As artificial intelligence takes on more routine cognitive tasks in the workplace, companies are reimagining office spaces to prioritize human connection over traditional productivity metrics. Rather than merely serving as locations where employees perform individual tasks, many organizations now aim to create “destination buildings” that staff willingly choose to enter, according to workplace design firm MoreySmith.

Linda Morey-Burrows, founder of MoreySmith, explained that in an era where AI can handle routine work, offices need to foster experiences that cannot be replicated digitally—such as knowledge sharing, cultural rituals, and collaborative thinking. This shift reflects a broader workplace evolution that some experts have labeled “Workplace 3.0.” It follows the cellular, hierarchical office models of the 20th century and the open-plan, casual environments popularized by Silicon Valley in the early 2000s.

Data from commercial real estate company JLL supports this transition. Their research indicates that 78 percent of businesses expect AI to significantly influence their real estate strategies, with nearly a third currently redesigning office spaces to accommodate human-AI collaboration. Despite increased investment in workplace design, global employee engagement has dropped by about 20 percent, a phenomenon JLL attributes less to design quality and more to design logic.

Sue Asprey Price, JLL’s chief executive of work dynamics, emphasized that employees are motivated to visit offices primarily for interpersonal interaction rather than amenities. According to JLL’s findings, collaboration and a sense of culture or belonging are the leading reasons people come to workspaces, cited by 58 and 50 percent of respondents respectively. Asprey Price advocates for designing “anchor spaces” that counteract digital isolation by fostering genuine human connection.

Sony Music UK & Ireland offers a practical example of this new approach. Its chief financial officer, Chris Crellin, described the company’s recent relocation to a custom-built headquarters in King’s Cross, London, as part of a strategy to support creativity, collaboration, and flexibility. Crellin noted that the site combines elements of culture, technology, and innovation, creating an adaptive environment that meets the evolving needs of employees and artists alike.

Industry designers recommend several principles for crafting these next-generation workplaces. Creative director Andrew McCann and designer Isla McGlade of MoreySmith suggest offices should offer more than functional necessities, incorporating warm atmospheres, flexible event spaces, and varied settings that accommodate different moods and activities. Features such as meaningful entryways, social areas resembling members’ clubs, and environments that evolve over time can enhance the sense of community and belonging.

Trends forecaster Lucie Greene echoed these views, predicting future offices will resemble “living environments” that adapt to employees’ rhythms and cultivate community. In a workplace landscape where individual productivity can happen remotely, the office’s value increasingly lies in offering experiences and connections that screens cannot replicate.