The average amount of space per office worker globally has dropped to 150 square feet or less, from 225 square feet in 2010, according to a recent global survey conducted by CoreNet Global, a leading association of corporate real estate managers at large companies throughout the world. The study is part of CoreNet Global's ongoing advocacy of quality working environments and work experiences, and the group's call to action to measure quality of life per square foot.
At the same time, companies in the survey indicated that employment levels will increase in the second half of 2013—triggering a "property paradox," in which more workers are using less individual space.
The survey underscores how today's increasing mix of workers in the office and teleworking, assigned to team and individual projects, along with the rapid emergence of space-on-demand, co-working and other 'third places,' is combining to enable the balance of less space per office worker while more jobs are added.
Because of these fast-changing trends, CoreNet Global continues to advocate that companies create and implement workplace strategies that are integrated with the goals and business plans of the enterprise and that address the needs of employees and the type of work that is being performed.
Nearly two-thirds of companies responding to the survey report the average space per person is currently 150 square feet or less. Slightly over half of the respondents project an average of 100 square feet or less per worker as the norm in five years.
A leading factor is the monumental shift among corporate offices toward open space floor plans with fewer assigned cubes and assigned individual offices. In the survey, more than 80 percent of the respondents said their company has moved in this direction.
However, that trend too, may be reaching an endpoint. In the survey, 43 percent of the respondents say that they now have more collaborative space, than heads-down, private space where employees can focus. And that might be a problem: one-half of the respondents either agreed or said they were not sure if companies in general are over-building collaborative space at the expense of focus work and privacy (31 percent agreed; 19 percent not sure).
Also in the survey, nearly 60 percent projected increases in employment at their companies during the second half of 2013, only 11 percent projected a decrease.
"Through this survey, and anecdotally, we are hearing of a 'collaborative space bubble,'" said Richard Kadzis, Vice President, Strategic Communications for CoreNet Global. "Just as we have escaped the 'cube farms of Dilbertville,' some employees may start to feel that the open-space pendulum has swung too far, at the expense of a worker's ability to concentrate without interruption or distraction."
Multiple variables come into play, including the corporate brand, corporate culture, technological capabilities of the company, nature of the work performed, and cost. "We advocate that corporate real estate and workplace executives approach workplace management as a holistic practice starting at the C-suite level," Kadzis added.
"Workplace strategy is no longer a singular function of real estate, but a product of taking into account the needs and demands of the business, and how real estate should work with human resources, information technology, finance and other support functions to support overall organizational planning," Kadzis said.
The survey reveals how more than two-thirds of companies have instituted integrated workplace strategies.
About CoreNet Global
With more than 7,900 members, CoreNet Global is the world's premier association for corporate real estate (CRE) and workplace professionals, service providers, and economic developers. For more information, visit www.corenetglobal.org.
Related Stories
| Dec 27, 2013
U.S. Capitol dome’s cracks to be repaired during $60 million renovation
Rings of scaffolding will start to rise this spring around the cast-iron dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington as part of a $60 million renovation project to repair more than 1,300 cracks.
| Dec 20, 2013
Can energy hogs still be considered efficient buildings? Yes, say engineers at Buro Happold
A new tool from the engineering firm Buro Happold takes into account both energy and economic performance of buildings for a true measure of efficiency.
| Dec 13, 2013
Safe and sound: 10 solutions for fire and life safety
From a dual fire-CO detector to an aspiration-sensing fire alarm, BD+C editors present a roundup of new fire and life safety products and technologies.
| Dec 10, 2013
16 great solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors
From a crowd-funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restrooms, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem-solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.
| Dec 9, 2013
Skaneateles, N.Y., converts old firehouse to net-zero village hall
The Finger Lakes village of Skaneateles, N.Y., renovated its vacant firehouse into Skaneateles Village Hall, the first municipal net-zero energy building in the state of New York.
| Dec 4, 2013
First look: Dubai's winning bid for World Expo 2020 [slideshow]
Dubai has been chosen as the site of the 2020 World Expo. HOK led the design team that developed the master plan for the Expo, which is expected to draw more than 25 million visitors from October 2020 through April 2021.
| Dec 3, 2013
Architects urge government to reform design-build contracting process
Current federal contracting laws are discouraging talented architects from competing for federal contracts, depriving government and, by inference, taxpayers of the best design expertise available, according to AIA testimony presented today on Capitol Hill.
| Nov 27, 2013
Wonder walls: 13 choices for the building envelope
BD+C editors present a roundup of the latest technologies and applications in exterior wall systems, from a tapered metal wall installation in Oklahoma to a textured precast concrete solution in North Carolina.
| Nov 27, 2013
LEED for Healthcare offers new paths to green
LEED for Healthcare debuted in spring 2011, and certifications are now beginning to roll in. They include the new Puyallup (Wash.) Medical Center and the W.H. and Elaine McCarty South Tower at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas in Austin.
| Nov 26, 2013
Construction costs rise for 22nd straight month in November
Construction costs in North America rose for the 22nd consecutive month in November as labor costs continued to increase, amid growing industry concern over the tight availability of skilled workers.
