COWORKING & THE FUTURE OF WORK: A FUTURIST’S TAKE

The coworking movement has exploded in recent years, growing over 200% since 2015. Once considered a fringe trend for entrepreneurs and freelancers, the model of shared workspaces and communities is entering the mainstream. As flexible office space needs grow and remote work normalizes, the future of coworking looks extremely bright.

Industry analysts project over 30,000 shared office spaces will exist globally by 2025. We will see accelerated growth as coworking penetrates into new markets from rural towns to corporate environments. Mainstream recognition and adoption will bring further validation as well as billions in investment capital to expand locations and enhance member experiences through amenities and networking events.

While WeWork captures many headlines, the future coworking ecosystem will have extreme diversity to serve virtually every worker demographic and preference. Expect niche spaces focusing on interests, industries, demographics, and more. For example, some providers offer women-centric spaces while creators have studio spaces specifically designed for their unique needs. Specialized spaces will support focused communities.

The line between workspace and community is also blurring. Future spaces will integrate living spaces, gyms, dining, childcare and other services to provide complete lifestyle ecosystems. We will see a resurgence of urban planning concepts like 15-minute neighborhoods with live/work spaces within walking communities. Coworking will anchor these connected micro-cities.

Technology will also be embedded throughout future spaces to enable hybrid remote/office work and streamlined operations. Expect widespread usage of sensors, smart access controls, automation, VR conferencing, and member apps tying into the Internet of Things. These tech layers will power personalized experiences addressing productivity, convenience and community.

Far from a niche movement, coworking will fundamentally reshape work in the next decade. Shared spaces have moved from innovative to inevitable. The full penetration of this workplace revolution has only just begun in this shift towards flexible, networked and experience-driven work cultures. The future of the office is coworking.