PLASTARC and OfficeSpace recently collaborated on a webinar, titled “Playbook for Hybrid Workplace Success.” Hosted by OfficeSpace CMO Heather Larrabee and featuring Melissa Marsh, Founder and CEO of PLASTARC, the presentation explored proven strategies for maximizing hybrid work’s potential. With over 1,600 global clients and 350,000 monthly users, OfficeSpace offers workplace management solutions that help organizations prioritize flexibility and efficiency. Marsh joined remotely from the Cornell Urban Tech Summit on Roosevelt Island, while Heather tuned in from a co-working space in Atlanta, highlighting how modern workspaces continue to evolve with new ways of working.

You can watch the full webinar here.

The session focused on PLASTARC’s mission to enhance real estate decision-making, from site selection to smart building integration, via social research and people analytics. Marsh explained how observations on human behavior can be leveraged to design spaces that encourage density, interaction, and collaboration.

Marsh and Larrabee both emphasized that any organization hoping to keep their workplace policies aligned with employee needs and business goals must remain committed to continuous learning and adaptation. As we look at the current workplace landscape, this evolutionary ethos especially applies to workplace benefits, wellness, and the role of data in shaping the future of work. As organizations adapt to remote and hybrid work models, data-driven insights are helping to optimize office spaces, evaluate amenities, and improve employee experiences. This, of course, is all predicated on a growing focus on workplace wellness, as companies prioritize the physical and mental well-being of their teams.

The transformative role of AI-powered analytics in workplace design inspired much of the conversation. With AI-powered tools at their disposal, organizations can now analyze vast amounts of data in order to optimize office spaces, evaluate amenities, and make informed real estate decisions. Marsh and Larrabee discussed how AI can be used to confidently identify patterns in employee preferences, ensuring spaces are designed with both productivity and well-being in mind. To fully leverage AI’s potential, though, organizations must first establish structured data ecosystems and define success metrics.

Both speakers also emphasized that workplace customizability and overall efficiency aren’t mutually exclusive – in fact, granting employees control of their environments has advanced numerous organizations’ bottom lines. But a workplace design’s ROI can also be demonstrably measured in terms of employee engagement, space utilization, and personalization. By using sensor technology, reservation systems, and employee surveys to draw insights, organizations can establish connected data ecosystems to optimize their spaces continuously.

Toward the end of the presentation, Marsh and Larrabee shared their thoughts on key trends in workplace experience, including multisensory design, service-rich environments, personalized experiences, and data-driven decision-making. With an eye toward inclusivity and employee comfort, businesses can cultivate workspaces that optimize overall efficiency and individual well-being. This is made possible by a modern, data-informed approach to workplace design that uses technological advancements to study employee needs.