Predictions for 2022: Brace yourself (part thirteen)

Sara Bailey

Senior partner, Trowers & Hamlins

Real estate has always had a major influence on society, but never has it had such a huge part to play in shaping our future. My vision for 2022 is for the sector to learn the lessons from the pandemic, to fully embrace all aspects of diversity to be inclusive. Diversity of thought and of voice have a positive impact on society and are all key aspects of thriving communities.

As a firm, we have been talking about the importance of societal value in the built environment for some time and it is more relevant now than ever. Our homes and communities have become more than just places we live in. This year should be about taking action. As a sector we have improved, but I am determined to play my part in doing more. Creating more opportunities, more social mobility, more diversity and more equality across the board.

Michael Grant

Chief operating officer and founder, Metrikus

I think 2022 could have an interesting start given Omicron and whether the UK, Europe and the US go back into lockdowns. We’re seeing a lot of customers now coming back to the office and really wanting to look at the occupancy and capacity of their buildings to understand how much real estate they really need. This will definitely continue, and only get bigger.

Indoor air quality, of course, is gaining attention and the bigger piece is ESG; commercial real estate is growing exponentially in this area and ESG reporting is coming to the fore quickly. We’re doing a lot of work on that internally as a business and also around Local Law 97 in NYC.

The intensity of Omicron may play a part, but regardless, getting more data out of buildings remotely is growing, and I think that will only accelerate into the next year. The smart buildings market needs to mature rapidly, as customers are demanding that all this data be in one place – and through a single gateway, if possible.