covid-19, it’s no surprise that some businesses are questioning the need for corporate HQs – or at least reconsidering their function. Hybrid and hub-and-spoke models of working are already being embraced by companies as diverse as Google and Standard Chartered bank.
Five trends set to change what business leaders look for when leasing a HQ.
As the world emerges from the chaos of Covid-19, it’s no surprise that some businesses are questioning the need for corporate HQs – or at least reconsidering their function. Hybrid and hub-and-spoke models of working are already being embraced by companies as diverse as Google and Standard Chartered bank. These see the office as a space for connecting, rather than a base from which staff have to work every day. Instead, employees are free to use coworking spaces (‘spokes’) closer to home for their day-to-day work, visiting the HQ (‘hub’) for key meetings.
Given that businesses also need to prioritise agility, post-pandemic, there are good reasons why a firm might choose to house its new HQ within a flexspace. The freedom to scale a space up or down in short order, plus the savings on real estate and the reduced carbon footprint that flexible workspaces offer, are already proving attractive. In Vancouver, Deloitte has taken over an entire 6,500sq m Spaces building, and intends to create an inclusive coworking space for its 700 employees. Meanwhile, EY will base its Oslo HQ in the innovative Stortorvet 7 Spaces from 2023, using this as its hub while also giving employees access to other Spaces properties throughout Norway. IWG has enjoyed a record start to 2021, attracting more than a million new customers in the first half of the year alone.
“The office HQ will become a place to collaborate, to celebrate, to meet your colleagues and to go out for a drink afterwards,” says IWG CEO Mark Dixon. “It will become a social place.”
In light of this shift, forward-thinking companies aren’t reining in their ambition when it comes to designing or selecting new HQs. Here’s a look at what they’ll want from the offices of the future.
Dedicated collaboration areas
Open plan spaces packed with rows of desks will become a thing of the past as new HQs require well-designed, comfortable areas for creative collaboration and problem solving. These should be set up with technology that enables discussion between those on site and employees working remotely.
Individual, ‘owned’ desks are likely to become obsolete in the new world of work, as is grouping people by department or job role. Rather, hot desking will be expected, and ‘round table’ seating of workers by project will become standard, allowing for easier team work.
The recently opened Spaces Napa Valley offers cutting-edge design with ergonomic furniture, private areas, adjustable-height desks, meeting rooms and 24 hour access, as well as the option of a virtual office.
Outdoor space and natural interiors
Open spaces for walking, al fresco eating and outdoor meetings are essentials for any large corporate HQ, but some companies are going further, with areas set aside for yoga, t'ai chi or outdoor gym equipment.
Google’s plans for its new London HQ – already known as ‘The Landscaper’ – feature a massive rooftop garden with wildflower-filled ‘pause areas’, an outdoor café and a 200m running track.
The Helix, part of Amazon’s new office complex in Arlington, Virginia, will be a glass spiral tower with an outdoor pathway climbing up its exterior. Designed to provide a verdant trail for employees, it’s intended to mimic the experience of walking up and down woodland hills.
Bringing the outside inside is a key way for landlords and property owners with minimal outdoor space to tap into the naturalistic trend. A Harvard University study shows that greener offices are more productive, and the case for having plenty of indoor plants is bolstered by Exeter University’s finding that employee engagement and concentration levels rise after the introduction of greenery to a work space.
Choosing real wood furniture and ensuring that spaces have plenty of natural light also enhances workers’ wellbeing, helping to promote a sense of connection to the world beyond work.
Pro-fitness features
Gyms, yoga studios and swimming pools are just some of the items on the menu for companies currently building new HQs. Google’s Landscaper office will also feature an indoor basketball court and ‘nap pods’ for staff who want to catch 40 winks between meetings (or recover from a lunchtime spent throwing hoops).
There are simpler ways to promote employees’ health, however. Plentiful bike racks, ‘play’ areas where staff can take active breaks (indulging in games such as darts or table football), plus adaptable sitting/standing desks are all set to become the new norm.
Sustainable spaces
Studies show that employees prefer to work for businesses whose practices are environmentally friendly, so it makes sense to choose an office that’s been designed with sustainability in mind.
Solar protection glazing is a key feature of several new Spaces centres, including Spaces Omniturm, which has been awarded a platinum certificate by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The glass used for the building’s windows has a special coating designed to reduce the amount of heat entering a space, reflecting and absorbing light as well as filtering it for reduced glare. This helps to reduce the need for air-conditioning, artificial light and heating, ultimately cutting the building’s carbon footprint.
Old buildings that have been refurbished with renewable materials are likely to attract business leaders, as are offices fitted with solar panels and rainwater collection systems. Meanwhile, charging points for electric vehicles signal the sort of eco-friendliness that companies now look for in a HQ.
Enhanced safety elements
While the Covid-19 pandemic might soon be behind us, its effect on how businesses view health and safety could be long-lasting.
Cramming hundreds of people into confined spaces is an uncomfortable prospect, whereas the move to a hub-and-spoke model of working lends itself to enabling safe social distancing for as long as necessary.
At company HQs, safety features such as movable glass screens or living walls can be employed to create spatial divisions that don’t disrupt the look and feel of the workplace.
Office cleanliness will also be a priority for business leaders looking to redesign or relocate their HQs as Covid-19 recedes. Safety features such as no-touch doors, voice-enabled technology in communal areas and automatic wellness checks (such as digital thermometers) in building entrances are likely to prove popular.