Why Some Offices Thrive—and Others Sit Empty
By Chris Rohrer, Broker & Pete Kostroski, Broker | Rokos Advisors
Across today’s office landscape, one truth is clear: people no longer have to come in — they choose to.
That choice has transformed the workplace into something entirely new. The offices that thrive aren’t the ones filled with ping-pong tables or kombucha taps — they’re the ones built around purpose, connection, and culture.
In an era defined by flexibility, the modern office must do more than provide space. It has to earn its place in the workweek.
The Shift: From Mandates to Motivation
Return-to-office mandates may fill chairs temporarily, but they rarely build engagement. The companies getting it right aren’t forcing employees back — they’re creating environments people want to be part of.
The new question isn’t “How do we make them come in?”
It’s “What makes them look forward to it?”
When the workplace fuels collaboration, reinforces culture, and makes daily work easier, attendance becomes organic — not obligatory.
What Thriving Offices Get Right
The best spaces are intentionally designed around how people actually use them. Across industries, several consistent themes are emerging:
Flow and Flexibility: Environments that balance focus and collaboration — with clear zones for both — keep energy and productivity high.
Comfort and Purpose: Design elements like natural light, texture, and acoustic balance promote well-being while supporting business functions.
Culture Connection: Central gathering spaces and thoughtful design details communicate brand identity and reinforce shared values.
Ease of Experience: Simple things — intuitive tech, reliable connectivity, seamless parking — remove daily friction and boost satisfaction.
It’s not about offering more amenities; it’s about designing meaningful ones.
Design That Drives Energy
The best workplaces don’t just look good — they work hard.
They support the natural rhythm of the day, helping people move seamlessly between deep focus, quick collaboration, and moments of recharge.
Design now operates as a strategic advantage.
When a workspace reduces friction, supports health, and fosters momentum, it directly impacts performance — and that translates to retention, culture, and ultimately, profitability.
Belonging Is the Real Differentiator
Square footage alone doesn’t drive success anymore — belonging does.
Spaces that help people feel part of something larger transform “the office” into a hub of culture and purpose. Those subtle moments — a shared coffee, a team brainstorm, a quick exchange of ideas — are what build loyalty and drive innovation.
When people feel invited in rather than required back, the office becomes a magnet, not a mandate.
The Takeaway
Today’s office market rewards buildings that prioritize experience, not excess. Landlords who understand this shift — and tenants who demand it — are creating the next generation of workplaces: environments built to inspire, connect, and perform.
Because ultimately, people don’t return to offices.
They return to meaning.
Is your office inspiring people in — or pushing them away? Connect with Rokos Advisors to uncover what drives engagement in today’s workplaces and how the right environment can keep your team connected and thriving.
Rokos Advisors is an award-winning Minneapolis - St. Paul based commercial real estate/tenant representation firm specializing in helping businesses find the perfect office or industrial space for their company.