A new Era for Food & Hospitality in Commercial Property & Office Buildings

Commercial property & office buildings are shifting into the new era that demands a flexible rethink to the traditional commercial model and this creates opportunity to challenge the conventional approach to food and hospitality only playing a passive ‘tick & flick’ role in this environment.

Driving in-office participation is now an all too familiar topic that many property managers and asset owners must address following a wave of commentary in the media, architectural journals and thought-leadership papers across the property sector.

There is a steep learning curve to find individualised, intuitive solutions to new social and economic conditions that have emerged. The current wave of thinking demonstrates a high level of outside the box thinking to breath new life into these extraordinary office buildings and property assets.

Liminal, Melbourne
(Photo credit - https://www.instagram.com/liminalmelbourne/)

Welcome Back – It’s great to see you again!

‘Food and beverage choices are interconnected with mental and emotional well-being,’ according to the International Food Information Council’s 2023 Food and Health Survey, 74% of respondents stated that their stress levels, mental health and well-being is impacted by their food and beverage choices. [Source]

Food and hospitality can play an active and substantial role in the personality of a commercial property or office building, infusing the ground floor with a vibrancy and function beyond the beige security check point, offering spaces that allow tenants and visitors to meet, create and participate. The food and hospitality experience will contribute to the level of care, engagement and service that will be the redefinition of the Australian workplace. What happens on the ground plane, sets the scene for the building’s uses and themes by providing a vision of energised people places, inspired design, considered placemaking with modern, healthy and on trend food and beverage.

Bar Lume
(Photo Credit - https://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/nsw/sydney/north-sydney/restaurant/barlume-north-sydney)

The public interface (usually at ground level, although not always) requires a level of capability and warmth beyond what we have ascribed to the “lobby café” historically. These should be welcoming spaces that deliver an arrival statement for the commercial floors of the building. These experiences are furnished with a powerful hospitality overlay that is more considered than a transitory space where office workers grab a coffee and a bought-in pastry before retreating to their workspace for 8 hours.

The internal communities of our workplaces and assets can look out and connect with visitors and communities with a fine-grained F&B retail strategy to meet the needs of occupants and visitors with a diverse range of food and beverage options, catering to different tastes, dietary preferences, and cultural backgrounds. This may include fast-casual eateries, cafés, food halls or food courts in larger precincts, and even elevated dining.

Offices and commercial buildings have diverse populations with varying schedules and needs. A flexible strategy can include extended operating hours, catering services for meetings or events, and customisable menus to accommodate different preferences.

Many employees (and their employers) prioritise healthy eating and sustainability as part of their workplace routine. Understanding and incorporating healthy and nutritious food that responds to well recognised diets, is becoming more common place with an increasing focus on fresh and raw ingredients, whole grains, clean cooked proteins, authentic flavours, diversified plant based choices and locally sourced ingredients. Sustainability or rather the more modern regenerative practices in the delivery of food and beverage are at the forefront on most workers minds and their employers.

Frequently the service strategy needs to cater for convenience and efficiency to deliver on short meal breaks or highly productive schedules that require efficient service strategies. These may include self-serve stations, grab-and-go options, online ordering, mobile ordering APPs and mobile payment systems to enhance convenience and minimise waiting times. Utilizing technology can streamline operations and improve the overall experience.

Integrating food and beverage areas with collaborative spaces can foster a sense of community and encourage interaction among occupants. Designing seating areas, communal tables, and open spaces for networking can enhance the overall experience and provide greater utilisation and dwell times.

Reimagining the future of work to create space for our new work life

Currently, Future Food are collaborating with Cbus Property’s new Future of Work 720 LivingWork Lab, an innovative partnership model that aims to transform the way we think about work in this new hybrid work reality.

With communities seeking greater human connection and wellbeing, ever more inclusive spaces and evolved thinking around workplace culture, the purpose of buildings globally is being called to change.

720 Bourke Street
(Photo Credit - https://720bourke.com)

At 720 Bourke, the food and beverage strategy aims to enhance the ‘dining experience’ and overall amenity, to drive in-office participation, promote employee wellbeing and satisfaction while creating a vibrant and inclusive workplace environment.

The future of food and hospitality in modern work places and commercial buildings must be meticulously planned from the outset, developing a bespoke strategy based on the unique needs and wants of the workers, taking into account the surrounding F&B offer outside the building envelope and then seek to attract the best fit F&B operators who can bring a credible and unique point of difference. This curated and strategic approach to food and hospitality will contribute to redefining the ‘office experience' and bring with it a new ‘cultural capital' that will deliver change and meaningful impact for commercial property and office buildings.

A new Era for Food & Hospitality in Commercial Property & Office Buildings