CREJ

September 2020 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 19 dynia.com denver jackson new york architects + designers interface and experience with a dedicated service component intended to mimic the physical experience, enhanced with Convene’s premium service and technology for a seamless on- line event. “That’s not just a short-term trend. We do think that will continue to be a larger and larger part of our business, and it’s beautiful because we’re not bound by physical inventory any- more.We’rehosting virtual conferences for customers incities wherewe don’t have Convene locations. • Wellness as the ultimate amenity. While the right amenities will continue to be an important draw to at- tract people back to the office, health and wellness will be among the most valued and desired amenity. Can the workplace avert a pending mental health crisis? Work from home has revealed some flaws in the model. Coworking began as a way for people who did not want to work at home alone to create their own community and support network, Roth reminded the panel. “Not ev- erybody has a family, and there’s also a full-on loneliness epidemic. Before COVID, the No. 1 most expensive thing facing all companies globally was depression,” said Elam. So, I think the amenities that are going to be highly valued in the future are really around not only physical health, but more around mental health,” said Elam. • Looking ahead. As the demand for long-term flex space grows, panelists predicted continued specialization of spaces, consolidation, and growth of certain companies that have quality operations and platforms that scale. “I do think consolidation will happen over the next 12 to 24 to 36 months,” said Simonetti. “It’s a natural part of the evolution of the industry. And I think that will be- come less about the virus and more about its economic impact.” This k. talk replay of “What’s next for coworking and flexible office space?” can be viewed a t knoll.com. \\ Moving Forward Flexibility is as important as ever.