{"id":40787,"date":"2025-07-21T16:02:54","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T20:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/?p=40787"},"modified":"2025-07-27T08:44:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T12:44:37","slug":"business-report-the-new-office-is-about-experience-not-just-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2025\/07\/business-report-the-new-office-is-about-experience-not-just-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Report: The New Office Is About Experience, Not Just Work"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Dorothy Rogers-Bullis, owner of drb Business Interiors in Saratoga Springs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Dorothy Rogers-Bullis\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is it that we\u2019re seeing folks step off their Pelotons and head back into gyms again?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just about access to equipment\u2014it\u2019s because gyms have started to rebrand themselves. They\u2019re no longer simply spaces for sweating through a solo workout. They\u2019re becoming destinations. Community hubs. Lifestyle spaces. Places people want to be.<\/p>\n

And now we\u2019re seeing a similar trend with office spaces.<\/p>\n

Despite all the effort (and investment) that went into creating gorgeous home offices during the pandemic, people are choosing to go back. Why? Because the office, like the gym, is becoming more than just functional\u2014it\u2019s being reimagined to meet people where they are, with what they truly want.<\/p>\n

The businesses that are seeing a return-to-office movement? They\u2019re the ones who have invested in their spaces. They\u2019ve put energy, time, and yes, dollars into crafting work environments that support their teams\u2014not just with a desk and a chair, but with an experience.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m often asked: \u201cWhat does the perfect office look like?\u201d<\/p>\n

The truth is\u2014there\u2019s no single answer. You can\u2019t design one universal office that fits everyone\u2019s preferences, personalities, and productivity quirks. We all work differently. We all thrive in different environments. And that\u2019s the point.<\/p>\n

But what I do know\u2014because I see it every day\u2014is that people do come to work. At Saratoga CoWorks, I watch people choose this space, day in and day out. As the co-owner of CoWorks and the founder of drb Business Interiors, I live and breathe office life\u2014not just in theory, but in practice.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span>And here\u2019s what I\u2019ve learned:<\/p>\n

The best offices aren\u2019t just functional. They\u2019re magnetic.<\/p>\n

They don\u2019t feel like obligations. They feel like destinations.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go back to the gym analogy for a second. Gyms have realized that their members don\u2019t just want to show up, throw on headphones, run on the treadmill, and head out the door. That era is fading.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s gyms are offering more. Wellness lounges. Community-driven classes. Nutrition support. Personal development seminars. Even coworking spaces inside the gym. Why? Because they\u2019re catering to the whole person, not just the part that wants a good workout.<\/p>\n

People come to move their bodies\u2014but they stay for the lifestyle. They stay for the connection.<\/p>\n

Office spaces need to take a cue from that.<\/p>\n

The new office isn\u2019t just about where we go to get work done. It\u2019s about how we feel when we\u2019re there. It\u2019s about fostering connection, collaboration, and creativity. It\u2019s about designing spaces that don\u2019t just support productivity\u2014but enhance well-being, spark innovation, and make people feel like they belong.<\/p>\n

Employees aren\u2019t looking to go back to cubicles and closed doors. They want access to inspiring environments. To functional spaces that also feel welcoming. To conference rooms with natural light, gathering spaces with great coffee, and private nooks when focus is needed.<\/p>\n

They want to move throughout the day. To choose how they work best.<\/p>\n

At drb, we approach office design with this lens. Every element\u2014furniture, layout, lighting, acoustics, textures\u2014is selected with the human experience in mind. We don\u2019t just look at square footage and number of desks. We ask questions:<\/p>\n

How do people move through this space?<\/p>\n

Where do they naturally gather?<\/p>\n

What helps them think clearly, communicate better, or feel more at ease?<\/p>\n

And yes, it\u2019s a balance. We\u2019re not creating a hotel lobby. We\u2019re creating a workplace. But the most forward-thinking businesses are doing both\u2014blending form and function to create something that serves their people, not just their operations.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not about gimmicks or trend-chasing. It\u2019s about thoughtfulness.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about realizing that space impacts behavior\u2014and when we invest in space, we invest in people.<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re wondering why some offices are still half-empty while others are buzzing with energy, this might be the answer.<\/p>\n

People are choosing environments that align with how they want to live and work\u2014not the ones that remind them of burnout and beige walls.<\/p>\n

And as someone who\u2019s been immersed in workspace design for nearly two decades, I can confidently say:<\/p>\n

The office isn\u2019t dead. It\u2019s just evolving.<\/p>\n

And the more we embrace this shift\u2014from obligation to destination\u2014the more we\u2019ll see our spaces come back to life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Dorothy Rogers-Bullis\u00a0 Why is it that we\u2019re seeing folks step off their Pelotons and head back into gyms again? It\u2019s not just about access to equipment\u2014it\u2019s because gyms have started to rebrand themselves. They\u2019re no longer simply spaces for sweating through a solo workout. They\u2019re becoming destinations. Community hubs. Lifestyle spaces. Places people want […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":40832,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-reports","category-office-technology-e-commerce"],"yoast_head":"\r\nBusiness Report: The New Office Is About Experience, Not Just Work - Saratoga Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2025\/07\/business-report-the-new-office-is-about-experience-not-just-work\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Business Report: The New Office Is About Experience, Not Just Work - Saratoga Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Dorothy Rogers-Bullis\u00a0 Why is it that we\u2019re seeing folks step off their Pelotons and head back into gyms again? 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