Technological advancement, the entry of Generation Y, orMillennials, into the workforce and increased acceptance of mobilework are converging to drive evolution in the workplace. Thesefactors are encouraging employers to re-evaluate workplacestrategies, resulting in re-allocation of space within thefootprint and reduction of square footage. A properly executedworkplace strategy offers employers the opportunity to achieve costsavings and build a more effective work environment.

International Facilities Management Association data show thatsquare footage per employee decreased by 15% to 20% in the periodbetween 1994 and 2010. Management and professional employees wereimpacted the most during that timeframe, as clerical functions hadalready shifted to denser, efficient cubicles. Two key drivers ofthis dramatic decrease in space use are increased density andemployee mobility.

Increased density can be achieved in different ways, such asshifting employees from offices to cubicles, decreasingoffice/cubicle size and decreasing hard file storage areas (whichoccupy as much as 15% of space in some workplaces). While increaseddensity drives down space per occupant, employee mobility decreasesthe number of occupants within the space at any one time. Forexample, a 1,000-person office with a 1:1 employee-per-desk ratiorequires 1,000 seats vs. 250 seats for the same office utilizing a4:1 hoteling ratio that is not uncommon. As companies tradeindividual workspaces for shared workspaces, however, they tend toprovide other types of spaces to accommodate employees' needs, suchas small private rooms for personal calls, team rooms, lounges andother common areas to encourage interaction and collaboration.(For more on workplace evolution, see Better Buildings, page 77.)