Gensler’s annual global Workplace Survey recently released its first Canada-specific findings, which identified that the number one reason workers go the office is to focus on work. Gensler said the findings were “a surprising shift in the reason workers want to return to the office.” Working with others in person has been the number one reason for many years.

“We wanted to understand how are people working and where are they working and how has that shifted through the pandemic,” Garima Gupta, senior strategist with Gensler Vancouver.

The Gensler Research Institute surveyed 2,000 office workers across Canada last year. The research institute at Gensler has been conducting global workplace research and surveys for the last 15 years but this was the first survey in Canada. With the data showing the highest vacancy rates in the office market than ever before, how organizations are planning office space going forward is critical.

“Not only do we need to think about how are we designing our offices in terms of architecture design and construction, but also looking at the bigger forces that are shaping the city, so what is bringing people back to not just the office but a safe commute and things like child care and day care opportunities that people need in order to come back to work,” Gupta said.