BCO Conference 2026 insights: Not every building needs to be a monument. Churches, yes. Schools and universities, sometimes. But offices? Offices just need to serve a purpose. A successful workplace is one filled with productive people who are happy to be there. Everything else is just detail.

“How well an office supports human interaction should be the measure of its success,” said Bennetts Associates’ James Nelmes. “We should not be judging these buildings on aesthetics first and foremost.”

“If we all agree with the sentiment that success stems from the quality of life these buildings enable rather than the object itself, why do we put so much emphasis on photography alone? Imagery can’t accurately tell us how well a building actually performs,” added Peter Kerr of Cameron Kerr.

Egotistical architecture

This, he said, is the epitome of egotistical architecture. When workspaces are designed to look good rather than feel human-centred, function often fails to follow form.

Ironically, this image-driven culture that has shaped modern architectural critique is now creating demand for exactly the opposite, however. Buildings are gradually being valued less for how they photograph and more for how they perform in reality.

“Our whole culture is becoming more superficial,” said Andrew Leiper of engineering firm Max Fordham, added that there was a growing need for recognition, celebration and validation.

But in this time of digital overload, Fordham says people are looking for spaces that help them feel connected. And the trick to designing them successfully? Check the ego at the door and focus on the end-user, rather than awards, accolades or certifications.

Certification overload?

“Is certification really that important?” queried David McGowan, director of architectural practice Corstorphine & Wright. “Who does it really serve?”

It is an often asked question that no-one can really answer. Blame for pushing certification is more easily laid at almost everyone’s doorstep, however.

Could there come a point when commercial office space no longer needs an ever-growing collection of badges to attract tenants? Perhaps. But only if everyone values buildings in the same way.

“If agents thought more about the tenants, rather than needing a stream of accreditations to make it easier to benchmark a building, that would really help,” said Kerr.

That’s not to say modern office buildings shouldn’t aspire to high standards. Sustainability, inclusivity and accessibility are fundamental to workplaces where people feel safe, comfortable and welcome.

Accessibility is fundamental

Indeed, when questions were raised about accessibility for wheelchair users and others with different needs, the answer was unanimous: the industry still has a long way to go.

Many buildings, said one audience member, have become victims of narcissistic one-upmanship as developers and architects pursue statement projects that may achieve cultural status, but won’t always serve the people who use them every day.

So how can the ordinary, but not mediocre, office building deliver the kind of authentic, human-centred design that so many occupiers are looking for?

“The vast majority of the buildings we spend our lives in are the background to our cities rather than statements,” said Nelmes.

“The challenge comes when everybody wants to stand out. What we actually need are wonderful containers and that doesn’t mean they have to be bland, just easily adapted.”

Words by Emily Wright