PHOTOGRAPHS BY © GENSLER AND DWG ( ABOVE ); ROOM ( RIGHT )

WHEN EVERYONE MOVES forward to work , they should expect a completely new breed of office . Architect Todd Heiser , co – managing director of the Chicago office of Gensler , a global architecture and design firm , says we should not be looking to the old office for inspiration .

“ Let ’ s put the ‘ place ’ back in ‘ workplace ,’” he says . Talent , he argues , wants a workplace that provides a platform to thrive , putting flexibility , connectivity , and equity at the forefront .

“ Thoughtful spaces plus smart technology should amplify the benefits of being in a room together . If we model the workplace on places of learning ,

we ’ ll hit it out of the park ,” he says . That means thinking about the office as having “ amenities ” that aren ’ t consumable but that foster growth , such as spaces that act like college quads , yoga studios , test kitchens , and artist-in-residence rooms .

That means no longer optimizing square feet but optimizing flexibility . “ We have these ‘ jump