OREANDA-NEWS. Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, more than a third of large companies have decided to reduce their office space over the next three years, Russian media «RBC» reported on Friday, May 14, citing a research conducted by the international consulting company «Knight Frank» based on a survey of almost 400 international companies with a total number of employees of more than 10 million people.

According to the research, 35% of companies plan to reduce office space, the same number of companies are going to keep it's premises, and another 30% — even expand it. In Moscow, the average size of the lease transaction has already decreased — from 2169 sq. m. m in 2019 to 1757 sq. m. in 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, the average size of the lease transaction became even smaller — 1230 sq. m.

Maria Zimina, director of the department at «Knight Frank», belivies, that it is happening because of the transformation of the very concept of office space: «The very idea of office space is changing: now it is perceived as a place of meetings and collaboration, and not just as equipped workplaces. Tenants are interested in flex-spaces, lounge areas with a gradual reduction in the number of jobs».

59 percent of the companies surveyed rated the remote experience as «positive» or «extremely positive». In this regard, they choose a mixed format of work, improving their offices, rather than abandoning them. Over the next three years, 47% of companies intend to improve the quality of it's premises, 46% will add new services and amenities for employees, and 55% will create more spaces for collaboration in offices.