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18 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / September 2020 A s a hybrid workplace emerges in the post-pandemic environment, and or- ganizations roll out a distributed work strategywithbothphysical and remote locations, coworking and flexible spaces are poised to play a vital role in the transition and economic recovery. Speaking at a Knoll k. talk webinar, three found- ers in the space-as-a-service industry shared their opinions onhowcoworking and flexible spaces play into the next phase of the work and meeting space business. Ryan Simonetti, CEOand co-founder of Con- vene; TimRowe, CEO and founder of Cambridge Inno- vation Center; and Liz Elam, founder of the Global Co- working Unconference Conference, spokewith Knoll’s senior director of research Kylie Roth on why they expect significant upturns in the industry. COVID has accelerated trends that were underway in the space-as a-service category, a segment that typically operates at a higher than-average level of speed and innovation. • In times of uncertainty, flexibility and agility are more important thanever. Panelists observedparallels between the current economic environment and the 2008 financial crisis. The desire to outsource real estate accelerated in 2009 and 2010 as waves of people gravi- tated toward spaces thatweremore flexible as analter- native to signing five- and 10-year leases in uncertain times. • Space-as-a-servicewill thrive inamore complexen- vironment . As operations become more complex with newsafetyand security requirements, andcompliance becomes more challenging, outsourcing becomes an appealing strategy for organizations that simply want to focusontheir corecompetencyandnotworryabout bringing up physical workspaces up to stringent new standards. Enter space-as-a-service providers. • The future of work is distributed and that bodes well for coworkingandflexibleworkspaces. Whenma- jor organizations such as Barclays announce they will not return an entire workforce to a single, stand-alone building, that signals a move to geographical diversifi- cation which is a win for suburban and rural cowork- ing, related Elam. • It’s about choice. The industry is taking note of the unofficial results of the world’s largest cowork- ing experiment. Today, the desire and expectation for choice has never been stronger. “In the past, most peo- ple didn’t really have the option to choose where they work,” said Simonetti. But post-COVID, things changed. “A lot of people are really antsy to get back to work.” observed Rowe. Opinions were split on whether the in-office expe- rience would focus on individual focus work, group meetings or a combination. Many centers are currently designedas centric around individualwork, whichwill change, Simonetti predicted. “I think we’ve all just re- alized the issue with at-home work isn’t a productivity issue. It’s an engagement issue. And I think the HQwill need to be redefined to drive engagement and cultur- al connectivity in a way that it hasn’t in the past. The reality is you don’t have to go there to do heads down work. You cando that perfectly effectivelywhenyou’re at home.” • The new coworking and flexible workplaces are “phygital”. Flexible workplace businesses must pivot to survive – the newmodel is a blend of a physical and digital offering. Much like organizations can expand their talent search when geographical barriers are removed with work-from-home programs, “phygital” offerings pro- vide a similar freedom from physical inventory con- straints. Simonetti anticipates most meetings going forward will be hybrid with both a physical and livestreaming component and is adding a virtual conferencing ele- ment to Convene’smeeting platform. Designed for larger-scale internal and/or external conferences and events, it features an improved user Jenny West Transformation Leader, Knoll Moving Forward Coworking and Flexible Workspaces: Poised to See Big Uptick PREDICTIONS : • Safety and health will be the top priority • Air-quality and filtration are behind-the- scenes amenities • Creating psychological safety is as im- portant as creating physical safety and security • Outdoor spaces take on new importance • Coworking and flex work will be centers of innovation • A rise in specialization of spaces Engagement still happens in the physical workspace.