Amenities: Balancing the flash with the functional

In our (Y)Our Space 2025 research, nearly one in five respondents said that meaningful, functional amenities were their top priority when choosing a workplace. Occupiers aren’t looking for flashy or gimmicky amenities; they want spaces that genuinely enhance their daily experience. 

Amenity can’t be added in and expected to deliver value without effort – an effective place management strategy and long-term commitment to manage that space through intentional community engagement is essential. There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution, amenities need to be tailored according to the building type, location and occupier profile, and continuously reviewed so they can be adapted as needs of the community and occupier evolve over time.

Function over flash

This shift has implications for landlords, who need to ensure that amenities serve two clear purposes:

• That they are enhancing the occupier experience.
• They must contribute to the long-term value of their asset

Reception and communal areas, for instance, could be reimagined as multifunctional hubs where occupiers can work, meet, and connect. If traditional gyms are underused, focusing instead on high quality end of trip facilities like showers, bicycle storage, or wellness amenities such as quiet spaces can directly support occupier needs.

Avoiding common pitfalls

Amenities should be viewed as strategic investments rather than operational costs, integrated into a broader asset management and leasing strategy. Without this, even well-intentioned initiatives can underdeliver. Some of the most common risks include:   

• Over-investment in prestige-driven or gimmicky amenities: it can be easy to fall into the trap of investing heavily in prestigious amenities that look great but aren’t used as they aren’t aligned with occupier demand. 
• Relying on underperforming technology: implementing tech such as an occupier app for a building that is not consistently updated can undermine user engagement and erode trust in the platform. 
• Costly but underused facilities: creating facilities that become costly to maintain but remain largely empty.
• Ignoring lease and service charge structures: which can undermine cost recovery and frustrate occupiers.

Measuring success differently

Traditional indicators like rent increases and reduced voids remain important, but they don’t tell the whole story. 

Success also looks like higher renewal rates, more vibrant use of shared areas, and alignment between what tenants say they want and what’s delivered. The (Y)Our Space 2025 report puts it succinctly: success comes from translating data into insight, and insight into action.

What should landlords do next?

In the immediate term, landlords don’t need to overhaul entire buildings but could start by introducing one functional, versatile amenity that meets occupier demand - whether a podcast room, a multipurpose breakout space, or a sustainable retrofit to an existing communal area. Engaging directly with occupiers to identify what matters most to them is crucial, and ensuring that every investment supports inclusivity and sustainability.

Looking further ahead, it seems clear that functional is replacing flashy, purposeful is replacing prestige-driven, and sustainable is replacing wasteful. In the next three to five years, the workplace will be positioned less as a static asset and more as a fluid enabler of connection.

The bottom line

For landlords, this evolution offers both a challenge – overcoming previous assumptions about what tenants value; and an opportunity - to deliver spaces that are truly aligned with occupier needs. In doing this, it is possible to create buildings that retain tenants, enhance reputation, and secure sustainable income. 

We support occupiers with services that address both immediate needs and long-term goals. From building consultancy, space planning, placemaking, valuations, or business rates advice, our specialists help you navigate a complex and fast-moving market. Get in touch.