Tracking the Evolution of the Workspace

Today’s office looks strikingly different than it did just 10 years ago, both here in Charlotte and nationwide. As more companies embrace remote workers, desks and chairs remain largely vacant, taking up space and costing companies more money in overhead than is necessary.

Now, cubicles and single-user desks are being traded for trendy shared spaces that redefine what an office can and should be. Fun amenities like gyms, wellness areas, and gaming rooms are cropping up in shared offices that would otherwise be too expensive for individual companies to offer. Offices are now involved in creating a work-life balance from within that caters to employees, but ultimately benefits the company in terms of productivity, retention, and employee happiness.

Perhaps most notably, more companies are downsizing to coworking spaces that embrace the virtual office while giving in-house teams a place to collaborate. As the number of remote workers continues to increase, companies must get creative in catering to both camps.

The benefits to both business and employee are hard to ignore. Companies can reduce their expensive office overhead without sacrificing the workspace altogether. Breaking office boundaries gives companies a wider avenue to encourage collaboration and communication and strengthen their company culture.

But what brought us to this sudden shift in the way offices look and function, and what results can we expect moving forward?

Take a look back at the evolution of the office and why the shift to the shared workspace has been one of the savviest advancements that benefit employees and companies alike.