What does a hybrid office in Detroit look like?
As office dynamics shift, employers are upgrading their office spaces to reflect a hybrid way of working
The future of the office is hybrid.
That doesn’t mean the office is going away, though.
In fact, according to JLL’s 2022 Future of Work Survey, 77% of the 1,100 strategic decision-makers surveyed agree that the office will remain central to their organization’s ecosystems in the long term. This means that while the office is here to stay, it’s inevitably transforming to accommodate this new normal of work.
Take Detroit, for instance.
Several companies in this city are taking unique positions when it comes to their office spaces. Read on to learn about some of their proven workplace strategies.
An employee-centric focus
Today, it’s obvious that employees have a much stronger say in how, when and where they
work—making it clear to employers that they need to offer a reason to come to the office.
To entice employees to return, many employers are upgrading or even moving their office spaces in search of a heightened experience. Some of these key attractions include:
Collaborative working spaces: Forty-five percent of employers consider collaborative working to be one of the primary purposes of office space. With that in mind, companies like business software platform provider OneStream are opening centralized innovation centers, where employees can connect. Plus, as it stands, 73% of employers have planned or are planning to make all their office spaces open and collaborative, with no dedicated desk spaces.
Health and wellness amenities: It’s no surprise that health and wellness are top of mind for companies today, especially with four in 10 organizations looking to outsource more around these initiatives. While fitness centers are an obvious solution, several Detroit employers have looked beyond typical health and wellness amenities to provide unique employee experiences through rooftop terraces, healthy restaurants, meditation rooms and free fitness classes.
All-in-one locations: When commuting, employees want to travel to more than an office—they want to travel to an entertainment, dining and retail destination. Offices with a centralized location can also provide a convenience factor for employees. For instance, employees can get their weekly shopping done if their office is located near a grocery store, or even plan client dinners at up-and-coming restaurants. In other cases, employees can easily drop their children off if childcare facilities are nearby.
Sustainability: With 38% of employees wanting to work in an office that’s designed sustainably, employers are seeking office buildings that uphold these values. These can include LEED certifications, solar panels and more. OneStream’s new office, for example, features a heating/cooling system designed to use up to 22% less energy than traditional systems.
Tech-heavy integrations
Gone are the days of exclusively holding in-person meetings. Virtual platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams have become the norm for keeping in touch with co-workers and clients, making it essential that offices have the tech and infrastructure to support these necessities.
This tech stack can (and should) include:
Fast and dependable connectivity (think: 5G networks) for all of the rooms within an office space, including conference rooms, tenant lounges and cafeterias
Platforms that support virtual meetings and internal communications
Internal mobile apps for booking conference rooms and scheduling meetings
Asking for and keeping employee feedback in mind can also help ensure an office’s tech infrastructure is as optimized and useful as possible—all while boosting performance and efficiency.
Find out what the future of hybrid work means for you
There’s no doubt that today’s workplace looks much different than it did five years ago. Learn about some of the challenges and opportunities the new normal of hybrid work presents for the office market in JLL’s 2022 Future of Work Survey.
