Pocket ofces

Smaller dedicated ofice spaces are in high demand

BY DEBRA GELBART

While many homebuyers might still need a full-size home ofce, just as many others do not — a smaller “pocket” ofce will sufce quite nicely. Indeed, Julie Hancock, Co-Owner and Managing Director of Camelot Homes, said that the company learned during the pandemic that “people needed a small area to set up for Zoom meetings or conference calls. We began looking at our foorplans to determine where these small areas could be added,” she said. A pocket ofce, Hancock said, can be a small private space perfect for taking a video call without disrupting the rest of the family — or without the family disrupting the call.

Lennar has ofered its Next Gen model in Phoenix since 2011 — an extra living space attached as a suite to a single-family home, originally intended for aging relatives to have privacy with proximity to extended family. According to Alan Jones, Phoenix Division president of Lennar, as working from home has become more popular, the builder has seen more buyers using the space for home ofices. Part of the Next Gen suite can be easily converted into a pocket ofice, he said.

Variety of configurations

Trilogy ofers pocket ofces in diferent confgurations, said Hal Looney, Arizona President, Trilogy by Shea Homes. Even though most Trilogy communities cater to residents age 55 and older, Looney said many of their buyers “still work, own a business or consult. A space for these activities is very important.”

Several Trilogy foorplans “ofer pocket ofces both of the entry and also in designs that we refer to as optional SmartSpace™,” Looney said. “With SmartSpace, we have re-designed our laundry room spaces by expanding them and incorporating desk spaces.” Looney noted that additional storage and counterspace is available for these areas.