Area Development
{{RELATEDLINKS}} There is little doubt that open-space workplaces are not only here to stay, but will earn new corporate recruits in the years ahead. According to the International Facility Management Association, about 70 percent of U.S. offices have moved to this model. The benefits are many: more efficient use of space, less vacancy, easier collaboration with colleagues, access to natural light for more people, and an aesthetic that sought-after millennial talent has embraced — and cost savings, of course.

So What’s Not To Love?
I believe in the future of open-concept workplaces, but as with any disruptive change, there are unintended consequences that emerge as adoption spreads. Not all are necessarily negative, but they are worth studying to mitigate any downside in the future as more companies move in this direction. {{SIDEIMAGE1}} There may be many benefits of the open-office model, but that shouldn’t prevent companies from fine-tuning the concept in the years ahead. Commercial real estate developers, in particular, should take note and assess what the next iteration of this trend will be. As more companies take a step back to assess how it is working, scrutiny is guaranteed. Developers have an opportunity to help lead that conversation.