The Transformation Of Office In LA

Is creative office here to stay? One thing experts agree on is that office is definitely being transformed.

"It's constantly in flux," Architectural Resources Group principal Christopher Smith said. "It's an exciting time."

Office is going through a metamorphosis due to the changing nature of how today's employees work, our panelists said at Bisnow's LA Construction and Development event Tuesday.

"The workforce is transforming to be more of a transient workforce," Clark Pacific Executive Director Geene Alhady said.

Alhady expects to see fewer people headquartered permanently in just one facility.

"Where people are telecommuting, you're going to see that what the buildings were designed for, the actual usage of that facility may vary for what it was designed for because of the transient nature of that workforce," he said.

As a result, he said office designs need to take adaptability into account as that trend continues.

For example, he recalled his own work for an international business. If Alhady were in London or traveling to Southern California, he said it would require finding a temporary office to work out of. Those sorts of demands are only increasing, driving the interest in co-working and flex office providers.

NBC Universal Vice President of Design and Construction, Studio Operations Group Sonnet Hui said it can be hard to change mindsets. That is especially true on a large studio lot that has a history of executives being in big offices, she said.

She said the key to office these days is being adaptable.

"I think it's providing kind of a diverse environment that's highly flexible, highly interactive, that allows people to just adapt to the different work styles and needs," Hui said.