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Design www.thefis.org 21 Above all, UK focus UKManufacturing UK Service UKDistribution zentia.com Above all, you 12162521 Zentia_Ads_Print_122x85mm Spec Finishes AW.indd 2 23/0 9/2021 17:23 James Gall echoed this and added: “I can see a shift towards contractor developed design and there seems to be a move towards smaller spaces, and shorter term leases will lead to landlords doing fit-outs rather than tenants.” As clients have been forced to re-evaluate projects, inevitably, some have stalled completely, but others are now starting to re-surface, but with adaptations as the move to hybrid working gathers momentum. Although a certain amount of flexibility is being built in, clients are realising that they don’t need so much space for employees now. Workspace is never perfect so perhaps it is appropriate to leave space ‘to be defined’? Paul Dare said that more clients are now employing workplace strategists to get a clearer understanding of how spaces will be used, and they consult individual workers to allow for more intelligent design. This won’t necessarily be what management previously thought employees wanted. Jack Dearlove (ISG) picked up on this and emphaised the need now to produce data for clients. He said: “In a world of unpredictability, data provides enough information to inform considered and analytical repsonses.” He went on to say that as well as the thirst for data, another big driver is sustainability, the biggest change he has identified when it comes to what clients demand. Sustainability Jack said: “Clients want evidence of sustainability, including the carbon impacts of products as well as the carbon emissions of the building itself. We know that people are starting to buy buildings based on carbon credentials and almost everyone questions the recycling or re-use of product, not just sustainability experts.” Geoff agreed noting that in some cases, we compensate for poor buildings by clever fit-out design, but as buildings improve as sustainability is incorporated, the fit-out arena may change.” Julie and Ann both concurred, noting that younger workers are driving the sustainability conversations more and more, to the extent that it influences who they will want to work for and where. This led us to the close of the session, where everyone agreed that change is positive. Our buildings are for the next generation to use, they are better educated in sustainability than we are and they will demand better of their employers and workplaces – they will choose companies to work for who transparently match their own values. We can’t start from scratch any more, things have to be re-purposed and the industry as a whole; needs to pull its socks up. If you would like to get involved in the FIS Fit-Out Working Group – visit https://www.thefis.org/membership-hub/ working-groups/fitout-working-group/