Ah, the federal government—where policy priorities often collide in a complex balancing act. The latest showdown? The return-to-office push versus the effort to shrink the federal real estate footprint.
On one hand, agencies are directing (or nudging… or shoving) employees back into office buildings in the name of better public service—or perhaps to see who resists, making workforce reductions easier. On the other hand, there’s a strong push to downsize office space and cut costs, given that telework has left many buildings eerily empty.
So how does this all fit together? Spoiler alert: it kind of doesn’t.
We Have the Space—So Use It!
For years, government employees embraced the joys (and occasional Wi-Fi meltdowns) of remote work, leaving office buildings in a near-hibernation state. Conference rooms sat in silence, breakroom fridges remained suspiciously clean, and watercooler chats came to a screeching halt.
Now, leadership is calling employees back to their desks to justify all that prime real estate. Why pay for buildings no one is using? The logical answer? Bring everyone back and fill the space!
Except…
We Need Less Space—So Get Rid of It!
At the same time, another directive is coming down the pipeline: the government should consolidate and reduce its real estate footprint to cut costs. If remote work has been successful, why maintain massive office buildings? Why keep paying for underutilized space?
So, to recap:
- We need employees in the office so space isn’t wasted.
- We also need to downsize office space because we don’t need that much anymore.
Got it? No? Same.
The Tech Dilemma: Remote Work vs. Outdated Offices
During the pandemic, the federal government invested heavily in remote work technology—videoconferencing, secure networks, cloud-based tools—all to ensure productivity from home. Ironically, some of those same investments now highlight the shortcomings of older federal office buildings, many of which lack modern IT infrastructure, high-speed internet, or even functional conference room tech.
So, after upgrading their home offices, many employees may return to workspaces that are actually less efficient than what they left behind. Without major upgrades, agencies risk turning the return-to-office movement into a frustrating exercise in inefficiency.
Rethinking Office Space: Flexibility is Key
Rather than choosing between fully remote work or rigid office requirements, the best solution may be more adaptable office environments. Enter the “agile workplace”—a concept that has been around for years but has never been more relevant.
Instead of traditional cubicles and fixed desk assignments, agencies should consider:
✔ Flexible workspaces with reservable desks instead of permanently assigned ones.
✔ Collaboration hubs with open areas for brainstorming and teamwork.
✔ Quiet zones for deep-focus tasks (because not everyone enjoys impromptu hallway debates on policy updates).
✔ Space “neighborhoods” that allow different teams to work in environments best suited to their tasks.
By designing smarter, more adaptable offices, agencies can maximize their space without forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.
Consolidation: The Office Tetris Challenge
Balancing more employees in less space requires careful consolidation, a process that feels like a high-stakes game of office Tetris.
For example, on a recent project, we merged 11 separate facilities into just three, eliminating inefficiencies where divisions were so scattered it felt like navigating a scavenger hunt. The transition, planned in phases, ensures that once complete, the workflow improves and the public can access services without needing a map and compass.
The result? Less space, better efficiency—it’s office magic, minus the wands.
A Work in Progress
Times are changing, and so is the way we use office space. The workplace pendulum swung sharply toward remote work during the pandemic, and now it's swinging back toward in-person work—but where it will finally settle remains to be seen.
To keep up with this shift, consolidated and flexible office arrangements will be crucial. In today’s workplace, flexibility isn’t just a perk—it’s the key to keeping federal office space functional, cost-effective, and future-ready.
Please click the image below to discover today's dynamic work styles.
