In Phoenix, the race to outdo competitors with splashy amenities, like podcast rooms and golf simulators, has become the norm. They photograph well and tour even better, but are they solving for what tenants really need? Gensler’s 2026 Global Workplace Survey takes it back to basics: Employees value practical spaces that support wellness and productivity.
What Tenants Value Is Not What Buildings Are Offering
Across the United States, workers consistently rank simple, everyday spaces as the most important features within the office. According to Gensler’s survey, cafés, markets and food halls are the top amenities people want, selected by 39% of respondents, while lounges and hubs are popular with 35% of respondents. Dedicated project and team rooms are also in high demand at 27%, while phone and video rooms are desired by 23% of respondents. These spaces may seem “basic,” but sometimes basic is exactly what improves utilization and satisfaction, providing the greatest ROI for building owners.
A big gap in many amenity strategies is deep focus space. The survey finds that workers consider enclosed, distraction-free areas to be essential — but shrinking office footprints means many spaces simply don’t provide enough. Anyone who has recently tried to reserve a conference room can probably relate, as meeting rooms today are frequently overbooked and too often double as individual workspaces. Thirty-seven percent of employees are saying they frequently use them for heads-down focus. Our clients repeatedly come to us with the same request: more privacy, better acoustic control, and reliable spaces that help people do their best work.
Smart Investments Start with Listening
Beyond the office walls, what surrounds the building matters just as much as the offerings on campus. Workers show a clear preference for neighborhood amenities they can actually use: Coffee shops top the list at 40%, followed by restaurants and bars at 38%. Grocery stores aren’t far behind at 36%, with retail shopping at 30% and medical facilities at 29%. For owners considering a building repositioning — or tenants choosing a new office — walkable, convenient surroundings should be top of mind. For example, at Gensler’s Papago Arroyo office reposition in Tempe, the most effective investment wasn’t a novelty feature, but a central amenity hub where tenants can grab a coffee, fit in a workout and naturally cross paths throughout the day.
Landlords should consider targeted feedback initiatives, ultimately preventing unnecessary investments. Our team suggests deploying a short, two-week survey prior to beginning any renovation or repositioning effort to gather sufficient feedback on which amenities will truly add value — allowing tenants the opportunity to be part of the process and feel heard. By listening to what tenants really want, landlords and owners ensure their investments enhance the user experience and avoid costly retrofits later.
These insights aren’t just theoretical. A local Phoenix developer we partnered with demonstrates how tenant feedback can directly shape smarter amenity investments. Like many owners, they wanted to be confident their funds were going toward spaces that would actually be used. We suggested deploying a tenant survey, and, with a small incentive, they received more than 110 responses in just two weeks. The results were clear. The issue wasn’t a lack of space; it was that the existing meeting rooms simply didn’t work. Survey results revealed that existing spaces were underutilized, largely due to poor AV quality, acoustics and limited power access. With this feedback, the team was able to shift their approach and use funding toward practical, high-impact improvements. The outcome is a smarter investment, one that enhances tenant satisfaction without unnecessary long-term costs.
Well-Being Is Now the Workplace Baseline
Workers continue to place a strong emphasis on well-being. Across Gensler’s survey, 46% of respondents said they want their future workplace to support both physical and mental wellness, with quiet, reflective spaces ranking highly at 40%. While the workplace may be stable, it’s not always working as intended. About two-thirds of employees report “hacking” their spaces, personalizing desks, meeting rooms, lighting and even hallways just to make them functional. These findings reinforce a simple truth: Employees want offices that feel calm and productive while supporting how they actually work.
For landlords and developers, the takeaway is clear. You don’t need to provide over-the-top amenities to create impact. Focus on providing the spaces that shrinking office footprints struggle to provide, which includes meeting rooms with acoustic privacy, spaces for deep focus and environments that support wellness. Most importantly, give tenants a voice early. By understanding their needs before committing to a renovation, landlords can ensure smarter investments that truly deliver value.
When investments reflect real habits and preferences, tenants feel heard and supported. That alignment drives stronger leasing results, enhances satisfaction and creates long-term value. In Phoenix and beyond, taking a straightforward, back-to-basics approach to workplace amenities — practical, wellness-centered and responsive to tenant needs — benefits both employees and landlords alike.
Kiana Taie, NCIDQ, is an interior designer and co-operations lead for Gensler Phoenix. Her diverse portfolio of work includes award-winning projects from various industries with a focus on workplace interiors. Consistently giving back to the community and profession, she has been involved in NAIOP Arizona and has taught interior design classes at Arizona State University. In 2025, Taie was honored with a Connect CRE Next Gen Award, recognizing her impact on the Phoenix commercial real estate industry.
