Tenants have told us what they want — and it’s not a traditional office building

Across the U.S., remote and hybrid schedules have fundamentally reshaped how people work.

This “new normal” requires a significant shift in thinking by commercial real estate owners and managers. To help guide that rethink, we surveyed a select group of clients across the U.S. (building owners and more than 200 of their tenants) to tell us which amenities and features matter most. We identified clear areas of alignment, along with notable gaps between owner priorities and tenant preferences — revealing opportunities to reevaluate where and how amenity dollars are invested.

While traditional amenities remain a priority for many owners, evolving tenant preferences present an opportunity to reassess where amenity investments can deliver the greatest value. Tenants, meanwhile, are quietly asking for something entirely different: a workplace with the comforts of home plus the conveniences that make office days easier, smoother, and more worthwhile.

The hybrid worker has changed — but buildings haven’t

In the U.S., the majority (52%) of remote-capable workers are now hybrid, working some days from home and some in the office. Fully remote workers account for 26% of this workforce, and only 22% are back in the office full-time.

Source: Gallup May 2026, “Where Are People Working Now and Into the Future?”

In our survey, approximately 65% of tenant respondents work hybrid, and another 35% are in the office full-time.

So, what did they tell us?

Today’s office user thinks differently. They’ve had time to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of working from home versus being in the office, and while no two people are the same, the survey responses revealed a surprising consensus about the amenities tenants value.

Much of what tenants want seems tied to what they do and don’t have access to when working remotely.

Advantages from working remotely that tenants now want replicated in the office include:

Yet the office also holds appeal precisely for what home lacks:

And then there are the pure conveniences:

But many buildings are still designed for a world where people sit at their desks from nine to five, go out for lunch, and attend meetings in giant conference rooms. Few workers, it turns out, are nostalgic for that model.

Connects

Secure parking and bike racks

One-third of owners think they’re important — and about one-third of tenants use them. Meanwhile, only an additional 12% of tenants say they would use these amenities if they were available. It seems that if tenants want parking for their cars or bikes, they have it. So, the balance between supply and demand seems about right.

Food and coffee

Owners and tenants agree on one thing: access to good coffee and food on-site matters. While there is universal consensus on the importance of quality coffee, preferences diverge when it comes to dining — owners tend to favor white-tablecloth options, while tenants prefer fast-casual.

Disconnects

Outdoor spaces vs. roof gardens/roof decks

Half of owners believe having outdoor space is important, yet the divide is over where that outdoor space should be. Only a quarter of tenants prioritize ground-level outdoor areas. Instead, tenants overwhelmingly favor roof gardens and roof decks:

Tenants crave sunlight, fresh air, views, and quieter places to sit.

Wellness/quiet rooms

Having grown accustomed to the quiet and personal space of remote workdays, many workers have found the transition back to the office more challenging than anticipated. Above all, they miss the freedom to step away, pause, and reset.

It is therefore unsurprising that more than a quarter of tenants said they would use wellness or quiet rooms if they were available. By contrast, none of the owners surveyed considered these spaces important — likely reflecting the fact that most owners work in private offices, rather than in open-plan environments or cubicles.

This is one of the biggest disconnects — and, fortunately, maybe one of the easiest to fix.

Convenience Amenities

A lobby shop. Car wash. Vendor promotions. Dry cleaning. Pet care. Childcare.

With picking up essentials and getting a car wash ranking as the biggest disconnects for these amenities, it’s clear tenants value anything that saves time.

Fitness centers/gyms

Most landlords (83%) think gyms are essential, and just over half of tenants agree: 32% use them, and another 20% would use them if available. But a 31% gap suggests that gyms probably don’t rank as important as owners think. Given the initial and upkeep costs, the ROI may not be worth it.

Wi-Fi isn’t the draw owners think it is

Half of the owners believe high-speed internet is crucial. Tenants seem less concerned. Why? Possibly because:

The Biggest Disconnects

Electric Vehicle (EV) charging

Owners are planning for the future: half say EV charging stations are essential, but only 5% of tenants currently use them — and only 5% would use them if available. This tracks neatly with the fact that about 7% of Americans currently own EVs, according to The University of Chicago’s 2025 EPIC poll.

However, the Department of Energy estimates that by 2030, 80% of EVs in the U.S. will be owned by people living in suburban or urban areas, making the installation of EV chargers in these areas a sensible form of future-proofing. And with BloombergNEF projecting that EVs could account for 48% of all new vehicle sales by then, installing chargers increasingly looks like a compelling investment.

Bookable conference facilities

One-third of owners consider bookable conference facilities essential, but only 4% of tenants use them — and just 8% would use them if available.

Today, office workers prefer smaller, informal collaboration spaces over traditional boardrooms.

Perks programs

Nearly half (45%) of tenants highly value curated perk programs — an excellent opportunity for owners to build stronger community connections and elevate the tenant experience.

What the Office Needs Now Is… “Listening”

Workers changed during the pandemic. They learned what they value. They know what makes a day worth commuting for. They’ve articulated it clearly, and we now have data to help us understand what matters to them.

The buildings that tenants want to work in are the ones that embrace this new reality. The way the owners respond will make all the difference.

The ROI Challenge (and the Solution)

Here’s the part that should make every owner lean in:

Owners may be overspending in the wrong places and underspending in the right ones.

The good news is that owners don’t necessarily need to spend more — just more strategically. Some of the amenities tenants want are much cheaper than the ones owners keep providing.

Typically, creating a wellness room costs less than buying a high-end treadmill. This is the single cheapest, highest-impact amenity that can be offered.

A meaningful perks program with businesses in the building could be a low-cost crowd-pleaser and a win-win for everyone involved: Tenants feel special, and vendors have an opportunity to develop a loyal customer base.

Also, owners and tenants agree on the need for a place to step outside for a breath of fresh air. Tenants would prefer this space on the rooftop (so it’s private for people using the building) with seating, greenery, and sunshine. When evaluating future building investments, owners should consider opportunities to activate rooftop space where feasible.