By Star Hughes-Gorup

Millennials have grown to be the largest generation in the workforce. With a love for technology, personal connections and collaboration, the millennial generation is truly changing the way teams view a typical working environment, and it is critical for today’s businesses to adapt to these needs and desires in order to attract and retain the nation’s top talent. Rather than seeing work and life as completely separate entities, millennials prosper from an environment that combines the two. With Hughes Marino recently being named one of the Best Workplaces for Millennials by Fortune Magazine, and with our experience of working with hundreds of millennial-owned companies at any given time, we have been able to pinpoint exactly what our largest workforce is looking for when considering a company to call home.

So, what do millennials truly want from their office space?

From incorporating fully-stocked residential style kitchens, to sit-stand desks, to an overflow of natural light, companies are realizing the increased productivity and quality of work resulting from this new and improved office environment. Considering that millennials grew up experiencing constant innovation over their lifetime and thrive off of creativity, it is no surprise that they have inspired many of these new office space trends!

Current trends that align with what millennials want in a working environment include:

• Plenty of natural light
• Open floor plans
• Residential style kitchens
• Lounge areas
• Fun areas with games, TVs, etc.
• Inspiring finishes, fun art and comfortable furniture
• “Benching stations” where teams can work closely together, but also easy access to plentiful “private spaces” such as phone rooms and break-out rooms
• Glass offices to allow collaboration
• Easy access to outdoor space (balconies, nearby parks, etc.)
• Nearby amenities (gyms, coffee shops, conference centers, etc.)

Of course, all of these factors would mean nothing without a tight-knit, supportive and fun company culture to complement an amazing workspace! Millennials desire office space that emulates their company’s brand, invigorates their team, and is something they can truly be proud to call their second home!

At all of our Hughes Marino offices, the walls are lined with bright, eclectic artwork, open spaces are filled with comfy couches and pool tables, and cubicles do not exist. This makes for a workplace that is inviting, fun, productive and encourages people to interact. These are just a few of the many things that our company is proud to incorporate in order to make our offices stand out among the rest.

Incorporating these design trends make millennial workplaces both comfortable homes away from home and enjoyable spaces to work in. This allows for a sort of flexibility that didn’t exist before—where there is a less rigid working environment that can accommodate longer working hours as well as a sought-after personal life to better achieve a work-life balance that individuals thrive off of—a win-win for everyone!

While this article has super helpful tips, our Hughes Marino team is always here to provide you with expert advice, from tenant representation to find the perfect workspace for your team to thrive, to our culture consulting services, which can help aid in building out your dream space and cultivating the company culture you’ve always wanted. We look forward to helping you in every aspect of your journey!