From Square Meters to Shared Vision: How Workplace Strategy Is Redefining Office Leasing

In 2025, the office market is no longer about how much space a company leases, but how well that space performs.

For years, financial KPIs have dominated leasing decisions. But that’s changing. Companies are no longer just cutting costs, they’re reconsidering their spaces to focus on people, experience, and performance.

Here’s what this shift means for brokers, developers, and workplace decision-makers:

🧭 The Office is Now a Strategic Enabler

Cushman & Wakefield’s latest What Occupiers Want report revealed a major evolution in corporate real estate. Nearly one-third of companies that changed their reporting lines now have CRE reporting to HR. That’s not just an org chart change, it signals a mindset shift: the office is no longer just about assets, but about people.

Companies want spaces that:

• Attract and retain talent

• Reflect company culture

• Enable collaboration and flexibility

  
  

And increasingly, they expect landlords and brokers to be part of that vision.

🟢 85% of occupiers now expect enhanced landlord support

🟢 46% are willing to pay a premium for better amenities and services

The key takeaway? Offices must now earn their place in the employee journey.

💡 Right-Sizing with Purpose

The “less is more” mindset is redefining the workplace. As highlighted in Gensler’s Doing More With Less, smaller footprints are being designed to do more:

• Hospitality-inspired, multifunctional areas

• Lounge-style work zones that flex with hybrid work

• Fewer traditional desks, more shared “we” spaces

It's no surprise that 60% of employees still feel their offices fall short in supporting collaboration and culture. The opportunity is clear: design and visualize workspaces that actually work.

🎯 The Power of Inclusive Decision-Making

One of the most overlooked blockers to faster leasing decisions? Misalignment between stakeholders.

We’ve seen it time and again: when companies involve more stakeholders early in the leasing process - HR, IT, leadership, employees - they make better, more confident choices. But how do you align everyone when time is tight and perspectives vary?

In some cases, physical model suites still get built, at €1,500+/sqm, just to be torn down months later. It’s costly, wasteful, and far from agile.

That’s where 3D visualization and Intelligent Space Planning come in.

By creating immersive, interactive previews of potential spaces, brokers and landlords can:

• Walk clients through customized, furnished layouts

• Simulate different configurations and occupancy scenarios

• Help stakeholders experience the space before it exists

  
  

The result? Faster decision-making, reduced build-out costs, and stronger alignment between broker, landlord, and tenant - all without lifting a hammer.

It's not just a cost-saver, it's an ESG win. Reducing the need for temporary constructions lowers material waste and emissions, and shows your commitment to responsible leasing practices.

💡 From Metrics to Meaning

We’re at a crossroads in CRE: the language of real estate must evolve beyond cost per square meter to include metrics that capture experience, productivity, and flexibility.

Visual, data-rich planning tools are no longer a nice-to-have: they’re becoming a core part of how leasing gets done. And for those who adapt early, the payoff is clear: faster deal cycles, greater tenant confidence, and a portfolio that truly meets today’s demands.

Final thought:

The future of office leasing isn’t about square meters, it’s about shared vision. And those who can offer clarity, speed, and confidence through better tools will win.

Let’s stop asking “how big does your office need to be?”

And start asking, “how do we make every square meter count?"

This article was originally posted here.