According to Victor Bonadio, “The range of amenities has expanded significantly and is no longer an extra. Today, they help attract and retain talent.”

Demand has also shifted. With the stronger return to in-person work, searches for larger floor plates above 1,500 m²—sometimes close to 2,000 m²—have increased, whereas during the pandemic smaller layouts were more common.

Bonadio explained that companies are prioritizing regions that offer a complete ecosystem, such as Chucri Zaidan, which combines a strategic location, proximity to shopping centers and public transport, all at competitive prices.

“In the past, when work was mostly in-person, amenities meant location, accessibility, good restaurants, or a nearby mall. Over time, we’ve been able to categorize amenities much like tasks—some more important, others less. Today, we see many types: shared meeting rooms, auditoriums… and more: gyms, daycare, pet-friendly areas, cafés, laundry services, even car washes.”

When asked if it is possible to quantify how much amenities increase value per square meter, Bonadio said:

“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly, but they do have an impact. At Parque da Cidade, for example, you find high-standard floor plates alongside a shopping mall, restaurants, and even daycare facilities. This allows landlords to negotiate more firmly. In regions with similar prices, these differentiators often tip the scale and help sustain higher values over time.”

From an architectural perspective, Marcos Saade, CEO of SpacePlan, noted a major shift in how amenities are integrated. In the past, tenants were attracted to large, “luxurious” common areas, but the pandemic brought practical services such as gyms, cinemas, and shopping centers into residential developments—an influence that quickly spread to the office market.

This raises the question for both renovations and new developments: how can older buildings adapt to this modern demand? One potential solution is retrofit, but is it always viable?

“It depends greatly on the property and the landlord. Sometimes the building has space and feasibility for improvements, but the owner is unwilling to invest; other times, the owner is eager, but the property lacks the space or logistics.

Ultimately, it all comes down to a financial equation: investment in amenities must generate returns, either by increasing rental values per square meter or by speeding up lease negotiations.

One of today’s biggest challenges is aligning tenant expectations with practical feasibility. Not every desire can be fulfilled without technical or structural adjustments. For example, installing a sauna or kitchen in areas originally designed as offices requires specific materials, condominium approval, and safety considerations around smoke, odors, and ventilation. Costs can also be significant.”

Saade concluded by highlighting the growing demand for more human-centered work environments:

“It’s important to move beyond clichés like biophilia, home feeling, or simply ‘humanization.’ In practice, companies want to create environments where people feel better while at the office, whether they’re there 12 or 5 days a month. That means offering features that inspire and promote physical and mental health, along with spaces for rest, relaxation, and creativity.”

Now, let's see how the managers, who invest in, oversee, enhance, and optimize these projects, have been dealing with this market shift.

Brookfield Properties, part of Brookfield, sees amenities as a key factor in increasing the attractiveness and value of corporate buildings:

“Investment in amenities is strategic, designed to improve the tenant experience and enhance the building’s appeal. For food services, for example, we seek a mix of spaces and options for different budgets. Our strategy is to balance cost and return, always considering asset appreciation, higher occupancy, perception of quality, and the potential for long-term leases”, says Hilton Rejman, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Properties.

“This trend has grown significantly post-pandemic. We’ve observed stronger demand for spaces that promote well-being, convenience, and motivation to return to the office. Services like childcare, food courts, and common areas have become important differentiators in attracting employees back to in-person work”, Rejman concluded.