The Way We Work is Changing Office Real Estate

If you don't follow the commercial real estate industry you might not be aware that office real estate is having a bit of a...crisis (at least according to some analysts). If you are in commercial real estate...we feel your pain and we also guess that you recognize that the future of successful tenancies is going to rely very, very heavily on top-notch amenities.

The trend toward people-focused spaces started before the pandemic but now instead of a perk, it is a near necessity to have a sparkling fitness center, quiet rooms and tech-free spaces, flexible meeting areas, and a variety of neighborhood retail and restaurants. The reason to return to the office is to promote collaborative work, to build community within companies, and to help team members find a healthy and rewarding balance between their work and their life. Grind is out. Wellness is in.

Tangram 3DS is something of a harbinger of this trend. Our job is to visualize environments before they exist, and we are producing more and more work that resembles luxury hospitality spaces rather than command center-style office floorplans. Our work for ESRT Amenities is a prime example. This suite of spaces throughout Manhattan checks all the desirable boxes: rooftop spaces for gathering and entertaining; health and wellness spaces including an indoor basketball court; flexible spaces that can adapt to the needs of any team, even if it's a team of four engineers on a Tuesday and an all-hands team of 200 on a Wednesday.

Or consider Olympic Tower with its rich natural finishes, walls of windows, and impeccably curated interiors which could just as easily be found in a high-end private club. These spaces aren't just designed to dazzle - their purpose is to create an environment that fosters well-being, encourages productive creativity, and makes every individual feel that their desires and expectations are acknowledged and fulfilled.

A great shift in work life and office culture is still playing out. A lot of breathless headlines and dour articles continue to howl about the post-pandemic employee's distaste for "returning to work." We think it's clear, and our partners in the commercial real estate business know, it's not the work they're dissatisfied to return to, but the space. The office is evolving from a place where work is done to a way that work is done. We're excited to see how this shift will continue to influence the spaces we design, animate, and visualize. Check back with us in ten, even five years, and we think commercial office spaces will have completely evolved. If you want to get in on the first phase of the evolution, get in touch with us to discuss your next project!