Week in Review: Study on the Workplace of the Future 2025

In light of my upcoming attendance at the presentation of the EY–ULI Europe Global Business Districts Attractiveness Report 2025 in Paris next week, a recent study by the developer Ernst Otto Walker (Walker & Walker) particularly caught my attention this week.

According to a representative YouGov survey conducted in the Rhine-Main region on the “Workplace of the Future,” many employees do not prefer working in prime downtown locations. Instead, they place greater importance on accessibility and parking options. The reality is that the vast majority of employees commute to work by car.

That makes sense to me. When choosing my office location, convenient access to the Messeturm was also a key consideration. Since I operate regionally and nationally from Frankfurt, direct access to the highway was essential.

The study also confirms my impression that the trend toward remote work is often overestimated. For most employees, the ability to work from home plays only a minor role in their choice of place of work.

I am therefore curious to learn what insights the EY–ULI Europe Report will provide next week in Paris.

The fact remains: The majority of office lease transactions in Europe continue to take place in the most sought-after downtown locations.

Ronny Kazyska