BY MANDI WEDIN, CEO, FEROCE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS

Agile office. Is that an oxymoron? Can a structure built of steel and concrete be agile? The answer is yes, emphatically yes, when there is agility in both the physical space and economic lease terms. In both cases, agility means being flexible and responsive in order to meet dynamic needs. Agility is also required for employers and people leaders to adapt, innovate, and evolve during this time of transition. Before the global pandemic of COVID-19, the agile office was already a differentiator for office building owners to win tenants, smart business solutions for office occupiers, and a competitive advantage for talent acquisition and retention. In today’s world, the need to be agile is crucial for the near- and long-term success of office building owners and occupiers. Agile physical space: For the physical space, consider agility from the perspective of delivering space that is useful today and can be useful for another purpose with moderate adjustments and limited capital investments in the near future. Agility means delivering spaces that are multi-purpose. Design an internal office so that it can also be used for video presentation space and small team pods. Agility means using furniture solutions and interior design principles to define spaces instead of building out walls and permanent structures. Think of how a hotel lobby contains seating areas that delineate separate spaces. Envision cafe spaces that also accommodate training sessions. Click to read more at www.rednews.com.