Real Estate - a new narrative

Return to the workplace: operational issues and real estate implications

As lockdown pressures begin to ease and industry prepares to return to the workplace, we consider the new narrative around real estate and the future of workplace. This webinar, which is now available on demand, sees us collaborate with Cushman & Wakefield in comparing developments across the globe. We look at examples of how different sectors in different jurisdictions are addressing the challenges ahead, and ask: are you recovery ready?

Key points from the webinar:

• A decreasing percentage of employees expected to return to office working in the short term
• Policies needed for commuting to, access to and social distancing at the office
• Organisations need a plan for every step of engagement with the building, from arrival to departure
• Employee confidence will be key eg cleaning regimes will become more visible
• Tech will play an increasingly important part, a theme we will pick up on in the next webinar (see below)

Filtering the signal from the noise: real estate and technology

This webinar took place on 5 June. In this instalment we looked at the role of technology in the roadmap to recovery and as a permanent fixture in the real estate world beyond. You can view on demand here.

Key points from the session:

• Employees need reassurance that their workplaces are safe
• Facilities management technology can help and is available to implement now
• Software will generate data on crowdedness, air quality and other variables
• Data will influence decisions whether or not to go into the office on a particular day
• Employment and data protection principles need to be considered alongside the duty to ensure a safe workplace

Re-imagining the workplace

In this session we discussed the concept of the distributed workforce and the longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on the workplace.

Key points:

• Trend for migration from major cities to regional centres has
  accelerated since the pandemic
• Trust is no longer a barrier to agile working
• Generational differences in experiences of lockdown: Gen Z generally
  found the period most challenging
• Employees’ wellbeing, is a top priority and any return to work must
  be voluntary
• Risks to consider in each jurisdiction

View on demand here

Changing shape: Building design and technology in Real Estate

This webinar discusses the role of PropTech in building design.

Key points:

• Coronavirus and technology are changing the nature of work and the optimal design of buildings and spaces
• Occupier demand for feedback will increase pressure on demand for smart buildings
• The trends of sustainability and wellbeing are likely to be at the heart of any recovery
• Tools for integration between the distributed workforce may in turn impact on office design
• Technology can assist in the optimisation of any change in design

View on demand here

Scanning the investment horizon (with Cushman & Wakefield)

The investment landscape and the trends emerging in the European real estate market.

Key points:

• More positive sentiment in many markets is driving pricing to (or above) pre-Covid levels, with Germany and Sweden leading the way in activity levels.
• After an initial bounce, second phase of recovery set to be slow and uneven by sector and geography.
• Relative standing of sectors remains, with retail and hospitality negative (but offering opportunities to private equity groups in the short to mid term), offices slightly positive and residential and logistics ahead.
• Quality matters, and secondary assets will feel the pain.
• Speed of change in social and business patterns in the last few months will accelerate structural changes that were already under way in the real estate world.

View on demand here