Pre-pandemic a growing number of organisations were already moving towards a more flexible working model reducing the number of fixed desks, driving higher utilisation levels through desk sharing strategies and freeing up space to either reduce costs or provide a wider range of workplace settings and social spaces. The pandemic has accelerated this process and we are likely to see an irreversible move towards more agile and flexible practices.

This flexible approach will increase the attraction of the central head office as a place to meet and gain access to enhanced facilities and technologies and/or to take advantage of a distributed office network made up of smaller strategically located hubs. This in turn can help to support organisations and their people to be more productive, embrace technology and focus on wellbeing and sustainability. This research addresses not only some of the broader questions of the future of the office, but also some of the key design aspects that occupiers and their advisors may have to consider.