Trust building

"COVID-19 has changed how people work, live, and consume," says Mike Wong, deputy managing director with SHKP. "To cope with the new normal, we have widely adopted innovative designs and smart technologies to make our premises cleaner, safer and more intelligent. These changes will outlast the pandemic as the comfort and health of our customers, tenants and colleagues remain our top priority."

Pearce believes that going forward, office buildings will transform into a new animal: a "comprehensive destination, mixed-use microclimate that provide flexible, safe and accessible facilities for meeting, gathering, sharing, collaborating and socializing with our colleagues. In Asian cities, we can foresee a shift away from the traditional landlord/tenant relationship toward that of a service provider/customer one. This would align landlords with occupiers toward satisfying the user experience that more discerning tenants seek — with a focus, of course, on health and well-being."