HLW’s Benchmark Index Top Trends of 2019
Overview
Benchmark Index 300 +
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PROJECTS
11
SECTORS/ INDUSTRIES
84
GLOBAL LOCATIONS
17M
SQUARE FEET
At HLW, data is integral to design Our cutting-edge strategy team ensures HLW projects are informed by key metrics and data points like density, amenity ratios, and collaboration ratios. Over time, we’ve built a rigorous database that spans sectors, office sizes, and locations. The Benchmark Index both provides our clients with the opportunity to understand how their real estate compares to others’ and serves as a firm-wide resource from which we draw insights.
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DEUTSCH LOS ANGELES, CA
Contents Working Smarter Meeting Patterns Reception Experience Food in the Workplace Inclusivity in the Workplace Finance vs Tech Global Workplace Trends Startup vs Big Tech Looking into the Future
GOOGLE NEW YORK, NY
Working
Smarter
Employers are finding more efficient ways to use their space. As part of this trend, workplace density is increasing, which means individual work seats receive less overall square footage.
Square footage per person has gone down 12% in the past 3 years.
Strategies to accomplish this include moving from offices to open plan and integrating new technology and infrastructure that enable more open environments.
Over half of today’s workforce uses mobile technology, which allows them to work in alternative ways.
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Average square foot per seat, per year 180
Density (sf/pp)
170 160 150 140
2016
2017
2018
Workplace computing distribution
18% Other
36%
Laptops
46%
Desktop PC
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YOUTUBE NEW YORK, NY
AVIVA DIGITAL GARAGE LONDON
Meeting
Patterns
As teams become more mobile and geographically dispersed, small meeting rooms have become increasingly desirable. Further, our utilization studies show that across industries, highest demand is for small meeting rooms.
We’re building more and more small meeting rooms to meet demand.
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Average number of meeting rooms, per year
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Small (4-6ppl) Medium (8-10ppl) Large (12-14ppl)
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HOPELAB LOS ANGELES
915 WILTSHIRE BLVD LOS ANGELES, CA
Reception
Experience
Companies are focusing more on user experience, so the role of reception is becoming more important. Reception is the first opportunity to display a company’s history, brand, and culture. To take advantage of this moment, our projects’ receptions often incorporate interactive design, digital displays, or catered services.
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Reception space has only grown since 2013.
Reception as a percentage of overall amenity space
2013
8
%
of overall amenity space is reception
2019
20
overall % ofamenity
space is reception
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OMERS HQ LONDON
GAM LONDON
Food in the
Workplace
Over the last decade, the question around food and beverage in the workplace has shifted from ‘if’ to ‘what level’. Incorporating food programming can help boost productivity and overall employee satisfaction. It is considered one of the best ways that a company can show its employees that it cares about them. Further, dining spaces have become more dynamic. Gone are the days of sterile corporate cafeterias, cafés are now the heart of many offices, used socially and for work—not just for meals.
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We’re designing 3x as many cafés today as we were in 2013.
As a rule of thumb, back of house should be one third of overall food services footprint.
Annual number of in-house cafés built
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Breakdown of café space
Back of house Space dedicated to kitchen and storage
Front of house
29 %
71%
Space dedicated to seating and servery 25
PRS FOR MUSIC LONDON
W2O LORHAM PARK NEW JERSEY
Inclusivity in the
Workplace
In recent years the conversation around inclusivity in the workplace has grown—and so has the jurisdiction around it. Under the Affordable Care Act (2010), for example, US employers are required to provide Mothers’ Rooms in the workplace. In our work, we’ve also seen an increase in Prayer Rooms, Wellness Rooms, and other inclusive environments.
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We’re designing 3x as many wellness rooms today as we were in 2013.
Annual number of in-house wellness rooms built
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
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GOOGLE NEW YORK, NY
BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK W2O LORHAM PARK LONDON NEW JERSEY
Finance vs. Tech
In today’s complex and growing global market, the sectors of Tech and Finance are frequently discussed. Both industries have key workplace needs and differ in how and where they work best. These industries have seen remarkable growth, leading to the creation of new businesses and practices.
Finance allocates more space towards traditional offices.
Finance has a larger average desk space than Tech.
Tech fits 33% more meeting seats in a similar area.
Tech has the highest amenity provision. 36
Finance vs. technology space allocation
Finance
Technology
Enclosed Offices
11%
6%
Desk Space
35sf
30sf
Meeting Space
16%
18%
Special Space
11%
16% 37
CAPITOL ONE LONDON
WILLIS DUBLIN
Global Workplace
Trends
The conversation around maximizing usable square footage is often a conversation of optimization. For many years, London has been leading the charge in creating flexible, agile work environments, while New York has focused on real estate efficiency. The Los Angeles market, meanwhile, services a creative workforce, so their spaces reflect those needs through larger amenity spaces, enhanced wellness, and active design principles. In all these markets, optimizing overall square footage involves densifying the floor plate, blurring the line between meeting space and amenity space, and creating spaces than can adapt for various uses.
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London has the lowest workspace square footage.
Los Angeles has the highest amenity square footage.
2018 usable square footage distribution by location London
19 %
5%
18 %
13 % 8 %
17 %
14%
38 %
New York
7%
18 %
10 %
34%
Los Angeles
16 %
13 %
13 %
Offices
Amenity
Open office
Support
Meeting
Circulation
18 %
7%
33 %
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YOUTUBE LOS ANGELES, CA
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TWITTER NEW YORK, NY 46
Start Up vs.
Big Tech
The startup workplace requires extreme amounts of flexibility. As their product or offering is being developed, a startup may need to grow, adding new work seats, meeting spaces, and amenities. These spaces should be multi-functional, and adapt with the company. Big tech is able to provide more stability within their workplace, while still maintaining a spirit of innovation. With an established market, they have the ability to expand their workplace offerings and spaces. Big tech offices often include designated team neighborhoods, a variety of food offerings, lounges, and experiential amenity areas.
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Startup workspace focuses on flexibility and adaptability.
Big tech workspace focuses on neighborhood assets and amenity spaces.
Startup client Team Meeting Rooms Multi-Functional Lounge
Incubator Space Single Large Open Workspace
Big tech client
Food Program
Demo Space
Scattered Open Collaboration Established Neighborhoods
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MICROSOFT LONDON
51
BOOKING.COM AMSTERDAM
Looking into the
Future
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Looking to the future, here are some key themes we see emerging that impact workplace style, culture and design. Here are some key themes:
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Flexibility as a Standard Employers are putting a premium on giving employees choice. This means adaptable solutions like cafÊs with event and collaboration spaces close at hand. This push isn’t just to make the workplace more fun, it also increases worker satisfaction and productivity at the office.
Efficient and Seamless Experience Employers are constantly looking for new ways to optimize their building and workplace performance. From check in and visitor experience modules to work ticket systems that track and resolve maintenance issues quickly, the priority is smarter work habits and employee engagement in the workplace.
Committing to Sustainability With the rise of environmental concerns and the introduction of Gen Z into the workplace, employers are prioritizing both sustainable and resilient design solutions in the workplace. In-house teams, living building standards, and showcasing sustainable decisions are all common strategies to accomplish this.
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