Re-designing The Commercial Office and Making it a Magical Space
The work from home revolution that started during the pandemic seems to have fizzled out in 2022. Companies including tech giants like Apple now request that their workers return to their official commercial office space at least several days a week.
Instead of a revolution, this year is seeing an evolution in commercial office space. As companies reconfigure their operations to the new normal – with the realisation that there’s no going back to business as it was in 2019 – commercial spaces are changing rapidly.
Owners and landlords have a vital role to play in this process in order for their properties to remain relevant.
Property owners and tenants will need to work closely together in the future to reshape commercial properties and make them places where people want to be, since they don’t have to be there all the time. Here are some things commercial property investors can do to optimise tenant relations and make their buildings highly competitive this year and beyond.
The commercial office space is back – but it looks very different
One of the big reckonings that every business is coming to grips with is that the post-pandemic world isn’t simply going to be a return to 2019. Office layouts and tenant requirements are a prime example as companies try to merge what worked in the old days with what was learned during the pandemic.
The new normal
Workers are returning to the office with a whole new set of definitions in their minds:
- Work doesn’t just mean those activities you do seated at your desk for eight hours a day anymore
- Collaboration doesn’t need to happen face-to-face when remote communications are so popular
- The entire idea of a “suitable” workspace has gone out the window after years of working from home, coffee shops, or destinations far removed from the company’s main premises.
At the same time, management is understandably keen to return to the old way of doing things since that has proven reliable and effective in the past. This year and beyond, finding a balance between these expectations and not simply trying to set the clock back to a pre-pandemic situation is essential if managers and their team members are going to work effectively going forward.
It’s especially important for commercial property owners because the office is the place where this new style of work will be taking place.
What should a productive office look like in 2022 and beyond?
Returning to the office after a pandemic that has changed the way we work forever needs to be something that employees look forward to at a deep level. For many companies the future will be hybrid which means that the cubicle farm needs to go and companies will have to make the office a place of magic.
But what does this mean in practical terms?
The essence of magic is that it does things that everyday life simply can’t. Extending this metaphor back to the office, commercial property owners will need to create an environment where employees, management, and executives can come together to create exceptional results that aren’t possible in isolation.
Here are some features of an ideal workplace that can boost productivity and create an atmosphere where people just can’t wait to engage with each other.
A space that’s safe and collaborative
Psychologically, employees are now used to having a lot of private space around them and the flexibility to work where, when and to some extent, how they like.
Office spaces need to emphasise breakout areas with plenty of social distancing space available while also creating collaboration areas that can compete with the trendiest cafés out there in terms of drawing people together.
Spaces that meet the needs of flexible working arrangements
The days when everyone reported to work at 8 AM and sat in a cubicle are decidedly over. Employees and management are reaching for more flexible working arrangements, and that means that the space where they work will need to make this possible.
Hotelling, attendance management systems, office security, and sanitation services will need to be geared for higher traffic and fluctuating levels of building users.
Owners need to become partners to attract tenants
One of the best things that could come out of the post pandemic experience is a new trusting relationship between landlords and their tenants as owners evolve their leasing approach to become more consultative.
Flexibility, listening to the needs of building users, and a willingness to invest in property renovations and refurbishing to meet their evolving needs are all attributes of a great owner. Cultivating these will allow you to move rapidly with the changing commercial real estate trends in Cape Town and keep your property relevant and in demand.
Whether you’re an owner looking to market your commercial property or a business tenant in search of premium modern premises and the perfect office space in the Mother City, our team would love to help. Contact one of our area specialists today to get started.
