The future of office design – and demand from emerging sectors
Rory Paton and Jonny Lee, partners in our London Office Leasing team, catch up to discuss the future of office design, the rise of healthy workspaces and the office demand from the life sciences sector.
3 minutes to read
Jonny Lee: Rory, what are the elements of office environments that people are going to be drawn to?
Rory Paton: The environment itself has got to be flexible. It's got to be adaptable, because I think businesses will need to change and adapt and evolve far more than they have done in the past, but I think they will look at what that building offers them. So, I think it's amenity – firstly in terms of health and wellbeing, whether that's a gym within the building or nearby – as well as meeting spaces or flex space within the building. But I think there will also be a focus on how that building interacts with its community; that’s going to be really important. So, a flexible environment, an amenity-rich environment, an environment that addresses a wellness agenda, and a sustainability agenda, are all going to be really important for occupiers.
Jonny Lee: Yes, I think for me it's creating ‘healthy’ spaces in every sense of the word. That's mental health – such as making people feel better when they arrive, whether that's music playing or the smell of coffee in the morning, or just someone very concierge-like coming over and asking how you are, or asking: 'Can I help you today?'. I think the hospitality sector and the office sector have been merging for a while, but I think this is playing right into their hands. And it's not just about putting bike racks and lockers in, that's something we've been doing for a long time now.
It's about the opportunity to create a studio space that can host a town hall one minute and a yoga class or a physiotherapy session the next minute. I think it'll help firms provide a better place for their staff. And real estate will work hand in hand with the corporate strategy as well. I think we'll also see offices bring the outside in. We'll see much more greenery, and a much greater focus on the outside world – and much less of marble, glass and cold finishes. We’ll see a lot of softer and warmer design elements coming into office spaces.
Rory, where do you think the next wave of demand will come from? Which sectors are going to be the key stars of 2022?
Rory Paton: Well, referencing The London Report, we're absolutely going to see more activity from the financial services sector and the professional services sector. TMT (Telecommunications, Media & Technology) will play a part in it, but I think what's really interesting is perhaps some of those emerging sectors. One example, of course, would be the life sciences sector, which you've had some great experience with in White City.
Jonny Lee: Yes, it's massively evolving, as you could expect. After the 12 months we've just had, life sciences is fast-growing and attracting a lot of investment and gaining a lot of traction. I think White City was an amazing example of clustering around Imperial College. A lot of the businesses that have joined that campus have relationships with that knowledge cluster – which is one of the world's leading universities. I think across London you'll see that pattern emerge more. People are starting to cluster around the Crick Institute, for example. But I think around King's Cross, that northern belt across the city, you'll see more activity from the life sciences sector.
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