KNIGHTFRANK-我们的空间：探索你的工作新世界（英文）-2021.4-36页_4mb

Summary of (Y)OURSPACE

Core Content

(Y)OURSPACE is a report by Knight Frank, commissioned by William Beardmore-Gray and written by Dr. Lee Elliott, exploring the evolving role of the office in the post-pandemic era. It highlights how businesses are rethinking their real estate strategies to align with new working styles, employee expectations, and corporate goals such as sustainability and digital transformation.

Main Viewpoints

1. Strategic Real Estate Intent

• A new strategic intent is emerging in corporate real estate decision-making.
• Real estate is seen as a key strategic device for business, with 90% of respondents considering it as such.
• The focus is shifting from cost to value, with real estate being viewed as a support for business strategy, including brand image, employee wellbeing, and operational efficiency.

2. Safe and Well

• Health and safety are now central to the workplace experience.
• The pandemic has increased awareness of how building design affects disease transmission.
• Businesses are expected to prioritize safe working environments, including improved cleaning regimes, HVAC maintenance, and the use of technology to monitor and manage health risks.
• Employee wellbeing is also becoming a key strategic function, with the office seen as a place that supports both physical and mental health.

3. Sustainable Real Estate

• Sustainability is becoming a non-negotiable factor in real estate decisions.
• With 77% of respondents with net-zero targets aiming for a date before 2030, the pressure for sustainable practices is growing.
• Real estate is a major contributor to global carbon emissions (around 40%), so sustainability cannot be ignored.
• There is a need for stronger evidence and data to support the business case for sustainable real estate, including more green building accreditations.

4. Smart and Data-Driven

• The rise of smart buildings is a key trend, driven by the ability to measure, manage, and curate the workplace experience.
• Data from building systems and user engagement can help optimize space usage and improve employee satisfaction.
• Smart real estate can also help articulate the value of existing portfolios and support future investment decisions.
• The challenge lies in connecting real estate data with business outcomes like productivity and innovation.

Key Considerations

1. Workplace Transformation

• The pandemic has accelerated the transformation of the workplace, but it is not a complete departure from the past.
• The shift is more about evolution rather than revolution, with many businesses already experimenting with hybrid and flexible work models.

2. Emerging Working Models

• Hybrid working (a mix of in-office and remote work) is the most common model.
• Some companies are adopting 'work from anywhere' policies, allowing greater flexibility for employees.
• Hub and spoke models are gaining traction, with HQ-type hub offices and more dispersed spoke locations.

3. Space and Cost

• There is a nuanced approach to real estate size and cost, with 35% expecting a reduction in portfolio size, 35% expecting stability, and 30% anticipating growth.
• Cost-saving is a major driver, with 54% of respondents increasing their cost-saving targets since the pandemic.
• The use of lower-cost spoke locations and more efficient space utilization (e.g., hot-desking) is expected to support cost reduction.

4. Employee Engagement and Wellbeing

• Offices are being repositioned as key contributors to organizational culture, client interaction, and employee development.
• There is a growing emphasis on amenities and collaborative spaces, with 55% of respondents expecting an increase in such spaces.
• Occupational density is expected to decrease, reflecting a shift from individual-centric to more collective and collaborative office environments.

Future Outlook

• Over the next three years, businesses will reconfigure their real estate portfolios to reflect new strategic priorities.
• The office will remain a vital part of the business ecosystem, evolving to be safer, more sustainable, and more intelligent.
• The interplay between cost, space, and employee experience will shape the future of the workplace.
• Health and safety will be at the forefront, especially as the world moves towards normalization and the need for shared and flexible spaces continues.

Conclusion

(Y)OURSPACE outlines a clear path forward for businesses in reimagining their office spaces. The focus is on strategic intent, safety, sustainability, and smart technology, with a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing and collaborative environments. As the world continues to adapt post-pandemic, the office will not disappear but will transform into a more dynamic, flexible, and purposeful space that supports both people and business goals.