As employers begin to set their sights on 2024 portfolio strategy, the concept of the “Earned Commute” continues to influence the conversation about hybrid work and return-to-office planning. The idea that leadership must create compelling reasons for workplace attendance in order to compensate for added commute time occasionally feels like one of coercion, not one of inspiration. But what if a commute didn’t need to be earned because there wasn’t one? What if there was a workplace that could remove the friction between live and work?
Enter the Club, a neighborhood workplace that combines the work-oriented spaces of the Hub office with the convenience of a reduced commute. Located in an amenity-rich urban or suburban neighborhood where large clusters of employees live, the Club office’s location is selected for its accessibility — its ability to slot frictionlessly into hybrid work routines and work-life activities.
Architecturally, the Club’s approach is one of adaptive reuse, identifying an available retail, entertainment, or culinary space — potentially a stranded asset that was impacted by recent financial or health factors. Ideally, this space would have a distinct architectural character, possessing an x-factor that inspires a sense of excitement about coming into the office.
The Club’s footprint is significantly smaller than that of a Hub, weighted towards spaces for individual focus work and small-group collaboration. Although amenities are limited, Club offices will sometimes include specialty programs, such as culinary, wellness, or retail, that are available for both employee and community use.