Wellness, sustainability and preservation remain buzzwords in commercial real estate as more companies prioritize amenities geared toward health and convenience with the aim of bringing more employees back to the office. Below are a few observations for hot design trends in 2024:
WELLNESS-FOCUSED WORKSPACES. Features gaining prominence include easy access to outdoor areas, onsite food services, fitness facilities, and staffed IT and tech bars.
TURNKEY LABS. A growing number of life science companies are expanding their commercial footprints and seeking greater flexibility within their spaces. Many predict an increase in move-in ready, international lab facilities in 2024.
RETROFITTING: While the real estate industry has focused much attention on the long-term potential to convert empty office space into housing, in the short term, the prediction is an uptick in office-to-storage space conversions. 
Urban Sustainability. Life science companies are seeking building designs that include plants, natural light and sustainable materials in dense urban environments. The company predicts mass timber will emerge as a viable, sustainable construction method for research and lab developments nationwide.
A NOD TO THE PAST. Culture-rich developments that pay homage to an area’s history and seek to preserve its green space could be on the rise. Designers and Developers will collaborate more closely with historic districts and planning boards, aiming to create cohesive master plans that work seamlessly with the surrounding built and social environments.
