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At Coco, we’ve always believed that the future of work isn’t something distant—it’s unfolding right now within our spaces. As we observe the daily rhythms of our community, we’re seeing workplace predictions that experts once considered “future trends” already manifesting in real-time across our locations.
Here are five major workplace predictions that aren’t just coming true—they’re already part of everyday life at Coco.
1. The “Hub and Spoke” Model Replaces Traditional Headquarters
For years, workplace strategists have predicted that companies would move away from centralized headquarters toward distributed “hub and spoke” models—a central location supplemented by satellite spaces closer to where employees live.
What experts predicted: A 2021 CBRE survey found that 87% of large companies planned to adopt a hub-and-spoke model post-pandemic, enabling employees to work from various locations while maintaining company culture.
What we’re seeing at Coco: This model is already thriving in our spaces. With our downtown Minneapolis location serving as a central hub and neighborhood locations providing the “spokes,” we’re seeing companies of all sizes embrace this distributed approach:
- Regional teams from national companies are using our spaces for regular collaboration days
- Local companies are allowing employees to choose which coworking location best suits their commute
- Organizations are booking our meeting rooms across different locations to accommodate team members from various parts of the Twin Cities
The hub-and-spoke model isn’t a future possibility—it’s how work happens at Coco today, reducing commute times and carbon footprints while maintaining the benefits of in-person collaboration.
2. Workspaces Designed for Neurodiversity and Cognitive Health
Workplace design experts have long predicted that offices would evolve to accommodate neurodiversity and support cognitive health, moving beyond the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional workplaces.
What experts predicted: Research from the Harvard Business Review suggested that future workplaces would offer a “palette of places”—different environments tailored to various types of work and different neurological preferences.
What we’re seeing at Coco: Our members are already benefiting from our intentionally diverse workspace options:
- Quiet zones for deep focus work, supporting those who need minimal sensory stimulation
- Collaborative areas with adjustable lighting and flexible furniture arrangements
- Private phone booths for those who need acoustic privacy
- Outdoor workspaces that provide natural light and connection to nature, which research shows can reduce stress and improve cognitive function
By offering this variety, we’re not just preparing for a neurodiverse future—we’re acknowledging that our community already contains a rich tapestry of working styles and needs.
3. The Rise of the “Third Place” as Essential Infrastructure
Sociologists have predicted that as remote work becomes normalized, “third places”—locations that are neither home nor a traditional office—would become essential infrastructure for knowledge workers.
What experts predicted: Ray Oldenburg, who coined the term “third place,” suggested these spaces would become increasingly important for professional connection and community building as traditional office usage declined.
What we’re seeing at Coco: Our spaces have evolved beyond simple work locations to become true community anchors:
- Members who primarily work from home are coming to Coco specifically for connection and community
- Increasing usage of our spaces for professional events, workshops, and skill-sharing
- The emergence of informal professional networks and mentoring relationships that span companies and industries
- Members reporting that their Coco relationships have led to new business opportunities, collaborations, and even friendships
This transformation of coworking from a simple real estate solution to a vital “third place” for professional life is already well underway in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
4. The Blending of Work and Learning
Futurists have long predicted that continuous learning will become integrated into the workday, rather than being separated into distinct training periods or educational sabbaticals.
What experts predicted: The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report suggested that by 2025, 50% of all employees would need reskilling, and continuous workplace learning would become the norm rather than the exception.
What we’re seeing at Coco: Learning is already embedded in our community’s daily experience:
- Spontaneous skill-sharing sessions between members with complementary expertise
- Our regular programming of workshops and learning events
- The cross-pollination of ideas between industries that happens naturally in our common areas
- Members using our spaces for focused upskilling during dedicated learning time
The future workplace as a learning environment isn’t a distant vision—it’s happening every day across our tables, meeting rooms, and event spaces.
5. The Shift from “Location-Based” to “Community-Based” Work
Perhaps the most significant prediction has been that work would evolve from being defined by location to being defined by community—that who you work with would matter more than where you work.
Experts predict: MIT researcher Thomas Malone suggested in his work on the “future of work” that distributed communities of practice would become more critical than physical office locations.
What we see at Coco: This shift is already evident in how our members define their work experience:
- Members who identify more strongly with the Coco community than with a physical office
- Companies choosing Coco not just for the space but for access to our ecosystem of professionals
- The development of industry clusters within our community, where professionals in related fields naturally gravitate toward each other
- Members who maintain their Coco membership even when they could work elsewhere because of the relationships they’ve built here
What This Means for the Future
As we observe these workplace trends unfolding in real-time at Coco, we continually adapt our spaces and services to support where work is heading—not where it has been. We’re investing in:
- Technology that seamlessly connects our physical spaces with digital collaboration
- Community programming that strengthens the professional ecosystem within our walls
- Design innovations that support the full spectrum of work activities, from focused solo work to energetic collaboration
- Sustainability initiatives that align with our members’ values and the future of responsible business
The Twin Cities Advantage
Minneapolis-St. Paul has unique characteristics that make it an ideal environment for these workplace innovations to flourish:
- A diverse economic base spanning healthcare, technology, creative industries, and manufacturing
- A strong tradition of work-life balance and quality of life considerations
- A collaborative business culture that values community and connection
- Four distinct seasons make flexible, comfortable workspaces particularly valuable
Join Coco at the Forefront
At Coco, we’re not waiting for the future of work—we’re creating it, every day, with our community. The trends that workplace experts predict for the coming decade are already visible within our spaces, giving our members a competitive advantage in adapting to the changing nature of work.
If you’re curious about how these trends might benefit your team or your own work experience, we invite you to visit any of our locations. The future of work isn’t something you need to prepare for—it’s something you can experience today at Coco.