The Future of Office Work: From “place of work” to “place of connection”
“The future of office work is no longer about where people sit — it’s about how they connect.”
One of the most lasting effects of the pandemic has been the rise of hybrid work. Routine tasks often happen at home, while the office is becoming the space for collaboration, culture, and social connection.
Hybrid models define the future of office work, turning workplaces into collaboration hubs.
Research shows that companies now see the office as a destination — not just rows of desks.¹ At the same time, experts warn that if hybrid work is poorly designed, it can actually hurt performance instead of improving it.²
The message is clear: the office must shift from being just a place to work into a place that builds teamwork, motivation, and identity.
Why Hybrid Work Is Changing Office Design
These are the key design trends shaping the future of office work in 2025.
1. Activity-Based Working Replaces Big Open Spaces: Large, one-size-fits-all open spaces are less effective today. Companies are adopting activity-based working — creating different zones for different needs such as focus, collaboration, and informal conversations.³
2. Phone Booths and Quiet Pods Improve Focus: With more video calls, noise is a big issue. Studies show that background conversations in open offices distract people and reduce focus.⁴ ⁵ Adding small soundproof booths or “quiet hubs” helps: employees can take calls privately and enjoy quieter spaces to concentrate.⁶
3. The Rise of Multi-Type Meeting Rooms: Instead of just classical meeting rooms and boardrooms, offices now have a mix of spaces: huddle rooms, breakout lounges, brainstorming corners, and classic meeting rooms. Research shows creative and problem-solving meetings work best face-to-face, while simple updates can be done online.⁷ ⁸
4. Technology Integration for Hybrid Collaboration: Every meeting space needs to work well for both in-person and remote participants. That means built-in cameras, microphones, and screens, as well as desk and room booking systems.
Even room acoustics matter. A recent pilot study found that better sound design in meeting rooms makes hybrid conversations clearer and more effective.⁹
5. Smarter Zoning Manager Accessibility. Teams that often work together are seated near each other. At the same time, quiet areas are created for employees who need focused work or don’t have the option to work from home.
6. Manager Accessibility: Leaders are no longer separated away in corner offices. They sit closer to their teams but still have access to private rooms for sensitive discussions when needed.
7. Branding and Identity Through Office Design
The office has become a cultural statement:
- Colors, slogans, and values displayed in shared spaces
- Branded meeting rooms that set the tone for video calls with clients
- A design that makes employees feel part of something bigger
8. Smaller, more effective offices are a clear sign of how the future of office work values flexibility. Companies don’t always need huge offices anymore. Instead, they invest in spaces that are flexible, useful, and inspiring: fewer fixed desks, more areas that bring people together.
Benefits and Challenges of Hybrid Office Models
Key Benefits:
- Attracting and keeping talent
- Making better use of space
- Building stronger culture and teamwork
- Offices that reflect company values
Common Challenges:
- High upfront costs for redesign and technology
- Employees worrying about losing “their desk”
- Risk of some spaces being overused or underused
- Constant need to adjust based on feedback
Conclusion: Creating Workplaces People Want to Be Part Of
The office of the past was about where you worked. The office of today is about why you come: to collaborate, connect, and belong.
Companies investing in the future of office workthat redesign their spaces for hybrid work won’t just save money — they’ll create workplaces that people want to be part of.
TREEE Romania
Footnotes
- DLR Group. Workplace Evolution: The Office as Destination. 2024. Link
- Choudhury, P., Khanna, T., & Makridis, C. Is Hybrid Work the Best of Both Worlds? Evidence from a Field Experiment. 2022. PDF
- Lauring, J. What is hybrid work? Towards greater conceptual clarity of modality, location, temporality. 2025. ScienceDirect
- Yadav, M., Kim, J., Cabrera, D., & de Dear, R. Auditory distraction in open-plan office environments: The effect of multi-talker acoustics. 2023. arXiv
- West, B., Deuchars, A., & Ali-MacLachlan, I. Office Soundscape Assessment: A Model of Acoustic Environment Perception in Open-Plan Offices. 2024. PubMed
- van Dort, P., & Becker, B. The Influence of a “Quiet Hub” on the Indoor Acoustics in an Open Office Environment: A Case Study. 2023. PDF
- Gensler. Repopulating the Workplace: Why Collaboration Space Is in Danger. 2024. Link
- Christensen, E. L., Paasivaara, M., et al. Hybrid Work in Agile Software Development: Recurring Meetings. 2025. ResearchGate
9. Einig, R., Janscha, S., Schuster, J., Koch, J., Hagmueller, M. & Schuppler, B.Room acoustics affect communicative success in hybrid meeting spaces: a pilot study. 2025. arXiv
