While COVID-19 has made working from home an imperative for many employees, coworking spaces are likely to re-emerge as a key workplace option, according to a new report by Cushman & Wakefield.
“The Changing Role of Coworking in the Workplace Ecosystem” considers challenges tied to the pandemic and analyzes recent and potential growth in shared office spaces across more than two dozen metro areas in the U.S., Canada and South America.
The report focuses on properties that allow workers from different companies to share space. More than two million people co-worked in over 22,000 sites worldwide, according to Cushman & Wakefield.
“A major draw of coworking—its social factor—has become a drawback during a health crisis,” the report said. “As providers said goodbye to the popular ‘happy hour’ and hello to social distancing, many were wondering how a sector focused on socialization and community would survive through the pandemic.”
The answer, the report concluded, lies in coworking spaces taking the same health-and-safety precautions as other offices: Screening, or self-screening of employees at entry; stepped-up cleaning and ventilation; and limiting kitchen-area access with a focus on single-serve, disposable food and beverage items.
As for the future, the report identifies a number of pandemic-related issues that could ultimately make coworking more appealing. Some companies and workers who have found blending work and home life challenging may find a conveniently located coworking space attractive. A post-pandemic suburban “renaissance” may also benefit coworking locations outside downtown centers.
“As an alternative to committing to large amounts of space under multi-year leases at suburban corporate parks, some companies could opt to implement a re-imagined workplace ecosystem that balances office, home and third places, the report said. “In this ecosystem, some employees [work from home] a couple of days a week and at a coworking office close to their home the other days.”