How to create more engaging workplaces
In the final episode of the Flex for Thought series, part of the JLL Perspectives podcast, host Tashi Dorjee, Head of Flex for at JLL, sat down with Daniel Gunning, Co-founder and CEO of Spacenow, to explore how the commercial real estate industry can create more engaging workplace experiences.
As the commercial real estate industry grapples with changing work patterns, a fundamental shift is emerging. The traditional office model is being replaced by something far more dynamic and experiential, requiring property owners to rethink their approach entirely.
Beyond build and hope
"It's definitely not a build it and they will come scenario," explains Gunning. "It's a double sided marketplace." This reality has forced property owners to take greater responsibility for creating spaces that people actually want to occupy.
Today's workforce, particularly Gen Z and millennials, view work as part of their daily experience rather than a separate compartment. As Gunning observes, "Building owners are going to have to take more responsibility about providing, helping the business owners or the tenants within their building to make the space something that people want to go to."
Authentic cultural programming
Gunning's company specialises in "experience-led, space activations" that transform underutilised spaces into vibrant community hubs. One powerful example involves bringing artists-in-residence into buildings: "Imagine if you went to an artist and said, look, we're going to give you this space. You set it up as a studio, but you need to allow people within the building to come down and paint."
These activations, ranging from ten days to three months, create authentic experiences that foster genuine connections across different floors and companies. "I think these communities within buildings shouldn't be based around who's in your own floor, in your own company. It should be really trying to get people from other floors to connect," says Gunning.
Moving beyond traditional amenities
While wellness facilities have become standard, Gunning believes the market has reached saturation: "I think the wellness point was a very good one. Like it's just being flogged... But what's next?" The answer lies in cultural programming that offers something more personal - a chance to reconnect with creativity and explore new forms of expression.
The experience advantage
"People want to be able to document what they do. Social media is such a big thing," notes Gunning, highlighting how authentic experiences create natural content opportunities and word-of-mouth marketing.
Successfully implementing these programs requires specialised expertise. Property owners need partners who can navigate complex logistics while curating experiences that resonate with building demographics.
For buildings to thrive in an age where work can happen anywhere, the office must offer what nowhere else can – an authentic community, unexpected experiences, and serendipitous connections that enrich both professional and personal lives.
Listen to the full conversation on Flex for Thought, part of the JLL Perspectives podcast series.