Being outside during the work day has been linked to increased productivity and improved moods. Now, with the continued rise of Covid-19 cases, having an outdoor workspace to retreat to is more necessary than ever before.
“We’ve been involved in office space and building design, and the evolution of office buildings, for 40 years,” said Dan Kaplan, a senior partner at the architecture firm FXCollaborative. “And, over the last 10 to 12 years, the demand for exterior space in office buildings has grown, and, with the pandemic, it has really exploded.”
Even prior to the pandemic, developers, landlords, and architects started coming to terms with the fact that occupants wanted more out of their workspace. Rather than creating a stark division between home and work, professionals sought out a more hospitable environment to conduct business in.
In fact, a 2019 survey from CBRE showed that nine out of ten office buildings under construction in Manhattan had some type of outdoor space.
In order to address these necessary changes, some firms have made it a focus to incorporate external spaces for their clients. For instance, Duda|Paine Architects has positioned itself as experts on how to create “a seamless connection between the indoor and the outdoor” according to cofounder Jeffrey Paine.
Landlords now know that having a well-thought-out space that accommodates all needs will be essential in order to bring in new occupants.
