The design of the physical workspace plays a pivotal role in fostering employee relationships, sense of community, and innovation. For this reason, even though I’ve been a hybrid worker for a dozen years, my experience in designing and delivering such spaces coupled with my many years in hybrid work long before covid, leave me convinced that the need for a workplace, perhaps redefined in some other way than “workplace” is still crucial for most professions.

In addition, the purpose of a workplace that demonstrates the values of company mission, values, branding and community can invigorate the work culture, creativity and knowledge sharing. This includes designing communal areas like lounges, cafes, and multipurpose spaces that encourage informal interactions. Additionally, the aesthetic and environmental quality of these spaces can significantly impact employee engagement and belonging, which I believe are crucial for performance and innovation.

So even though the work-from-anywhere and hybrid options help a variety of people who for various reasons in their lives could not spend as much time in an office, and even though shared workspaces may help companies with flexibility, the workplace as a pivotal place for most companies will be around for a long time to come.

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