Gensler advises strategic approach to office amenities
A new blog post from Gensler argues for a more strategic approach to office amenities that moves beyond trends. The firm suggests that the most effective amenities are those that support core work functions, foster community, and align with a company's specific culture and goals. This people-centric approach aims to create more meaningful and productive workplace environments.
- Gensler's research specifies that the most effective amenities are those focused on work, such as innovation hubs, quiet zones, and focus rooms, which yield higher effectiveness and experience scores than non-work-focused spaces like lounges. - There is a documented "flight to quality" in commercial real estate, where companies are choosing premium Class A buildings despite high vacancy rates in older properties; Gensler's 2024 Global Workplace Survey directly correlates higher building quality with improved workplace performance and employee pride. - The firm utilizes a proprietary tool, the Workplace Performance Index (WPIx), to survey employees and diagnose how design impacts performance, using this data to inform design decisions. - Post-pandemic office design has evolved to support "hyper-focus" and "hyper-collaboration," moving away from one-size-fits-all layouts to provide specialized zones for both deep, individual work and intensive group activities. - According to Gensler's 2025 Global Workplace Survey, employees in high-performing workplaces are almost three times more likely to report that their office positively impacts their work-life balance and nearly three times more likely to stay with their company. - The purpose of the office is shifting to primarily support collaboration, with some of Gensler's Fortune 100 clients transforming their spaces into highly-serviced environments for collective decision-making, based on the assumption that focused work can be done at home. - A key trend is the integration of the office with its neighborhood, as employees in high-quality buildings with access to surrounding retail, restaurants, and entertainment venues use those local amenities more frequently. - Sustainable design elements are now standard expectations; features like biophilic design, natural light, and green building certifications such as LEED are considered essential for modern offices aiming to enhance employee well-being and productivity.
