Page 45 - FDI Alliance International Magazine. Spring 2021 Digital Interactive Issue

be checked, in addition to checking off building
amenities that include a deli, a gym, conference
or training rooms and, in many urban settings,
the perk of a high walkability factor. Having a clean
air filtration system is a trend that is here to stay.”
Steelcase’s survey supports Fredericks’ comments
on air quality and exposure points, noting that
73% of workers said they are concerned with air
quality, 69% worry about density in the office, and
66% are keeping an eye on visitor protocols.

“Another big challenge is that people will be nervous
about commuting on public transportation.
And, especially in big cities, there are so many
buildings that require elevator access. Safely
and efficiently getting people into these 80- or
100-story tall buildings is certainly going to be a
■ Workstation layout for a post-pandemic office, courtesy of TRELLIS, Kalamazoo, MI.
challenge,” said Breen.
aimed at individual full-time telecommuters, who Aside from the hybrid models of tomorrow, there Generally speaking, size requirements are down for
may earn up to $10,000 for relocation expenses will certainly be changes in the utilities required office projects. According to a report by Cushman
to Vermont. in offices. According to Fredericks, “there is a big and Wakefield, global pricing and demand for
trend right now in clean air within office spaces. office space will take up to five years to recover
“I do think some of the trends are still developing I am seeing interest in smaller buildings, and from the pandemic. “On the one hand, I think
and leaders are still navigating their specific less interest in high rise opportunities. Employers that there is going to be more office space sharing
industry trends on which workplace strategies are looking for an easy in-and-out for their than there's been in the past. On the other, I
will and will not work given all the variables. But employees to limit risk of exposure. Or, at least, do think that the days of putting seven, eight,
I definitely believe a hybrid model will be part the perception of this risk. Of course, this is even ten people per 1,000 square feet are
of the planning for any future office project,” industry-specific, but in most office projects, top of behind us. I think that office professionals are not
Fredericks said. the line air filtration is a checkbox that will have to necessarily going to tolerate being in that close of quarters in the future,” Breen noted. “You have say one way or another. Everyone is still trying to spacing between desks and state-of-the-art air
tension between space being freed up by people figure out how to get back into the office safely filtration systems installed. As for when people will
who are, to whatever extent, co-working or and move forward.” be returning to the office, that depends on the
working from home, and needing more space to individual company, restrictions in their respective
accommodate workers in-office in a post-pandemic We would be remiss if we did not address the regions, and the comfortability of their workforce.
environment.” impact of vaccines on impending returns to One thing is for sure: the office will never be what
the office. While vaccinations and subsequent it was. Whether that is a good thing or a bad
Office layouts and spacing are changing too. herd immunity will work to alleviate scientifically thing is for you to decide.
Open office floor plans were peaking pre- verifiable safety concerns, comfortability factors
COVID, but the repercussions of the pandemic vary wildly between individuals. Fredericks
have today’s workers wanting more space in observed, “The growing availability of the vaccine
separate, protected workstations while in will definitely influence office occupancy. Smaller
the office. Herman Miller, an office furniture satellite offices coupled with growing herd
company, wrote a whitepaper From Office to immunity brought on by the vaccine provides even
Everywhere, lamenting the fact that employers more comfortability for employees to get back to
should be moving away from densification the office.” Breen brought up potential issues to
strategies (crowding more people into less space, keep an eye on, noting, “The vaccine is certainly
such as in an open office layout), and embracing going to give people a level of confidence that
a focus on more interactive settings where they're not going to get sick. But what do you
employees can safely interface and collaborate do with somebody who, for whatever reason,
with coworkers. has not been vaccinated? I think all these things
are, frankly, dicey legal issues that are going to FAYE DAVIS
While the National Institute for Occupational play out over the coming months. But I do think DIRECTOR, CONSULTANT CONNECT
Safety and Health (NIOSH) suggests putting that people who get the vaccinations certainly
screens between employees when a six-foot will be more willing and ready to come back to
separation is not possible, many offices are the office. And I think companies are going to be
moving towards installing more walls, whether increasingly confident in bringing them back in
full or partial, between their workers. Fredericks the coming months.”
added, “I am seeing lots of hard walls make faye@consultantconnect.org
a comeback. People want to be able to close The future of the office is still morphing and
a door and have some privacy. Cubicles and shifting, but we can say with a fair amount of www.consultantconnect.org
partial workstations are also in demand, as long certainty that enormous headquarters may be a
as these create a little larger space. There is a shift thing of the past, at least for the next five years.
in trends, though not blatantly enough for me to Expect to see smaller satellite offices with ample 269.377.6980

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