The office: an engine of modern society
For decades, the office has been the bedrock of many communities and more than just a place to work. In a post-pandemic world, how will the workplace influence our lives?
6 minutes to read
The pandemic made clear that the office will remain an important place for workers post-pandemic despite an accelerated take-up of hybrid working models.
Although 82% of employees reported feeling equally productive or more productive under remote conditions during lockdown, increased screen time and more sedentary behaviour had implications for both physical and mental health.
Many have come to realise the social value of the office above and beyond providing a physical space for work. In a 2021 study by Hitachi, one third of respondents cited “looking smart and professional” as the top reason for looking forward to returning to the office routine, highlighting the importance of a sense of self and identity.
Post-pandemic opportunities: leveraging the social value of the office
Businesses are now more concerned than ever with the social, physical and psychological wellbeing of their staff. An initial heightened focus on managing people’s safety during the lockdown has morphed into supporting the transition to a new era of flexible work which is supportive of both physical and mental health.
Part of this will include ensuring that the office constitutes a healthy and productive environment and one that offers tangible benefits to those working there. Post-pandemic, there is a significant opportunity to rebuild and redefine the role of the office in enhancing our working lives, such as by offering better amenity provisions and creating healthier workplace cultures.
Fixing the south east's social ills?
Nowhere is the topic of worker wellbeing more pressing in the UK than in the South East. The region has the highest life expectancy rate in the country at an average of 84 years, some seven years longer than its nearest rival.
But although workers are living longer, they’re far from thriving. In fact, they are among the most stressed and burnt out in the country.
Research by Perkbox found that work-related stress is the third highest in the UK, behind Wales and Northern Ireland, with government, telecoms and media and marketing the worst-affected sectors.
Shifting focus: from individual to community
To date, many companies have had good intentions in attempting to remedy work-related stress. But initiatives have traditionally focused on targeting individual behaviour, such as the provision of fitness programmes.
Lockdown saw the dawning realisation that changes to physical space can be much more effective in creating wholesale change for a wider worker community: providing environments people can thrive rather than just survive.
How can office space promote wellbeing?
Our (Y)OUR SPACE report predicted a major reconfiguration of portfolios post-pandemic. Part of this will involve creating socially valuable spaces that reduce stress and promote a healthy work-life balance.
For workers that have enjoyed the peace and quiet of home working, offices will now have to pay greater attention to acoustic comfort. Different noise zones can accommodate individual preferences and provide spaces for both collaboration and quiet concentration. Temperature zones will equally be crucial to occupiers serious about gender-inclusive spaces, alongside facilities such as lactation rooms for working mothers.
Why does wellbeing matter?
Delivering on the “S” of ESG is no longer a tick-box exercise but rather a key opportunity to make a positive impact on the communities buildings are created to serve. Providing an outstanding office environment has also become a key strategic device for attracting and retaining talent.
Much has been written about the “great global resignation” triggered by the pandemic, an indication at least in part of the extent to which workers are no longer willing to be exposed to poor working conditions - and that companies cannot assume all thrive on remote work.
The financial implications of poor worker wellbeing are also well documented. A study by PwC found that for every US$1 spent on creating a workplace to improve mental health and wellbeing, US$2.30-worth of benefits accrued in the form of improved productivity, reduced absenteeism and lower compensation claims.
Are you WELL?
The WELL Standard is the first global certification to focus on measuring and enhancing the human experience within buildings. It has become a key way for investors and occupiers to demonstrate their commitment to the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of their people, a crucial element in the “S” of ESG reporting. Now encompassing ten concepts, it prescribes a series of measures, backed by the latest scientific evidence and public health research, to improve those office features that most affect occupant health.
South East offices: the gold standard
The first office building in the UK to achieve WELL Core & Shell Certification to Gold standard is located within the M25, in Slough.
The Porter Building, a 120,000 sq ft joint venture between Landid and Brockton Capital, set a new benchmark for offices in the region and beyond. The first development of its kind outside London, it was speculatively developed in 2018 with an eye to occupier demand over the next 20 years. Its forward-thinking approach rapidly attracted attention from fintech company Fiserv for its global headquarters.
In addition to excellent connectivity (Platinum Wired Score) and sustainability (BREEAM “Very Good”), The Porter Building offers a host of scientifically proven health and wellbeing benefits. For instance, workers here enjoy a +61% increase in cognitive function thanks to the provision of 100% fresh air. Employees are never more than 9m away from a window with floor-to-ceiling glazing and an expansive five-storey glass atrium core.
With increased exposure to natural daylight, workers perceive an +18% increase in their performance, thanks to enhanced mood and improved sleep quality over time. Best in class acoustic and thermal requirements also maximise worker comfort, with flexible space provided for occupiers to fit out quiet spaces and more collaborative breakout environments.
Ahead of the curve
In 2018 Landid predicted that WELL certification would become highly desirable for both investors and occupiers. Currently, The Porter Building’s WELL standards are unrivalled in the M25 market. However, around 10 office projects within the region are now registered for upcoming WELL certification, with concentrations in Oxford and Cambridge:
- The Entopia Building, 1 Regent Street (Cambridge)
The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership has begun retrofitting of a 1930s telephone exchange to create a modern ultra-low carbon office hub supporting collaboration between small businesses, major companies and start-ups, targeting WELL Gold.
- 104–112 Hills Road (Cambridge)
Pace Investment’s proposal for “the most sustainable office development Cambridge has ever seen” will enable occupiers to put its community first as WELL ‘Platinum’ ready.
- Oxford North Phase 1A – Red Hall, Workspace Building 1 & 2 (Oxford)
Part of a new £500m global life science and innovation district, Red Hall will provide two office workspaces totalling 110,000 sq ft for start-ups, entrepreneurs and freelancers with connected dry laboratories. The scheme will promote quality air circulation and a high degree of activity (walking, cycling).
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