The Future of Office Space

There were many information gems given on a recent SIOR Webinar on what the future of office space will be. JLL did a study and while in the past workers only needed 75-150 sf per person, with social distancing they now need 196 sf. 58% of workers missed the office environment and social interaction. Only 12% want to work 100% from home. CBRE reports that only 9% of office workers in Manhattan have returned to work. There are a number of AI (Artificial intelligence) monitors out that help enforce social distancing mandates. One wearable is Estimate, which vibrates when an employee gets too close to another and records the event in case later one person turns out to be infected. There are a number of robotic cleaners that use UV light to sanitize warehouses and scrubs the air. Chat bots are being used to check in with you before you get to the office, make sure you feel ok, and schedule time for you to arrive to avoid bottlenecks in the lobby or elevators. I saw a low-tech but interesting idea, using a styrofoam block in the elevator by the keypad, stuck full of toothpicks, with a cup below, so riders could pick their floor with a toothpick so they don’t have to touch the button, then discard the toothpick in the cup. There are a number of AI platforms that track who is where, doing what, to maintain social distancing. There are smart phone apps which alert workers if they get too close, as well as TRIAX which attaches to the belt or for a construction worker, helmet, and an alarm goes off when the proper distance isn’t followed.  VERGESENSE evaluates movement of employees around the office, evaluates real estate needs and availability of rooms and desks. My question: Is Corporate America looking for shorter-term fixes or are they worried we are in this for the long haul? American Airlines Recently made a statement that they don’t see us fully recovering for up to five years…