Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey recently informed employees that they will be allowed to work from home permanently, even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.
The move may be a harbinger of a new corporate mindset resulting from the pandemic. It doesn’t bode well for the commercial office market, some observers say.
The new normal for office space could become virtual, with companies retaining just a scaled-down home base dedicated to important meetings with clients and recruits. Prior to the pandemic, leased or company-owned offices may have been iconic buildings that bolstered the brand and prominence in the areas they occupied.
After the pandemic, office space may be viewed as an expensive budget line item that could be trimmed with little impact on operations. Many businesses, even those requiring high data security such as financial services firms, have made necessary investments in virtual infrastructure during the virus lockdown. The result has been a true distributed workforce that in some cases has been more productive.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Feb 18, 2022
Proposal would make all new buildings in Los Angeles carbon-neutral
Los Angeles may become the next large city to ban fossil fuels from new construction if legislation recently introduced in the city council becomes law.
Codes and Standards | Feb 18, 2022
U.S. Army outlines ambitious renewable energy and decarbonization goals
Net-zero emissions in all procurements and a microgrid at every base among aims.
Codes and Standards | Feb 17, 2022
Pandemic won’t alter urban planning
City planners focused on returning to ‘old normal’.
Codes and Standards | Feb 16, 2022
California court rules affordable housing developers exempt from local zoning
Case could set precedent on state law that overrides local rules.
Codes and Standards | Feb 15, 2022
FORTIFIED resiliency standard expanded to include multifamily sector
Voluntary, beyond-code program aims to protect buildings from severe weather.
Codes and Standards | Feb 10, 2022
Number of Americans at risk of flooding to double in 30 years
Most new risk from new development, not climate change.
Codes and Standards | Feb 10, 2022
Intl. Code Council committee on diversity seeks applicants
New board aims to increase diversity in the membership association.
Codes and Standards | Feb 9, 2022
Climate impact of gas stoves in U.S. equal to half a million cars
New study could increase momentum to ban fossil fuels in new buildings.
Codes and Standards | Feb 7, 2022
Energy efficiency ratings not reflecting true energy use
Highest rated U.K. buildings are less efficient than lower rated ones.
Codes and Standards | Feb 3, 2022
Illinois tops USGBC list of states with the most LEED certified projects in 2021
Top 10 states plus D.C. certified more than 247 million gross square feet.
