The Space Between
Based on the analysis of 18 financial services workplace designs completed before and after the pandemic, The Space Between reveals why the future office functions less like a floorplan and more like a connected network.
Discover how leading organisations are redesigning workplaces to improve interaction, collaboration, employee experience, and organisational performance.
Why this research matters
For decades, office design prioritised efficiency: desk density, occupancy ratios, and floor area per employee.
That model is changing.
Today’s most effective workplaces are being designed around something far more valuable: the moments when people connect.
The Space Between explores the structural shift happening across workplace strategy, office design, and commercial real estate revealing why movement, interaction, and collaboration have become the new organising principles of the office.
“This report, in collaboration with Dr Kerstin Sailer and brainybirdz, explores a shift occurring across modern workplaces, one where organisations are rethinking how offices are designed and what their fundamental purpose is.”
Leeson Medhurst, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer
Key research findings
Three critical workplace shifts defining the modern office
1. Movement has become infrastructure
Post-pandemic workplace designs show a significant increase in circulation space, as offices evolve into interconnected systems designed to encourage interaction, flow, and spontaneous encounters.
Corridors are no longer “dead space.” They are strategic assets that enable collaboration, communication, and innovation.
2. The era of desk-led planning is ending
3. Collaboration is now core capacity
The people behind the research
Created in collaboration with leading experts across workplace strategy, design, sociology and behavioural research, The Space Between brings together data, insight and lived experience to explore how workplaces are evolving beyond traditional office models. Combining academic analysis with real-world industry perspectives, the report examines the shifting relationship between people, space, movement and collaboration and what this means for the future of work.
Leeson Medhurst
Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer
Sophie Grant
Global Strategy and Change Specialist
Dr Kerstin Sailer
Co-Founder of brainybirdz and Professor in the Sociology of Architecture
Kasia Maynard
Head of Research and Editorial at WorkTech Academy
A new framework for workplace design
Understand how workplace design impacts culture, decision-making, and organisational performance.
The office as a network
Rather than organising workplaces around static occupancy, organisations are increasingly designing around:
- Movement
- Spatial relationships
- Interaction patterns
- Collaborative intensity
- Experience quality
The result is a workplace model that prioritises connection over density and performance over pure efficiency.
Who should read the research?
For executive teams
Understand how workplace design impacts culture, decision-making, and organisational performance.
For real estate and workplace leaders
For interior designers and developers
For facilities managers and operations teams
Download the full report
The Space Between - redefining the office through movement, interaction and connection
Gain access to:
- Original workplace research
- Spatial planning analysis
- Workplace strategy insights
- Post-pandemic office trends
- Actionable design frameworks
Frequently asked Questions
What is The Space Between white paper about?
The Space Between explores how workplace design is evolving beyond desk density toward collaboration, movement, and interaction-focused environments.
Who is this workplace research for?
The report is designed for workplace strategists, architects, office designers, commercial real estate professionals, facilities leaders, and executive teams.
What industries does the research analyse?
The study focuses on financial services organisations, including banking, fintech, insurance, and investment management firms.
What workplace trends does the report cover?
The report covers hybrid work, collaboration spaces, office planning, circulation design, spatial configuration, workplace experience, and post-pandemic office strategy.
Is the white paper free to download?
Yes, the report is available as a free downloadable PDF.
Download the report
The future office is defined by the space between. The organisations that outperform won’t simply have better desks, they will design the connections between people more intentionally.