Great Expectations

In Great Expectations, Corgan’s 2025 Workplace Insights explores what’s changing now and what’s next for workplace design. 

The office is back — but it’s not the same.  

As more employers prioritize in-office work settings, the workplace is being expected to be more and do more. There is a microscope on the workplace from both leaders and employees and the expectations are high. More than just a place to work, the office is expected to be a place that draws people in, demonstrates corporate values and serves the best interest of the people who work there. 

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Workplace Expectations

Corgan brought together designers from across the globe to uncover how workplace expectations are evolving — what’s essential now and what’s on the horizon. Across industries and project scales, our workplace strategists identified consistent must-haves shaping today’s office environments.

So, what’s next for 2025? One thing is clear: workplace expectations have fundamentally shifted. Our findings not only highlight what’s driving change today but also reveal the emerging innovations that will define the future of the office. Read through to learn what we see today, and what's next for the workplace. 

Individual Spaces — Investing in Personal Space

Higher priority is being placed on the individual desk. Ergonomic features, size, finishes, and quality are being elevated. Furniture manufacturers have always been good at conducting research and bringing products to market that solve common issues. More elegant finishes and smart storage solutions are more readily available than ever. With cost effective solutions available from every major furniture manufacturer, adjustable height desks are the norm. 

Many organizations are revaluating hoteling strategies. Leadership expectations of more in office time, are being met with employee expectations of space ownership. Recently, we have seen several organizations increase their expectations for in-office presence and reevaluate their seat sharing strategies. More clients are either assigning desks to individuals, so they have their own personal space, or being intentional about providing opportunities for ownership and expression of a department or team so that people feel like they belong, doesn’t feel anonymous.

Look & Feel — The Softer Side

Leaders want a unique environment that puts their brand on display and reflects their culture. The integration of branded elements into the workplace has been commonplace in the workplace for a while. We are seeing leaders prioritizing their brand expression, weather bold or subtle. It’s definitely clear who this workplace belongs to.

Employee resistance to the ‘corporate’ feeling of workplaces leads to subtle brand expression, accessories, layered lighting, and softer, natural design elements. Now that so many have grown used to working from home, sometimes the over-the-top brand feels a little too ‘corporate.’ We are seeing our accessories business grow as clients are reacting to their employees' desires to feel comfortable in the workplace. The brand is still there, but it’s more subtle and integrated.

Technology — Required, but Unseen 

Users expect simple video conference technology in all meeting spaces, and areas without it go unused. “Shy” technology meets the more residential vibe employees want. For work to get done, technology has to be readily available and reliable. Wi-Fi, double monitors and video conferencing are the baseline, and it is hard to be effective in the office without them. With the emphasis on real-time collaboration, meeting spaces and phone rooms that can’t support video calls with screen sharing are empty.

A rise in broadcast spaces, integrated into the office. AI, IoT, and smart sensors on lighting and climate controls offer additional effortless comfort. The next level of the video conferencing are highly produced and interactive broadcasts. Many organizations are choosing to put these in their workplace to better communicate with their organization. More advanced technology solutions, like smart sensors, integrate AI to collect data and adjust in real time.

Sustainability — Socially Responsible 

Mindful material selection, driven by designers, product manufactures, and generational norms, is standard practice. Manufacturers have worked to improve their raw materials sourcing and manufacturing process to create products that are more environmentally friendly. With so many choices available, designers are able to select products that look great and perform well, too. Corgan has updated our materials libraries to only include products that are red list free, which means it is free of harmful chemicals. Programs like LEED took materials into consideration, as well as operational impact, like energy efficiency.

Corporate initiatives to reduce environmental impact are changing expectations for the workplace. Reducing embodied carbon is impacting material, systems, and furniture designs. For organizations that have a strong ESG values, just avoiding harmful chemicals isn’t enough. They are looking at community engagement, educational opportunities and embodied carbon.

Embodied carbon is the total impact a material has, including everything it took to get that product into place, including the raw materials, manufacturing process and travel distance.

Embodied carbon has been a focus in architecture for some time due to the large quantity of materials used in new construction like steel and glass. Due to the frequency of renovation, interior design projects are having a bigger impact, and the embodied carbon is being looked at more often.

Culture & Teamwork — Meaningful Experience, Not Just Meetings 

Leaders are placing greater emphasis on the value of in-person interactions, which is making large gathering and hosting spaces more important. After the lack of in-person collaboration and learning over the last few years, there is increased focus and value on bringing people together. Large meeting spaces that can accommodate an all hands meeting or full team town hall are in high demand. If the space can support a wide range of functions, like a benefits fair or recruiting day, it becomes even more valuable. These large gathering spaces and other amenities are being used by landlords to attract tenants to their building and by companies to draw people to the office.

A focus on unique experiences to cultivate meaningful connections make the office less task based, and more relationship focused. Amenities are shifting to be less task based and more experience based, like a fire pit, speakeasy or an F1 racing simulator. These experience-based amenities provide opportunities for team bonding and relationship building.

Variety & Choice — From Choice to Control 

The choice to work in phone rooms, library spaces, and other quiet areas are standard in open office workplaces. Phone rooms or other quiet spaces are part of every modern workplace. They are EXPECTED. They support a range of needs, including the neurodiverse that may need a different setting to thrive. Allowing employees to choose these alternative work environments supports not only their productivity but also builds trust.

The ability to adjust environment factors, such as temperature, lighting, and sound, allow employees the control they appreciate at home. As our understanding of human behavior grows and technology improves, we are seeing a rise in customizable spaces. Beyond a height adjustable desk and a thermostat, these enhanced spaces have user controls that actually change how the space feels. This is even a big trend in our airline clubs, passengers want control over their experience while traveling. Employees have expectations of the same thing from their workplace.

Expectations aren’t going backwards. 

The cost of inaction is real. The incoming workforce is coming from high schools and universities with cutting edge technology, an emphasis on group projects and collaboration, and great quality spaces. That is setting the bar for what they expect out of a workspace.  

 

Common Leadership Goals

We talk to a lot of leaders about what they want from their workplace; over the last year these three things have consistently topped their wish lists.  

UTILIZED & PRODUCTIVE: They want people in the office. They want those people to be engaged, productive, and working together.  

REFLECTIVE OF THEIR BROADER GOALS: From sustainability to culture, the office needs to be a unique reflection of the organization. It can’t be generic or out of balance with their goals and values.  

A WORTH INVESTMENT: It has to contribute to the bottom line. As a major expense, the office has to serve a purpose and help the organization thrive. 

 

Easy Wins to Draw Employees In

When we think about what employees value, there are a few things that rise to the top as easy wins. These are topics to address early in programming and design to ensure they are integrated into the final space.  

CONVENIENCE AMENITIES: Providing amenities like on-site food and beverage or package delivery make it easier for people to come to the office.  

RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY: Technology should be better than or equal to what’s available outside of the workplace. Little things like slow Wi-Fi can derail someone’s day, making it impossible to complete their work and make them wish they were anywhere but in the office. 

SPACE OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL: Having control over the workspace allows each employee to adjust to meet their individual needs, making them more productive and effective.