Living Lab

What is a Living Lab 

A Living Lab is a research environment located in a real-world setting, where innovations, processes, or solutions are tested and developed in real-time. Cushman & Wakefield’s first Living Lab is based in our Helix office, Utrecht, The Netherlands and is focused on the intersection between work, workplace, technology, employees and ESG. By researching within a real office environment, this provides pragmatic opportunities to discover what happens when we go to work and test workplace solutions and innovations with actual employees. As a result, it allows C&W to directly observe and refine strategies for space utilization, employee interaction, and overall workplace efficiency before client implementation. With a focus on co-creation, it also allows us to partner with universities and other expert-organisations to bridge the gap between theory and practice, therefore creating a path from cutting-edge innovation to client adoption.

How do Living Labs add value to our clients? 

Living labs provide unparalleled value to clients by immersing innovations, products, or concepts in real-world office settings, offering a firsthand glimpse into their effectiveness and relevance. At a time where technology, work, workplace and the environment is shifting rapidly, Cushman & Wakefield is able to create current and future scenarios of work and workplace and test the impact on real-life employee communities.

This hands-on approach ensures that what is developed is not just theoretically sound but practically impactful. Clients benefit from reduced risks associated with untested, future-looking solutions, as living labs allow for real-time refinements based on actual user feedback. In essence, living labs streamline the journey from concept to reality, ensuring that the final product or solution is tailor-made to address the client's specific needs and challenges.

Research pillar

Our research focuses on the following four pillars:

1. Technology-Enabled Work and Workplace
   We explore the synergy between technology and the workplace and how it shapes modern work
2. Mental Health, Physical Health, and Well-being
   We focus on exploring the relationship between mental health, physical health and well-being in the workplace.
3. ESG and Workplace Inclusivity
   We evaluate how the design, management, use and location of offices and workplace can be re-contextualized to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) focusing on how to improve environmental sustainability, social responsibility, inclusive urbanism
4. Human Productivity, Performance, and Connectivity
   We research how human productivity, performance and connection can thrive in modern work and workplaces

Client experience center

Our Living Lab serves as a client experience center, highlighting our approach and thoughtful planning in designing modern office spaces. As clients walk through the lab, they get a tangible sense of our capabilities and the practicality of our designs. This hands-on experience is more than just a visual treat; it reflects our dedication to creating spaces that boost productivity and comfort. By exploring our living lab, clients gain insight into our design process and see the tangible benefits we can offer for their own projects. This direct experience fosters confidence, showing clients the value and care we can bring to their workspaces.