Would you commute for a jungle gym?

How do you get someone to commute to the office when they can easily work from home? This question has become more common since the pandemic as remote work has become a long-term reality.

And I under­stand. Working from home offers conve­nience, comfort and flexi­bility in completing everyday tasks and errands.

But as tempting as that may sound, it has its drawbacks. The main reason people commute to shared spaces to work is because of the connec­tions they make; those working commu­nities that promote creativity, innovation and, above all, progress. Many workplaces not only benefit from these shared connec­tions, they also depend deeply on them.

This is what workplace providers need to keep in mind when designing spaces. It’s not about throwing a bunch of desks together, and it starts the moment they walk in the door.

Spaces must inspire creativity, collab­o­ration and community. From dedicated on-site support teams to curated event programs that enable and create new oppor­tu­nities, every decision is tactical with the goal of creating connec­tions — all of which create new oppor­tu­nities that wouldn’t have arisen while working from home .

The goal is simple: create environ­ments that attract people to come to the office.

Fostering meaningful connections

For me, some of the most meaningful moments of my day are the five minutes before or after a meeting, the chance encounter with a member who is working on something that is so relevant to what we are building, or the “Let’s have coffee “. ’ Chatting with a colleague simply happens because we are in the right place at the right time. Companies are built and refined here, not just in front of the laptop.

One of the most important aspects missing from remote work is the oppor­tunity for sponta­neous, meaningful connec­tions between people — those moments when we work together to harness the spark of an idea and develop it to its full potential. While working from home allows for indepen­dence, it often isolates people from the natural conver­sa­tions and casual inter­ac­tions that make work more productive.

A climbing wall at reception may seem like a quirky addition, but it serves a much larger purpose. It’s an activity that helps stimulate the problem-solving part of your brain and gets people who might not otherwise have talked about it to come up with solutions together.

These informal inter­ac­tions may not seem like much, but they are exactly what strengthens a community and helps people thrive in the company of others and want to return to the office every day.

Cooperation

Everyone has heard the phrase, “Two heads are better than one, and flexible workspaces are great for making connecting with others second nature.”

The magic of this environment is that it brings people from different backgrounds – creatives, entre­pre­neurs, techies, corporate workers – all together under one roof. The result? An atmos­phere that encourages the exchange of ideas.

For example, a podcast studio in a creative workspace isn’t just for podcasters; It is aimed at anyone who wants to exper­iment with audio, story­telling or commu­ni­cation. People from different indus­tries who may have never met each other could now work together on podcasts and video series. Such partner­ships would never have been possible working from home.

Open floor plans, common areas and collab­o­rative workspaces create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing ideas and collab­o­rating. Workspaces should be adaptable; There should be quiet areas for concen­trated work, but also open areas for discus­sions and brain­storming. This range of options really gives people a reason to forgo remote work, while also giving them the oppor­tunity to connect with others when they’re ready.

Meeting people’s needs in the work-from-home era

The rise of remote work has shown everyone that flexi­bility is important. People want to have control over how and where they work. Some days they may wish for the quiet of their home office; For others, they may crave the increased energy and social inter­action that only a workplace can provide.

It’s paramount to provide a mix of environ­ments in any office space: quiet areas for focused work, open lounges for social­izing. The aim is to provide an attractive alter­native to working from home, helping people find the right balance and creating environ­ments that enable people to be productive, creative and connected in ways they can at home maybe couldn’t do it.

The future of jobs

While the pandemic has changed the way we think about work, it has also increased the desire for human connection and a sense of community. Whether through a climbing wall, an event space, a podcast studio, a coffee shop, or a Peloton studio, these features are part of a conscious effort to create spaces that people enjoy commuting to.

Because when people are given the space to make meaningful connec­tions, advance their businesses and careers, and be where they actually enjoy being, commuting becomes something worth­while.