Forward Space, LLC’s Post

ROUNDTABLE: CREATING THE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT OF TOMORROW “Every business with the opportunity to break a lease has gone back to the drawing board to re-evaluate what their commercial office space must deliver for them. It may be more serviced facilities, it may be smaller spaces spread across different locations. The demand remains, just in a different form.” One of the many and enduring changes necessitated by the pandemic was to the pre-2020 office culture. As people’s working habits and expectations irreversibly changed, the world of work looks and feels entirely different than it did just a few years ago. As attitudes and behaviours have shifted, many companies have subsequently struggled to encourage staff to return to the office environment, which in turn has materially changed demand in the commercial office sector. Yet the time of the commercial office has not, as many commentators predicted, come to an end, with companies beginning to see again the value and advantages that a fixed office space can bring, even if hybrid working and greater flexibility will be essential to employee retention moving forward. In a roundtable led by the commercial property team at Tees Valley independent commercial law firm The Endeavour Partnership, the panel explored the many benefits and opportunities that having a commercial office can bring, as well as considering how landlords and stakeholders can rise to the challenge of creating a place in which employees genuinely want to come to work. Read their insight and opinion here: https://lnkd.in/eUnMrHj6 Alexandra Ketchley, senior associate in The Endeavour Partnership’s commercial property team Natalie Kay, partner in The Endeavour Partnership’s commercial property team Michael Greene, chief executive of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Chris Pearson, partner at Naylors Gavin Black Rachel Fergus, UK insurance and facilities manager at Royal Den Hartogh Logistics Dean Benson, founder of Visualsoft Ltd #NET #northeasttimes #makingconnections #drivingconversations

What's great about the flex office industry today are the many variations of business models that are being offered today which reflects the demands from various companies, solopreneurs and enterprise groups. From companies like Radius to Switchyards to COhatch to Kiln who offer something for everyone. Some operators offer a club atmosphere while others focus on community collaboration, events and conference facilities. Other operators take the old executive suite program and add in hospitality with a flavor. These operators seem to make the business environment very professional but at the same time offer hospitality through an expansive cafe experience thats allows for networking and collaboration. These groups include Lucid Private Offices, Carr Workplaces, Quest Workspaces and Spaces. offices | co-working | meeting rooms. With so many companies and enterprise groups seeking flexible workplace solutions in today's economy, there is no wonder why this business model is becoming attractive to landlords. With the cultural and structural shifts toward work, its not about "where" we work but "how" we work and what does that look like today. The Future of Work today is more about elevating the workplace experience and creating an environment that is convenient, accessible and checks all the boxes. Landlords and office brokers alike need to understand the varies revenue streams in offering flexible workplace solutions, not to mention how this business model can reactivate that building and add value. As cities and local governments have to deal with lower valuations and how that impacts tax revenues, landlords also need to understand new ways to generate income by offering flexible workplace solutions. No, the office is not dead. Rather its being transformed to something even better. And flexible workplace solutions has become the business model of the future that today is very appealing to companies and enterprise groups seeking ways to bring their teams together once again. Who's thinking about the future of work and creating an elevated workplace experience? These folks are living it while others are delivering it. Nick Bloom and Phil Kirschner and Brian Elliott and Sophie Wade and Rob Sadow and many others who direct corporate teams!

Do shared lunches lure you back into the office? What about Friday Pie Day or Free Coffee Mondays? I know what lures me back—it’s the people. I love the people I work with. They are a finely balanced curation of awesomeness. I also get lured back because, let’s be honest, I get distracted at home. The washing, the dog, the couriers—something shiny... For me, coming into the office is a must. It’s perfectly designed for me to do what I need to do—work. Then, when I pick up and go home, the commute is my detox time, allowing me to be fully attentive to life outside work. For some, the office isn’t always the ideal workspace. Maybe the collaboration and team energy don’t quite click, or the Wi-Fi is just as dodgy as at home. It’s no secret that many businesses would like their teams back in the office more, with the belief that culture and collaboration have waned with so much working from home. Every other day, you see businesses mandating a return. But I’m of the camp that if the in-office experience was better than working from home, we wouldn’t have to mandate it. Make the office a place where people want to be, and watch the numbers swing back in favour of 'in office days'. So, what’s the secret to making the office work? 1. Maximise collaboration zones: Set up spaces that encourage teamwork but don’t cram everyone in. No one loves forced ‘fun’ meetings. 2. Ergonomics: Make sure your desk setup suits your work style, whether it’s standing desks, a quiet corner, away from a main egress 3. Tech Tech Tech: Ensure your tech is seamless. Nothing kills productivity like waiting 15 minutes for a video call to connect. 4. Light & Noise: consider where in the office is best for you to work to be the most productive, and who you should be near (or not). 5. Well-being: Many offices are set up now with a focus on well being and wellness, if this is on offer - lean into it. 6. Communal areas that work: Pies on Friday are great, but so are spaces to brainstorm and connect with your colleagues. Work benefits from good relationships. 7. Culture is key: Create an environment that supports a mix of productivity and fun. If the office feels like a place you want to be, half the battle’s already won. What would get you back in the office? #officedesign #collaborativedesign #workplacedesign #workplacestrategy #interiordesign #designer #spaceworksnz

Did you know that Gen Z is set to make up 30% of the workforce by 2030? As this generation steps into the corporate world, the traditional office setup is undergoing a significant transformation. At Palmer, we're not just observing these changes; we're actively participating in shaping the future of workspaces. We've been collaborating with a diverse range of clients, helping them adapt to the evolving workplace infrastructure. Our mission? To create environments that not only attract but also retain the dynamic Gen Z workforce. We understand that the office isn't just a place to work anymore. It's a space that needs to foster collaboration, encourage innovation, and promote wellbeing. That's why we're offering comprehensive integrative workplace solutions that include project management, warehousing, distribution, and FF&E installation. But we're not stopping there. We're constantly exploring new ways to make workspaces more flexible, more sustainable, and more in tune with the needs of Gen Z. We're grateful to be part of this exciting journey and look forward to sharing our insights with you. So, how are you preparing your workspace for Gen Z? What changes are you implementing? Share your thoughts in the comments below. If you found this post insightful, feel free to share it with your network. Together, let's redefine the future of work! #FutureOfWork #GenZ #OfficeRenovation #PalmerLogisticsServices

What is office peacocking & coffee badging? Office Peacocking: The Art of Making a Statement ImagineWhat is office peacocking & coffee badging? walking into an office filled with employees who all have a unique approach to their attire, workspace, and interactions. This is where the concept of "office peacocking" comes into play. Office peacocking refers to the act of drawing attention to oneself through deliberate displays of style, attitude, or behaviour in a professional setting. Here are a few ways in which office peacocking manifests: Dressing for Success: Some individuals may use their attire to stand out. They may wear bold colours, statement accessories, or unconventional clothing to make a memorable impression. Loud Communication: Speaking assertively and confidently, even when it's not necessary, is another form of peacocking. It's all about ensuring you're heard and your ideas are noticed. Workspace Personalization: A cluttered desk adorned with unusual decorations or a minimalist desk with pristine cleanliness—both can be forms of office peacocking. These personalised workspaces are often intended to convey a specific image. Self-Promotion: Constantly discussing achievements, showcasing work, and emphasising one's value within the organisation is also a method of peacocking. While office peacocking can be a way to stand out in a competitive work environment, it's essential to strike a balance between being assertive and respectful of colleagues' space and contributions. Coffee Badging: Building Bonds Over Brews In contrast to office peacocking, "coffee badging" revolves around a more subtle way of influencing office dynamics. This term refers to the act of forming connections, building relationships, and gaining influence through the shared ritual of coffee breaks, or occasional office visits. Here's how coffee badging works: Coffee Conversations: Many important discussions and networking opportunities take place during coffee breaks. It's a time for colleagues to discuss both professional and personal matters in a relaxed setting. Bonding Over Brews: Sharing a cup of coffee fosters friendship. Colleagues often invite others to grab a coffee, whether to discuss a project, provide feedback, or simply to catch up. These moments are crucial for building relationships in the office. Influential Connections: Those who engage in coffee badging effectively can leverage these connections to gain insights, support, and even influence within the workplace. Office peacocking and coffee badging are two sides of the same coin, reflecting the multifaceted nature of workplace interactions. While office peacocking emphasises self-expression and making a bold statement, coffee badging emphasises building connections and influencing others more subtly.

We've come a long way from the humdrum of the old 9-to-5 grind. As the future of work shifts towards a hybrid model, companies are refurbishing their office interiors and environments to complement, rather than compete with, remote work. The return-to-office wave post-pandemic has caused an uproar. Some companies are pushing hard to get everyone back, which is proving tricky given how many of us are clinging to our work-from-home routines. After years of working from home, the idea of returning to a standard office with cubicles and harsh fluorescent lights doesn't exactly sound thrilling. Office peacocking is one way companies are trying to make workplaces less stuffy and more inviting to entice employees back. Imagine walking into an office with cosy couches instead of rows of desks, a game room for breaks, and maybe even a fancy coffee bar. Just like a peacock flaunts its vibrant feathers, companies are decking out their offices with stylish furniture, high-end amenities, and trendy decor to lure in a workforce used to the comforts of home. What's your strategy for bringing back employees? Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gAxRmtgA #futureofwork #hybridwork #returntooffice #officepeacocking #workplacedesign #officerenovation #modernworkplace #officedecor #officeamenities #worklifebalance #officespace #workplacetrends #hidecor

Designing Away Toxicity: How Office Design Can Cultivate a Healthier Company Culture In the contemporary workspace, the influence of physical design on company culture is profound and far-reaching. As businesses strive to create environments that promote well-being and productivity, the role of office design in mitigating workplace toxicity has become an area I am intrigued with. All too often I hear from management and leaders that they want everyone back in the office, 'its better for the culture' or 'we are more productive'. From the people that are not management, we hear 'they don't trust us' or 'they want to micromanage us'. The words post pandemic are well and truly overused, and hybrid is a term many wish they didnt engage with. There are hybrid policies all around town and they dont necessarily work. A CBRE insight '81% of participants say leadership expectations and employee behaviour are not in sync'. All of these can be catalysts for a toxic culture along with employees thinking they are being forced back to the office. Toxic workplace culture is characterised by a range of negative behaviors and practices, including excessive competition, lack of transparency, micromanagement, and poor communication. Such environments lead to employee disengagement, high turnover rates, and overall low morale. Addressing these challenges through thoughtful physical design offers a unique and impactful solution. When businesses undertake design and build projects, they embark on a change management journey that, if managed well, can significantly enhance the work environment. Companies like us / Spaceworks Interior Architecture excel in collaborating with businesses to co-create spaces that employees are eager to engage with. Integrating design, workplace strategy, and employee engagement is key in reducing toxic elements and fostering a more inclusive and positive environment. If you are one of these businesses that are changing policies, consider the impact design can have - lets have coffee, I love chatting about this subject.

Why are so many US office landlords and stakeholders resistant toward offering flexible workplace solutions in their office assets? At a time when companies have shifted their position away from traditional office space, rather than satisfying this new demand metric, office landlords continue their path like its still 2019! With demand for flexible workplace solutions on the rise in the US because of this cultural and structural shift toward the future of work, we seem to be at that inflection point. No the office is not dead. Rather the office is going through a transformation. And its about the experience!! A serviced business model with multitude of revenue streams, not only reactivates buildings, but most of all, generates incomes that exceed market rents. Would you rather rely on one tenant paying rent for 25,000SF or have many companies paying you rent for that same space? What's a better risk today? And when one company leaves a flex office space, the turnover costs are nominal to zero!! There are so many benefits to offering flexible workplace solutions as compared to traditional office space, I remain baffled why we aren't seeing more of this throughout the US. By incorporating hospitality features and amenities that can be monetized, coupled with an experienced operator, vacant spaces come alive with activity and are sustainable too over a very long period of time. It would be great to have a discussion with office landlords and stakeholders about this dilemma. At a time when the office market remains challenged due to companies embracing hybrid work schedules and flexibility toward where their distributed teams meet, landlords need to recognize the shifts toward the future of work so they can satisfy the demand and capture new companies!! What do you say??

To understand what is happening in today's workforce environment, I don't rely on one source of information, but many sources so I can be more informed and understand clearly what the data is telling me. I pull data from Scoop and their FlexIndex, as well as Nick Bloom and Phil Kirschner. I will even review industry reports from CBRE and JLL as well as Cushman & Wakefield and others too. Today's work environment is about how companies have shifted their work policies toward their office and how their teams are working together. At the same time companies are re-evaluating their physical footprint and moving away from long term leases and seeking a better environment for the employees. In the meantime, with all of this going on, there seems to be a disconnect between what office landlords want and what companies are seeking for their distributed teams. Why is that? Its simple. Office landlords were taught that value is based on long term leases. And this dynamic contradicts what companies are seeking today and that's flexibility! This is the same reason why office landlords answer to flexibility are offering spec suites. And spec suites are nothing more than a subset of traditional office space, but one that is smaller to accommodate teams or smaller companies. But do you know what is working in today's office market? Its all about flexible workplace solutions which is a business model that requires service with a smile. Flex Office removes those barriers between companies in a traditional office environment and brings them altogether under one premise!! And these companies share common features like an expansive cafe, conference and meeting rooms, training rooms, event spaces, virtual services and so much more. Flex office when executed properly will create a unique business community that is new and exciting. Flexible Workplace Solutions is growing throughout the world. Even top office developers like Hines and Tishman Speyer offer it within their portfolio. Flex office compliments traditional office as these tenants can utilize these spaces in order to reactivate the building and add a new flair by offering a hospitality component as well as events and other amenities. And the evolution of work continues to evolve and only getting better as companies start to acknowledge their workforce in an attempt to understand their needs. Its an exciting time in this industry.