The future of office design (original) (raw)

Strategic workplace design can deliver on corporate sustainability ambitions

Design strategies for building refurbishment, adaptive reuse or retrofit can deliver more than simply reducing operational carbon emissions. A holistic approach to refurbishment identifies areas where design can enhance value by capitalizing on the unique characteristics of an existing building, improving environmental factors and systems, incorporating circular design principles such as furniture upcycling and reuse, or reallocating underutilized space for social or community use. This can bring additional sustainability benefits, including delivering social and community impact, adopting circular economy principles and boosting occupant wellbeing.

This ties in with a move towards more holistic corporate sustainability and ESG strategies. Between now and 2030, survey respondents expect an increased focus on the following aspects of sustainability: energy efficiency and decarbonization, health and wellbeing, certification, climate resilience and circular economy principles.

Findings from the survey showed 68% of organizations anticipate increased spending on sustainability performance in the next five years, with 72% saying they will pay a premium to only occupy spaces with leading sustainability and green credentials. Corporates are increasingly setting ambitious sustainability targets tied to their real estate footprint through commitments such as the science-based target initiative (SBTi) or the science-led WELL certification for healthy buildings.

Recent research from JLL has identified a near-70% undersupply of low-carbon, grade A office space by 2030, based on current demand and new build pipelines (JLL Research, The green tipping point, 2024).

Additionally, a combination of building performance standards and corporate decarbonization commitments is increasing the risk of obsolescence in existing corporate portfolios. These combined factors are pressuring organizations to consider the redesign or retrofit of existing buildings to align with regulatory requirements, decarbonization pathways and corporate sustainability commitments.

Organizations should embrace the circular economy and reuse or recycle materials, fixings and furniture wherever possible. For example, Dutch packaging company Tetrapak is turning recycled cartons into office furniture. As well as reducing embodied carbon, circular economy principles can provide opportunities for unique design solutions and strong visual identity. Again, in order to maximize their value, circular economy principles should be integrated into the design process at an early stage.

Climate resilience is climbing the corporate agenda – 72% of CRE respondents to the Future of Work 2024 survey stated they would only select buildings which are resilient to climate events. Workplace design strategies increasingly need to include climate risk adaptation measures to future-proof workplaces and ensure business continuity.

Reinvesting in existing workplace locations can strengthen community connections, and opportunities to provide community access or amenities can be built into refurbishment or redesign projects. The survey found 63% of organizations would consider opening their office amenities for use by the local community to ensure they are used 24/7.

Environmentally and socially sustainable workplaces can also appeal to a younger generation of talent, many of whom consider the environmental impact in decisions relating to where they live, work and socialize. A recent JLL consumer survey found 71% of Gen Z and Millennials always choose the most environmentally friendly option (compared with 55% of older generations) and ‘environmental impact’ is one of their top drivers influencing consumer choice. These preferences link sustainability back to the battle for talent attraction in the workplace.