Real estate leaders are heading into 2026 with one priority above all others: adaptability. Hybrid work, AI integration, and fast-changing business models have shortened planning cycles, forcing organizations to design buildings that can evolve quickly without constant reinvestment, according to a new JLL report.
Recent global research from JLL shows nearly nine in ten C-suite leaders rank business agility as a top objective, while 85% cite flexible work patterns as a priority. At the same time, 93% of investors say technology-enabled properties deliver stronger returns. The direction is clear. Flexibility and technology are now tied directly to asset value.
Buildings Must Be Hardwired for Change
Instead of relying on temporary furniture solutions, organizations are investing in long-term adaptable infrastructure. Modular walls, movable partitions, and plug-and-play systems allow layouts to shift as teams expand, contract, or adopt new technologies.
AI is adding complexity. Growing computing demands, immersive collaboration tools, and digital systems require buildings to support higher levels of connectivity. Headquarters are increasingly used as test environments for new layouts and tech integrations before scaling across portfolios.
The goal is not cosmetic redesign. It is protecting investment value in a period where workforce structure and operational needs can change within months.
AI Is Raising Expectations for Human-Centered Design
As AI becomes embedded in operations, demand for meaningful in-person experience is rising. Sixty-five percent of people globally say they want unique experiences in the places they visit, and 61% want access to digital detox spaces.
Design strategies are responding with stronger focus on environmental comfort, acoustics, lighting, and biophilic features that support wellbeing and performance. Advances in neuroscience are influencing decisions around stress reduction and cognitive support.
Personalization and Performance Now Drive Value
Consumers and employees expect personalized environments shaped by digital tools and hospitality principles. Sixty-three percent globally believe AI will enhance entertainment spaces through personalization, though generational differences remain significant.
In workplaces, performance metrics are expanding beyond desk utilization. Ninety-two percent of corporations cite productivity as a top business objective, yet employee surveys reveal gaps in areas tied to inspiration and the ability to recharge.
Design is moving from supporting isolated activities to enabling organizational outcomes. Connected systems of collaboration zones, recharge spaces, and community areas are replacing static floorplans.
In 2026, real estate strategy centers on three forces: structural flexibility, technology-enabled operations, and human performance. Buildings that adapt quickly, integrate AI intelligently, and measurably support productivity will define the next phase of value creation.
