Before the pandemic, was there already a sense that traditional offices/commercial space was shifting?

Absolutely.  The reason Sweden had the lowest increase (17%) in employees working remotely was they already had 40% of office workers working from home.  Likewise, over the last decade many US corporations have been moving to remote work, while reconfiguring their office spaces to enhance flexibility, group interaction, reflective thinking, innovation, and privacy, when needed.

What are some of the key features businesses are looking for in a space?

Businesses need to reimagine their buildings and interiors to make their employees and clients/customers want to come back.  This means design-forward, healthy, productive environments.  What’s more, adaptive use of existing former industrial, warehouse, or civic spaces can produce more airy, exciting interiors for today’s workers to inhabit.  And these days, a glut of commercial space often means rents are negotiable,

People’s current desire for pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use spaces will require some effort from local governments. Is that already happening, or is it a slow process?

Both.  The Congress for New Urbanism was formed in 1993 to formulate and promote walkable, diverse communities.  The design community has been working on this transformation ever since.  But governments now realize that because many people can now work wherever they want, towns and cities are going to have to invest in visual & functional upgrades to compete for residents and businesses, based on quality of life.  Zoning regulations will have to continue to evolve, adopting Form Based Codes.

For those currently in an office space, what accommodations are they looking to make to the existing space?

The “extra space” provided by some employees coming in part-time means an opportunity for in-house staff to spread out, creating greater social distancing, as well as comfort & privacy.  With some companies still Zooming even for in-office meetings, Conference Rooms may become wellness centers, break rooms, or storage.  Working hybrid, workers need workspaces that can easily be adjusted to their individual needs when they occupy it.

Do you have any predictions for what we’ll see in the next few years as a result of the pandemic?

Taking a page from the new rule book for restaurants, more businesses will offer indoor/outdoor work, leisure, and retail spaces for their staff and visitors.  With federal support, businesses and schools are upgrading their ventilation systems.  For its returning employees, Google is creating “Campfire” meeting spaces, where in-house staff sit in a circle, interacting with dial-in participants.  Generally, workers want more control over the temperature, views, lighting, configuration, and interactions, so the workplace will need to respond in kind.