With office occupancy finally passing the 50% mark in major U.S. cities, companies are looking to adapt their spaces for the changing ways their team members prefer to work.
Prior to the pandemic, average office occupancy rates in the U.S. hovered around 95% before plunging to around 15% in the middle of March 2020, according to access data collected by Kastle Systems, a provider of technology solutions protecting 41,000 businesses in 47 states. The gradual increase in Kastle’s Back to Work Barometer is indicative of lasting changes and continued evolution in the way we work.
A new office existence means the office furniture market needs to respond by producing furniture options which can work in varied settings and uses, according to J.D. Ewing, chairman and CEO of COE Distributing, a leading U.S. wholesaler of office furnishings. “We're always innovating, and today's new work styles provide additional opportunities to show end users we're truly listening and developing the out-of-the box product solutions they desire − particularly as we expand our exclusive private label, OfficeSource.”
A Premium on Shared Spaces
Millennial Collection
Designated areas that offer comfort and the ability for people to gather informally can foster a sense of community in an office setting. It’s common spaces like this that encourage a creative exchange of ideas. Having the ability to move around a space, sprawl on a sofa, or take a minute to squat on an exercise ball yields a different energy than sitting around a conference table. To accentuate a common space, look for unique and flexible pieces that invite movement and fun - something like the modern and stylish Millennial Collection by OfficeSource.
Technology Drives Design
Variant Collection
Modern offices tend to rely heavily on technology to create a seamless experience between those working onsite and those in other locations. Leaning into this ideology, pieces like mobile training tables and modular desk systems with flexible configurations, like the Variant Collection by Office Source, can be structured to accommodate meetings of various sizes, or solo work, with the technology needed for each work style.
Making Work Better
Training Tables
CBRE’s U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook for 2023 provided an indication that many businesses are looking to decrease their square footage but upgrade the quality of their space. This is all in an attempt to better support new ways employees work and maintain the casual yet comfortable vibe employees enjoyed when they worked at home.
“Customizing the typical office environment with relaxed and welcoming, yet professional, functional and contemporary looks is a huge priority for the return to the office,” according to Melanie Ewing, chief marketing officer for COE Distributing.
Read the entire article and learn how COE Distributing consistently develops furnishing options to facilitate the return to the office and help companies attract and retain talent.
Learn about COE’s private-label furniture brand, OfficeSource, at OfficeSourceFurniture.com.