## Workplace Re-Entry and Changing the Value of Real Estate
*Originally Published in Contract Furnishings News* *By Nick Meter, Vice President of Sales and Customer Experience, Tangram Interiors*
The pandemic didn't just disrupt our work routines—it shattered long-held assumptions about what makes an office valuable. As commercial design professionals, we're witnessing a fundamental shift that extends far beyond temporary safety measures.
## The Great Office Awakening
Before 2020, executives and managers found comfort in traditional office models. The ability to observe employees working provided a sense of accountability and progress. Only 12% of white-collar workers reported working from home even once per month.
Then everything changed. By June 2020, between 31-50% of white-collar employees were working remotely, according to the Brookings Institute. The most surprising discovery? According to CNN, 90% of employers reported that remote work didn't hurt productivity levels.
This revelation forces us to ask uncomfortable questions: If companies survived—or even thrived—with empty offices, what exactly makes an office space valuable?
## Beyond the Head Count Mentality
Many CEOs initially struggled with the idea that productivity could exist outside their line of sight. The comfort of seeing busy employees at their desks had become synonymous with success. But this forced experiment proved that **observing focus work doesn't equal productivity**.
The daily occupancy numbers that once seemed so important suddenly became irrelevant metrics. Companies that maintained or grew during remote work periods have concrete evidence that physical presence alone wasn't driving their success.
## Redefining Office Value
So what makes an office truly essential? The answer lies in activities that can't be replicated remotely:
- **Collaborative project work** that requires real-time interaction - **Trust-building moments** that happen in casual encounters - **Culture connection** through shared experiences - **Strategic planning sessions** that benefit from in-person energy - **Mentorship opportunities** that develop naturally throughout the day
These interactions represent the office's true competitive advantage—not the ability to monitor desk time.
## The Hybrid Reality
Over a quarter of Fortune 500 CEOs are considering making remote work permanent for some employees, according to Brookings research. This isn't about abandoning the office—it's about using it more strategically.
The most forward-thinking companies are embracing hybrid models that maximize office value:
**Focus on outcomes, not hours.** An employee can accomplish meaningful work during a four or six-hour office visit when that time is purposefully designed.
**Encourage meaningful interactions.** In-office days should prioritize team meetings, collaborative sessions, and relationship-building activities that can't happen via video call.
**Design for flexibility.** Create spaces that adapt to different work styles and collaboration needs throughout the day.
## What This Means for Commercial Design
As design professionals, we're not just creating beautiful spaces—we're crafting environments that support this new understanding of office value. The spaces we design must facilitate the types of interactions that truly justify bringing people together.
This shift presents incredible opportunities: - **Higher employee retention** through improved work-life balance - **Increased productivity** by focusing on results rather than presence - **Reduced operational costs** through optimized space utilization - **Improved sustainability** with smaller carbon footprints
## Moving Forward
The office remains essential, but its role has evolved. Success in this new landscape requires companies to embrace personal accountability, performance-driven cultures, and flexible work arrangements.
For commercial design professionals, this represents a chance to create spaces that truly add value—environments where the magic of human collaboration can flourish. The question isn't whether the office has a future, but whether we're brave enough to reimagine what that future looks like.
The companies willing to make this cultural shift will find themselves with a powerful competitive advantage: an office that people actually want to return to, not because they have to, but because it offers something they can't get anywhere else.
