Built for Change: How Can an Office Evolve with Your Business?
Combining a dedicated office sized to fit the business with flexible shared spaces can deliver cost savings, greater freedom of choice, and a work environment that supports a company’s culture and goals. That’s why office space should be measured not just in square feet, but above all by the value it creates.
“Flexibility has become an essential part of a good, productive work life for many people,” says Johanna Sarekoski, Director of Marketing and Concepts at Antilooppi.
“Companies’ workspace requirements evolve along with their business. As ways of working have changed, the traditional fixed-office model may not always meet these changing needs. Some companies simply have more room than they need, while others are outgrowing their current space. At the same time, expectations for workspaces are growing: they need to offer greater quality, serve a clear purpose, and support different ways of working,” Sarekoski says.
Antilooppi has long offered flexible workspace solutions designed to support both business needs and a better work life. Antilooppi’s Fix + Flex model was developed in response to customer needs, providing companies with room to adapt as they grow, downsize, or navigate other periods of change. The need for flexibility can arise weekly or even daily. With Fix + Flex, companies can confidently choose a smaller, more efficient office of their own and complement it with POOL’s flexible workspaces, meeting rooms, and event spaces.
Smarter Use of Space, Lower Costs
As workspace needs and ways of working vary from day to day, not every part of the office is in active use all the time—but every square foot still comes at a cost.
Companies don’t need to accommodate every possible need within the walls of their own office. Flexible spaces make it easy to access additional space as needed, so companies don’t have to pay for square footage they may only use occasionally.
“By choosing a smaller office and complementing it with flexible shared spaces, you can achieve significant annual cost savings,” Sarekoski says.
But smart, flexible use of space is about much more than optimizing costs. It also brings greater variety and choice to the workday, allowing employees to choose their environment based on the type of workspace or encounters they need at any given time. Flexible spaces are booked mostly for events, meetings, and workshops.
One of the companies using Antilooppi’s model is SEK, a marketing agency with more than 100 employees. As part of a strategy renewal, SEK wanted to rethink the way it works. Consequently, the company moved from its former 1,300-square-meter office to a more efficient space of around 700 square meters, complemented by shared flexible workspaces and coworking areas. The new work environment supports SEK’s studio model, collaboration, and continuous learning, while giving employees greater freedom to choose how and where they work.
“The right combination of spaces can support the ways of working a company wants to encourage while also strengthening its sense of community,” Sarekoski says.
“At SEK, for example, the living room-style lounge naturally brings people together. People are drawn to spaces where they can connect with colleagues and exchange ideas. At their best, spaces can support learning and subtly encourage the kind of collaboration and interaction a company wants to foster,” Sarekoski continues.
Work Environment as a Strategic Tool
The work environment should be viewed as a strategic leadership tool: what kinds of behaviors and culture does the company want to foster?
“The office plays an important role in shaping company culture, and at its best, the work environment can also support productivity. Working together face-to-face builds trust and a sense of community, while creating space for new ideas, creativity, and innovation. Success stories rarely happen by chance,” Sarekoski says.
A meaningful work environment starts with understanding people. This means recognizing the nature of their work, their changing needs throughout the day, and what helps them feel a sense of belonging, become fully engaged in their work, and find meaning in what they do. Ultimately, it’s about enabling a better, more fulfilling work life.
Sarekoski also sees this as a matter of responsible leadership. At a time when loneliness and a weakening sense of belonging are growing concerns in working life, the work environment can intentionally create conditions that support well-being and meaningful social connections. Shared, flexible spaces have a natural buzz, creating opportunities to connect throughout the day.
The value of a modern office isn’t defined by its four walls, but by what the space enables. What matters is how well it supports flexible ways of working, employee well-being, different stages of a company’s development, and the culture the company wants to build.
“I want to see Finnish companies succeed and everyone have the opportunity to experience the best possible work life,” Sarekoski concludes.