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This article originally appeared in <\/em>Architects\u2019 Journal<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a seismic shift in the way the world works<\/a>. While these past months have shown that working from home can be done, and that it has some advantages, it has also highlighted the office<\/a> as a critical resource that enables human connection and interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With persistent home working stifling innovation<\/a>, employee expectations of the office are shifting. The workplace has been redefined as a hub for collaboration<\/a> and productivity\u2014and workspace design needs to evolve to support this change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pre-pandemic, office space capacity averaged around 60 percent\u2014employees were with clients, traveling for business, or working from home a day or two a week. The pandemic has presented business leaders with a unique opportunity to think about office space in a new way<\/a>; not just as a cost for housing employees but as a means of supporting specific business functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This has enabled a greater acceptance of exploring new things and getting to the crux of what actually works best for their businesses. Once companies return to work, they can leverage their workspaces better by using flexible spaces<\/a> tailored to specific needs.<\/p>\n\n\n