Noting that office properties are facing challenges with work-from-home and hybrid models of business is beyond speculation at this point. What's new in an analysis from Moody's Analytics is that office buildings can rework themselves for the shifting patterns and gain significant competitive advantages.

A caveat is that the Moody's white paper, while written by their staff, also involved data from WiredScore, which "assesses, certifies and improves digital connectivity and smart technology in homes and offices," according to the company's own description, and so has a vested interest.

To start, the Moody's researchers noted a difference in performance of Class A office space over Class B or C. "Trophy office space with best[1]in-class amenities and technology to support growth are more sought after by companies to attract and retain top talent," they wrote. "Developers keep this in mind when planning their next projects – with digital connectivity top of mind. The highest-quality office spaces on the market, ones that are usually newly-constructed and have been outfitted with premium fixtures, amenities, HVAC, and digital systems are considered Class A, while Class B/C buildings are usually older and not as well maintained. Since 2010, Class A new construction has averaged 31.5 million square feet per year, while Class B/C construction only averaged 2.6 million square feet."