DLF Offices: Reimagining Office Trends in 2023

In 2023, we are witnessing a period of transition with the workforce moving back to a new "normal". The success of this new era of work culture is tangent upon the understanding of the shifting work priorities and attitudes of the workforce. The success of the workspace ecosystem is dependent on its ability to facilitate a flexible, high-performance environment, working for and with the needs of its workforce.

At DLF Offices, we are cognizant of the changes in the workforce's personal and professional needs. Here we design workspace ecosystems that make lasting contributions to the community and environment while providing an exceptional experience to our patrons, today and in the future. Our future-centric approach is the catalyst to our cognizance of the changes in the workforce's personal and professional needs. We provide our patrons with secure, sustainably designed, integrated workspaces replete with numerous food and beverage, and leisure amenities. This has resulted in a wave of experiential office spaces by DLF that is a la mode and meets the needs of the modern workforce. Therefore, DLF Offices is setting the benchmark for modern office spaces.

Office Trends in 2023:

The pandemic has led to reverberations in all aspects of life. It has upended the conventional workspace ecosystem. The standardised office spaces with a labyrinth of cubicles enclosing the workforce seem obsolete in the contemporary context. Instead, workplaces that impel collaborative and unfettered creative innovations are au courant corporate ecosystems. The operational workspace needs to provide a secure environment for modern employees while committing to sustainable solutions to achieve this vision. Further, there's a recognition of increased workforce productivity when an optimal work-life balance is maintained.

The credo for DLF Offices is most eloquently captured in a recent news byte given by a senior DLF management representative; "The pandemic has brought about a change in the way people look at office spaces. They are now keen to have experiential offices that provide work environment flexibility."

While the rest of the country is only now struggling to comprehend and keep up with the workforce's modern predisposition, DLF's foresight has led to the creation of modern workspaces well in advance.

An Employee-Centric Work Environment:

According to publicly available research, data in 80% of Fortune 500 companies, employees with optimal work-life balance work 21% harder. Striking this balance leads to a positive work environment with happier, highly-engaged, and productive workers. There is a requirement for office spaces that promote this equilibrium by providing various recreational sources. These spaces provide a much-needed respite to the employees, allowing them to work with an invigorated frame of mind. Offices today need to be equipped with people-driven amenities such as healthcare services, wellness spaces, food courts, and entertainment zones.

The isolation of working from home has led to the recognition of the importance of open, interactive spaces in the workspace for employees. These spaces enhance creativity, interaction, and productivity. The modern workforce is gravitating towards workspaces that foster a community approach to work. It is imperative to the success of the future of work to henceforth design office ecosystems that are replete with provisions to encourage employee interactions. It is in the comfort of break-out spaces and lounges, that organic interaction between employees ensues.

Further, the future needs a comfortable and nurturing environment with ergonomically designed furniture and flexible workstations to realise its potential. The addition of ergonomic workstations designed according to the needs of the workers leads to a reduction in the occurrences of workplace fatigue and injury. Correspondingly, companies today have also been integrating biophilic designs to customise a workspace that incorporates natural elements as an integral part of its ecosystem. Such designs serve to energise the employees and are a huge departure from prescriptive office spaces. Additionally, the inclusion of elements such as plants and natural light in the workspace allows for increased ventilation and better air quality for the future of work.

A Safe and Secure Work Environment:

The highest level of productivity and innovation happens when the workforce is provided with a safe workspace ecosystem. The pandemic has served to reiterate the importance of a secure environment to ensure employee retention and efficacy. The people who are responsible for the future deserve to work in a safe environment. Therefore, world-class safety and security measures need to be employed to ensure this. Modern workplaces need to be equipped with world-class air filtration systems, such as MERV-14, to ensure the provision of clean, fresh air to patrons, staff, and visitors at all points. This system purifies the air of up to 98% contaminants, including SARS-COV, safeguarding the occupants.

Additionally, in 2023, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that policies safeguarding responsible business practices are implemented. Robust safety measures include but are not limited to the inclusion of dedicated fire stations and paramedical facilities, empanelled to keep offices safe, and apprehension-free zones.

A Sustainable Working Space:

The pandemic has made everyone acutely aware of nature's ability to overpower humans. The future of work has discerned that it is only when environmentally sustainable practices are employed, there is a possibility of a progressive future. The employees today are becoming the champions of sustainability. With the challenges of climate change upon us already, employees are now actively seeking a workspace whose values align with the vision of a sustainably developed business.

Companies worldwide are making a conscious effort to employ eco-friendly practices to preserve nature. Workplaces today are striving to continuously innovate to create greener, more intelligent, and more energy-efficient buildings. Consequently, in 2023 we are witnessing office spaces employ numerous mechanisms to conserve natural resources and neutralise their carbon footprint. With the commercial-built environment proving to be a major change factor, water conservation has been on the radar of the environmentally-conscious modern workforce. Businesses are now striving to invest in a water harvesting system to conserve and reuse potable and reclaimed water. There is also a movement towards the reduction of energy consumption by installing energy-efficient lighting and equipment in the workspace.

Conclusion:

The office trends in 2023 showcase that our corporate microcosm is at the crux of transition from orthodox office spaces with circumscribed spaces being a thing of the past. The future of work is calling for highly flexible, customer-driven spaces wherein there is an enhancement of work-life balance while subscribing to sustainable and innovative designs. DLF Offices have been a fundamental part of this transformation of the IT office paradigm in India. We have curated immaculate plexes of high-performance office ecosystems which operate on the principle of providing world-class safety and security, sustainability, work-life balance, customer experience, and technology. Our ESG goal is socio-economic progress and sustainable urbanisation of India.
Our Cyber City Gurugram office, with its collaborative open spaces and co-working spaces, is emblematic of this vision to enhance productivity by encouraging invigorating communication. Additionally, its proximity to the famous recreational and shopping complex, Cyber Hub, with its multiple avenues lined with restaurants and bars exemplifies the pertinence of maintaining a work-life balance for DLF.