Search Results for: Gen Z

Mandates fail to bring people back to the office, but design and flexibility might

Mandates fail to bring people back to the office, but design and flexibility might

Rigid return-to-office mandates are doing little to increase attendance, according to new research from international design practice Hassell. The firm’s latest Workplace Futures Survey, titled The Mandate Mirage, suggests that the real motivator for people to work in person is choice, particularly when supported by offices designed to offer more than just a desk. The sixth edition of the survey, which polled 3,000 office workers across the UK, US, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea, finds that strict policies are more likely to generate dissatisfaction than compliance. In the UK, poorly executed mandates cut compliance by up to 41 percent, while organisations that offered bonuses or travel subsidies saw attendance increase by a third. Recently renovated offices also boosted in-person working by 15 percent. (more…)

Mitsubishi Estate announces £800 million London Southbank mixed use development

Mitsubishi Estate announces £800 million London Southbank mixed use development

The Japanese developer will deliver a 600,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme, to be called Vista, which will combine offices, studios, galleries and exhibition areas. As part of the development, 40,000 sq ft has been allocated as affordable workspace for creative businesses, a measure intended to support start-ups and smaller firms in the sector.Mitsubishi Estate has announced plans to invest £800 million in the redevelopment of the former ITV Studios site on London’s South Bank, a project that is expected to create 4,000 jobs and provide significant new space for the capital’s creative industries. The Japanese developer will deliver a 600,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme, to be called Vista, which will combine offices, studios, galleries and exhibition areas. As part of the development, 40,000 sq ft has been allocated as affordable workspace for creative businesses, a measure intended to support start-ups and smaller firms in the sector.

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Exhibitors to look out for at Workspace Design Show in Amsterdam

Exhibitors to look out for at Workspace Design Show in Amsterdam

This November, Workspace Design Show returns to RAI Amsterdam, Hall 5 with the theme Activate the Senses — transforming the exhibition floor into a vibrant journey through sound, light, texture, and space. Over two inspiring days, 5–6 November 2025, the Benelux workplace design community will gather to explore how multi-sensory design is reshaping the way we work. Alongside 150+ international exhibitors, visitors will encounter interactive features and installations created by the likes of Biophilic Design Academy, Casper Schwarz Architects, UNS, Mecanoo, and Tank Design. (more…)

Young people aren’t lazy or disloyal. They just expect different leadership

Young people aren’t lazy or disloyal. They just expect different leadership

As they join the workforce in greater numbers, this new cohort is helping to redefine what work and leadership meanFor decades, the idea of a “good job” was measured with a simple formula: a stable contract and competitive salary. That rule does not seem to hold in the same way for Generation Z, broadly understood as those born between 1995 and 2010. As they join the workforce in greater numbers, this new cohort is helping to redefine what work and leadership mean. Salary still matters, of course, particularly when it comes to gaining independence in a time of high living costs, but many young people no longer see pay as the decisive factor in choosing or staying in a job. Instead, they are attentive to whether companies are genuine in their values, whether their work carries purpose, and whether employers are aware of their social impact. (more…)

Global commission on healthy indoor air launches at United Nations

Global commission on healthy indoor air launches at United Nations

The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air has been formed to drive action on indoor air qualityA new international initiative was launched in New York during Climate Week to address what experts describe as one of the most overlooked public health issues of our time. The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air has been formed to drive action on indoor air quality, bringing together nearly 170 leaders from over 30 countries across health, academia, business and the built environment. The Commission was announced at a United Nations side event and is backed by the International WELL Building Institute. Its members include former United States Surgeon General Dr Richard Carmona, leading scientists and researchers, deans of major universities, as well as executives and sustainability leaders from real estate, technology, and manufacturing. Architecture, engineering and building science are also strongly represented, reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of the challenge. (more…)

Adoption of workplace AI is inconsistent and riddled with contradictions

Adoption of workplace AI is inconsistent and riddled with contradictions

New research claims to reveal the significant divides in how organisations are adopting artificial intelligence, with some reporting positive outcomes and others citing fear, risk and job losses.New research claims to reveal the significant divides in how organisations are adopting artificial intelligence, with some reporting positive outcomes and others citing fear, risk and job losses. The study, carried out by The Adaptavist Group as part of its latest Digital Etiquette: Unlocking the AI Gates report, surveyed 900 professionals responsible for introducing and onboarding workplace AI in the UK, US, Canada and Germany. It found a sharp split between the 42 percent of respondents who believe their company’s AI claims are over-inflated and the 36 percent who do not. (more…)

Carbon capture could help turn CO2 into fuels, chemicals and building materials

Carbon capture could help turn CO2 into fuels, chemicals and building materials

The report, Defossilizing Industry: Considerations for Scaling-up Carbon Capture and Utilization Pathways, outlines how industries could transform captured carbon dioxide into fuels, chemicals and building materialsA new report from the World Economic Forum warns that current plans for carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) fall well short of what is needed to meet global climate goals. The study, launched today in collaboration with Wood Mackenzie, concludes that planned CCU projects represent only around six percent of the scale required by 2040 to align with international targets. The report, Defossilizing Industry: Considerations for Scaling-up Carbon Capture and Utilization Pathways, outlines how industries could transform captured carbon dioxide into fuels, chemicals and building materials, creating new markets while cutting emissions. It argues that CCU has the potential to convert carbon from a liability into an asset, generating jobs and value chains across multiple sectors. However, it warns that without stronger policy signals and investment, the opportunity will remain unrealised. (more…)

Hybrid working is now more about when work is done, rather than where

Hybrid working is now more about when work is done, rather than where

The defining issue in workplace flexibility and hybrid working is now time rather than locationA new report from Owl Labs suggests that the debate over where people work is being replaced by questions about when they work. The firm’s 2025 State of Hybrid Work report argues that the defining issue in workplace flexibility and hybrid working is now time rather than location. The study, based on a survey of 2,000 US workers, claims that almost half of respondents believe they do not have enough flexibility in their working hours. Thirty seven percent said they would turn down a job that did not provide flexible scheduling, an increase compared to last year. Around a quarter said they would find a four day week more attractive than a traditional arrangement, with many indicating they would be willing to take a pay cut in exchange for greater control over their time. On average, workers said they would give up around eight to nine percent of their salary to secure more flexible hours or a reduced working week. (more…)

AI is actually adding to people’s workloads, increasing burnout fears

AI is actually adding to people’s workloads, increasing burnout fears

The survey from Resource Guru suggests that one in five UK agency workers believe AI has increased the amount of work they do, fuelling concerns about burnout in an industry already known for long hours and client pressureAgency staff say artificial intelligence is adding to their workloads rather than reducing them, according to a new poll. The survey from Resource Guru suggests that one in five UK agency workers believe AI has increased the amount of work they do, fuelling concerns about burnout in an industry already known for long hours and client pressure. The report challenges the common assumption that AI automatically speeds up delivery and cuts costs. Instead, respondents highlighted new layers of hidden work, including drafting detailed prompts and templates to generate usable material, fixing errors in AI outputs, and managing compliance and client expectations. Much of this extra work is unrecognised, with clients often assuming AI should make services faster and cheaper. (more…)

HIMACS shapes are now SCS-Certified for recycled content

HIMACS shapes are now SCS-Certified for recycled content

Now, the full range of HIMACS standard sinks and basins has been officially SCS-certified for containing a minimum of 8 percent pre-consumer recycled content.HIMACS has long been the solid surface material of choice for architects and designers looking for a refined balance of aesthetics, performance, and versatility. Now, the full range of HIMACS standard sinks and basins has been officially SCS-certified for containing a minimum of 8 percent pre-consumer recycled content. This certification adds to the material’s technical and visual appeal by offering an option with enhanced sustainability, without compromising on quality or functionality. (more…)

Flexible working policies have only a limited effect on how people actually work

Flexible working policies have only a limited effect on how people actually work

A major UK policy reform to expand workers’ rights to request flexible working has not substantially changed how people work in practice, according to new researchA major UK policy reform to expand workers’ rights to request flexible working has not substantially changed how people work in practice, according to new research from King’s Business School, UCL and City, University of London. The study analysed data from more than 15,000 employees in the UK Household Longitudinal Study spanning 2010 to 2020, focusing in particular on the 2014 policy that extended the legal right to request flexible working to all employees with at least 26 weeks’ service, rather than just parents or carers. It found that while women are more likely to reduce their hours following the reform, there was no corresponding increase in remote working or flexitime among either men or women. (more…)

UCL takes 40,000 sq ft at Maple House in Tottenham Court Road redevelopment

UCL takes 40,000 sq ft at Maple House in Tottenham Court Road redevelopment

University College London (UCL) has taken a 10-year lease on 40,000 sq ft of office space at Maple House, strengthening its relationship with investor and developer Lazari.University College London (UCL) has taken a 10-year lease on 40,000 sq ft of office space at Maple House, strengthening its relationship with investor and developer Lazari. The deal, one of the largest lettings in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia this year, adds to the university’s extensive estate, which spans 6.5 million sq ft and makes it the single biggest occupier in Bloomsbury. The lease covers three floors within Maple House, part of Lazari’s Tottenham Court Road estate, which is undergoing a £55 million redevelopment. Originally designed in the 1970s by Richard Seifert, the granite-clad brutalist block is being modernised to deliver 110,000 sq ft of workspace across seven floors alongside residential, leisure and retail uses. A one-acre communal garden at first floor level, containing more than 90 trees, will form the centrepiece of the scheme. (more…)