The future of offices lies in the power of placemaking

Creating a flexible workplace is the key to motivating employees according to CBRE.

CBRE's recent presentation, ‘How to Create a Workplace that Connects Your People and Anchors Your Brand’, discussed the future of office space and the importance of authentic placemaking.

Nicole Fitzgerald, CBRE’s Director of Workplace Strategies said flexible working and mobility was predicted to be the biggest disruptor for how businesses operate leading up to 2020.

“Flexibility is resonating with staff and this is impacting how and where people choose to work. We need our talent to choose our office because they know they will perform better, form better relationships and can influence decisions,” she said.

Rhian Windridge, of CBRE’s APAC Project Management team noted that what companies are doing in their workplace has become part of their corporate identity and vital to attracting and retaining top industry talent.

“When a group of executives were surveyed, the top source of competitive advantage was attraction and retention of top talent, and what we have found is that retention is higher in areas with strong placemaking elements,” she said.

“As a result, we have seen a major shift towards companies utilising brand storytelling through place, as it allows staff to relate and connect meaningfully with their workplace.

"Placemaking elements have the ability to express to people what the brand’s identity means and allows staff to experience what the company is achieving.

“Connecting staff through food and hospitality facilities, creative and collaborative areas, embedding wellness into the company’s culture using space and incorporating green space are all strategies that enable staff to respond positively to their workplace.

“Offices facilitate the coming together of different businesses lines to be inspired and reenergised.

"People do their best work when they come together – so there will always be a need.