Contrary to common perception, it’s actually cheaper in the U.S. to build engaging, flexible workspace than it is to invest in traditional office space designs. Right now tech-style space fit-outs cost nearly 15 percent less—approximately $30 less per square foot—than conventional office space, according to JLL’s recent report on tech office renovation and construction trends.
“Tech companies with big budgets may have been the early adopters of modern, flexible workspaces, but these days they’re not alone in the quest for more engaging environments,” says Jacqueline Dompe, Northwest Regional Manager of JLL’s Project and Development Services. “Employees and employers in a wide range of sectors can see the value in choice. The good news is that flexible workspace is more cost-effective than traditional offices.”
Why cost-effective tech-style design is no oxymoron
It may sound counterintuitive, but there are a few logical reasons why workspaces with the ‘wow’ factor are more cost-effective than those without.
For starters, look to the construction materials (or lack thereof) needed for a job that entails unassigned bench-style seating, open floor plans and ‘un-rooms’ (three-sided standing conference rooms). These features are becoming increasingly common as companies strive to design flexible spaces that accommodate both employees’ needs for both collaborative and private areas and employers’ needs for agile workplaces that change with the times.