Wonder isn’t frivolous – it’s strategic.
People are seeking more than just a place to work—they’re searching for inspiration and experiences that energize them to do their best. This calls for a fundamental shift in how we think about space, work, and community.
What if…a workplace was thought of as an attraction – a place people must experience?
The workplace of the future is here now.
For decades, commercial real estate has focused on square footage, efficiencies, and amenities. But today, the real differentiator isn’t a building’s features—it’s the experience it delivers.
As cities rebound, we see a clear trend: the most vibrant downtowns aren’t just places to work—they’re ecosystems. Offices, restaurants, retail, residential, tourism, and events work together to create a dynamic environment where people want to be.
The same is true for workplaces. A thriving workplace isn’t just a collection of desks—it’s a community. And placemaking—a concept long used in urban planning—is now essential in workplace design.
Placemaking: Is Your Office Worth the Commute?
Placemaking is more than building something beautiful—it’s about designing spaces that foster connection, engagement, and culture. It’s what makes a neighborhood feel alive, a retail district feel electric, or a downtown feel inviting.
For workplaces, this means:
- Inspiring people to do their best work through a choice of dynamic, flexible spaces
- Creating experiences that energize, engage, and connect employees
- Building culture through spaces which reinforce purpose, values, and identity
- Encouraging interaction and innovation – just like a great city does
People Don’t Know What They Want—Until They Experience It
As Steve Jobs once said, “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”
The most iconic spaces and innovations weren’t built by committee or survey. They were created by leaders with vision and conviction. If we only ask people what they want, we risk repeating the past instead of creating the future. The best workplaces don’t just meet expectations—they expand imagination.
What if we stopped asking what people want—and started showing them what’s possible?
Safe Choices Are the Riskiest Moves
In the experience economy, playing it safe is the fastest way to fade into the background.
People today crave:
- Emotion – spaces that make them feel connected
- Surprise – moments that break expectations
- Meaning – environments that reflect purpose and culture
A workplace that lacks energy, identity, and inspiration won’t just be underutilized—it will be ignored. And ignored spaces die.
Wonder is Good for Business
Wonder isn’t frivolous—it’s strategic. It attracts talent, fosters creativity, and drives engagement.
Industries across the board are recognizing this. As David Waingarten put it:
“The experience economy is transforming how people dream, share and spend. People everywhere are demonstrating that they value experiences over things.”
The same applies to work. People don’t just show up for a paycheck—they show up for purpose, for energy, and for the feeling of being part of something bigger.
The Workplace Needs More Than a Facelift—It Needs a Purpose
Post-pandemic, simply refreshing office layouts isn’t enough. People need a reason to be there. That reason isn’t a policy. It’s not about mandates or perks. It’s about creating places where people want to be—where they feel inspired, connected, and engaged.
What if more companies invested in their workplaces the way cities invest in attractions?
What if the workplace was more than a necessity—what if it was a destination?
Let’s Create Workplaces That Spark Community
A thriving downtown is built on energy, relationships, and a sense of place. So is a thriving workplace.
It’s time to stop thinking about offices as spaces to fill—and start thinking about them as experiences to create.
Let’s build workplaces that don’t just function, but inspire.
Let’s create places where work and community come alive.
Let’s make wonder a business strategy—because the companies that do will lead the future.