A hybrid-work brief becomes more useful when it describes the activities a space must support, rather than treating every visit as a full day at the same desk.

Plan for the Purpose of the Visit

Someone arriving for concentrated individual work has different needs from a team meeting for a project review. A workspace brief can recognize both without assuming that one room or one atmosphere will suit every activity.

Gensler’s 2025 workplace research highlights the relationship between workplace choice and reported effectiveness. Microsoft’s WorkLab also discusses planning in-person time around its purpose. These are broader workplace perspectives, not a forecast of demand for a particular co-working location. See the sources below.

Give Different Activities a Place

As a design approach, begin with a list of activities: focused work, private calls, short conversations, team sessions and breaks. Then ask what each requires in terms of sound, privacy, furniture and equipment.

Keep transitions in mind

A member may move from a call to a team discussion within the same visit. Consider how they find an appropriate setting and whether moving between settings interrupts other people. The brief should describe the experience of using the space, not only the number of rooms.

Review the Meeting Experience

For a meeting with remote participants, walk through the practical sequence: joining the call, hearing each speaker, seeing shared material and ending the session. Treat the room and its equipment as one experience. A visually attractive room still needs a clear way to use it.

Connect the Space with Its Operating Rules

Room guidance, orientation and staff support explain how different settings are intended to work. An activity map can therefore become an input to both the design brief and the operating handbook. After opening, review whether the intended use matches what the team observes.

Further Reading

To develop a project-specific brief, explore Co-Working Design & Development.