The Post-Pandemic Office Lease

The pandemic has literally reshaped the office. As organizations embrace work-from-home or hybrid arrangements, it’s been harder for many to determine what kind of physical space they need, and how much of it.

An October 2021 survey by Achurch Consulting and Association Trends found that 79 percent of associations planned to go hybrid or fully remote  (opens in a new tab). And while more associations have returned to the office since then, Mindy Saffer, managing principal at the commercial real estate firm Cresa, says she still sees nonprofits looking to reduce their office footprint substantially from pre-pandemic levels.

“The average trade association, pre-COVID, was occupying about 250 to 350 square feet per employee,” she said. “Now, with hybrid workplaces, it’s closer to 150. They still need the public spaces for meetings and collaboration, but if employees are coming in once or twice a week, they don’t need to provide a dedicated seat for every employee. They can share spaces and people will come when needed.”