Office spaces evolving to incorporate health and wellness features

People are returning to the office. In fact, Chuck Schreiber, CEO and co-founder at KBS, says that it isn’t a question of “if there will be a return,” but rather how office spaces will evolve once people do. One way that offices are already changing is in health and wellness amenities. Features like corporate gardens, outdoor areas and water features became incredibly popular during the pandemic, and it is helping to get employees comfortable with the return.

“Since the pandemic, health and wellness have become top priorities for office users,” Schreiber tells BenefitsPRO’s sister publication GlobeSt.com. “Office amenities that promote these factors may help to coax employees back to the workplace. This includes biophilia (plants and natural lighting), corporate gardens and outdoor amenities such as water features and landscaping.”

In addition to communal lounge areas that promote wellness, office owners are also making upgrades to protect against viral infection. “Inside buildings, owners are upgrading HVAC systems that sanitize indoor air more effectively, providing configurations that allow for social distancing, and all of the protocols that have been encouraged during the pandemic to reduce viral transmission will continue to be in demand.”

As an office owner, KBS has been ahead of the curve in this respect. “KBS has always been an early adopter of these practices and the company recently committed to the verification of more than 16 million square feet of class-A office space in its client portfolio to achieve the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark for Indoor Air,” says Schreiber.

Employees returning to the office are also looking for convenience. “In addition, office users like amenities that offer convenience and pampering, such as concierge services and on-site gourmet dining options,” says Schreiber. “The hospitality model is informing many office amenities these days. Forbes has suggested that the future of office will evolve to become more of a social club than a workplace—which makes sense as one of the things people miss most about the office is the socializing aspect.”

KBS implemented many of these features at Accenture Tower, a 40-story trophy office tower in Chicago that KBS recently upgraded. The features in the new property included a lush outdoor deck in a garden-like setting, fire pit, fully functional bar, plus KBS added 90,000 square feet of new and progressive spec suite space, a solution for companies in need of high-quality turnkey space.

This all plays back to the pre-COVID amenity race. While the game has changed a little, tenants are still demanding amenities. “All of these amenities match what tenants in the market and at this property are seeking, and we believe these renovations will exceed their expectations as we move into the next evolution of office,” adds Schreiber.