--- title: Can Traditional Office Space Compete With Co-Working? description: Can Traditional Office Space Compete With Co-Working? image: https://blog.sior.com/hubfs/8.10.17%20Can%20Traditional.jpg --- - [Who We Are](https://www.sior.com/whoweare) - [Chapters](https://www.sior.com/chapter) - [Partners & Supporters](https://www.sior.com/partners) - [SIOR Foundation](https://foundation.sior.com/) - [Contact](https://www.sior.com/contact-us) - [MySIOR](https://my.sior.com/home) - [Search](Javascript:void(0);) - [Find an SIOR](https://sior.com//find-an-sior) - [Become an SIOR](https://sior.com//become-an-sior/become) - [Education & Insights](https://sior.com//education-and-insights) - [Events](https://sior.com//conferences) - [Transactions & Data](https://sior.com//transactions) - [Current Members](https://sior.com//current-members) - [Who We Are](https://www.sior.com/whoweare) - [Chapters](https://www.sior.com/chapter) - [Partners & Supporters](https://www.sior.com/partners) - [SIOR Foundation](https://foundation.sior.com/) - [Contact](https://www.sior.com/contact-us) - [MySIOR](https://my.sior.com/home) - [Search](Javascript:void(0);) - [Find an SIOR](https://sior.com//find-an-sior) - [Become an SIOR](https://sior.com//become-an-sior/become) - [Education & Insights](https://sior.com//education-and-insights) - [Events](https://sior.com//conferences) - [Transactions & Data](https://sior.com//transactions) - [Current Members](https://sior.com//current-members) # SIOR Pulse Blog In This Section ### Education & Insights - [Overview](https://sior.com/education-and-insights) - [Education](https://sior.com/education-and-insights/education) - [Insights](https://sior.com/education-and-insights/insights) - [Latest News](https://sior.com/education-and-insights/insights/latest-news) - [SIOR Report](https://www.sior.com/education-and-insights/insights/magazine/sior-report) - [SIOR Pulse Blog](https://blog.sior.com/) - [Thought Leadership Series](https://sior.com/education-and-insights/insights/thought-leadership-series) - [SIOR Weekly Newsletter](https://sior.com/education-and-insights/insights/sior-weekly) - Writing Opportunities [Return to SIOR Pulse Blog](https://blog.sior.com) Share: [envelope](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blog.sior.com/can-traditional-office-space-compete-with-co-working%20&body=Check%20out%20https://blog.sior.com/can-traditional-office-space-compete-with-co-working) [twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.sior.com/can-traditional-office-space-compete-with-co-working&text=Can%20Traditional%20Office%20Space%20Compete%20With%20Co-Working) [facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.sior.com/can-traditional-office-space-compete-with-co-working) [linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.sior.com/can-traditional-office-space-compete-with-co-working) SIOR HQ 08/10/2017 # Can Traditional Office Space Compete With Co-Working? ![8.10.17 Can Traditional](https://blog.sior.com/hubfs/8.10.17%20Can%20Traditional.jpg) Categories: [Business Services & Best Practices](https://blog.sior.com/tag/business-services-best-practices) [Office](https://blog.sior.com/tag/office) [Landlord & Tenant Strategies](https://blog.sior.com/tag/landlord-tenant-strategies) As you may already know, the stronghold that traditional office spaces have had on the market is being challenged by the emergence of co-working spaces. Unless you live in a rural community, you probably have a WeWork, Regis, or independently-owned co-working office space within a few miles from your home. Times are changing, and much of the change in the professional world is being driven by a shift in needs, expectations, and values as [millennials take control of the labor market](https://www.wired.com/insights/2013/08/the-rise-of-the-millennial-workforce/).   **Why Is the Office Space Under Threat?** There’s no single answer to this question, but it has a lot to do with the fact that changes in modern society have created more choice with regard to where and how we work. Simply put, the traditional working model is looking more like a dinosaur and here are some reasons why:   - Workers want more scheduling flexibility. In fact, [only 10% of workers surveyed](https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katetaylor/2013/08/23/why-millennials-are-ending-the-9-to-5/&refURL=&referrer=) think pay is more important than having some autonomy over their work schedule. - We’re in an age of entrepreneurship. [Workers in their 20s and 30s want to create a start-up](http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/smallbusiness/1206/gallery.gen-y-entrepreneurs.fortune/index.html) or roll the dice and work for one. - People like free stuff, and co-working spaces typically offer coffee, snacks, and more importantly, fast internet. - It’s a warmer environment where individuals feel more comfortable socializing.   While this doesn’t mean that traditional office spaces are in danger of going extinct, it does illustrate how owners and investors in the office sector need to change their business model in order to maintain control over the market.   **How the Traditional Office Industry Can Compete** Keeping up with workplace culture and going along with the changes in the market are the best ways to maintain control in a market shared by co-working spaces. Many companies that specialize in office spaces have modified their business models by providing some of the following amenities:   - Game rooms and common areas - Open floor plans over cubicles - Free snacks and coffee   It’s important to remember that we live in an age where the experience is just as important as the outcome. In the same way that consumers like experiential retail, modern workers are looking for experiences to improve their work routine. Activity rooms, flexible schedules, and group activities are just some of the ways that traditional office companies have been able to maintain their control in the market. In a more radical approach, some companies have even [turned to alcohol to attract employees](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323998604578567883910899540). Whether you support alcohol at work or not, one fact still remains: the office industry can and will weather the co-working storm, but it’ll require creativity and outside-the-box thinking.   **The Final Word** The best way for key players in the office sector to retain their market share is by not resisting change. People like choices and co-working spaces provide a viable alternative to the traditional way people go to work, which is part of the reason [why co-working spaces have become increasingly popular](https://www.business.com/articles/cues-your-traditional-office-can-take-from-co-working-spaces/). Many investors and developers have caught onto the popularity of co-working and have subsequently expanded into the co-working industry. After all, it doesn’t look as if co-working spaces are going anywhere in the near future.   ![SIOR HQ](https://blog.sior.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/cropped-standard-mark-only.jpg) ### [SIOR HQ](https://blog.sior.com/author/sior-hq) The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (SIOR) represents the world’s elite in industrial and office brokerage. SIORs are held to the highest standard by completing thorough requirements and adhering to the SIOR Code of Ethics. SIOR is more than a designation, it’s a symbol of excellence. SIORs value the power that comes with building relationships and sharing ideas that are on the leading edge of the industry. They are the most knowledgeable, experienced, ethical, and successful commercial real estate brokerage specialists. For more information, visit [sior.com](http://www.sior.com) [media@sior.com](mailto:media@sior.com) ### YOU MAY ALSO LIKE ### [Beyond the Deal: How AI Is Reshaping Tenant Research and Experience](https://blog.sior.com/beyond-the-deal) [Read](https://blog.sior.com/beyond-the-deal) ### [Return to Office 2.0](https://blog.sior.com/return-to-office-2.0) [Read](https://blog.sior.com/return-to-office-2.0) ### [Future-Proof Ready: Practical Applications of AI for Business Growth and Operational Efficiency](https://blog.sior.com/future-proof-ready-practical-applications-of-ai) [Read](https://blog.sior.com/future-proof-ready-practical-applications-of-ai) ![subscribe weekly](https://blog.sior.com/hubfs/SIOR_September2019/images/subscribe-mobile-new.38f24a48.png) ## SUBSCRIBE TO SIOR WEEKLY! **Personalized. Targeted. Relevant.** Using the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), SIOR Weekly is a customized aggregation of CRE industry news most relevant to you, delivered right to your inbox. 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