When Work Is More Than Just Getting Things Done: What Else Can an Office Be?

The way we work is changing, and the office is facing new questions. When “getting things done” is no longer the office’s only mission, we start to rethink: what else can an office do for people?

01 From “getting things done” to “serving people”

In the past, we judged an office first by its size, the number of workstations, and how well the layout flowed; later, we began to care about design, sustainability, and wellness.

Today, as AI keeps entering our daily work, the value of the office space is shifting once again. More and more standardized tasks can be handed over to AI, and the worth of the workplace is starting to change.

People still come to the office to talk face to face, work through problems together, and spark new ideas — and to build trust and rapport through repeated collaboration. Office space is moving from merely “housing work” to truly “serving people.”

This raises three questions for the workplace:

How can we make the connection between people more natural and authentic?

How can the environment genuinely support people’s ongoing growth?

How can space keep pace with an organization’s ever-changing rhythm?

02 Turning the answers into space you can see and feel

The newly opened Yihang Shanghai showroom is our response to these reflections.

CONNECT / connecting people: AI can help individuals accomplish more and more on their own, but face-to-face communication still matters. The office of the future shouldn’t be nothing but cold workstations and meeting rooms — it should also be a place where people gather, discuss, and spark ideas.

GROW / helping people grow: as more repetitive work is handed to technology, human creativity, empathy, and judgment deserve to be seen all the more. Space isn’t just for “getting work done” — it should support learning, exchange, and growth at work.

ADAPT / moving with the organization: business and teams are always changing, and space shouldn’t be boxed in by fixed workstations. Through flexible collaboration and diverse settings, people can gather around the task at hand, and the space can adjust in step with the organization.

Technology upgrades and tools iterate, but space remains centered on real human experience. The Yihang Shanghai showroom is now open. We look forward to welcoming you here — come explore the many possibilities of the future of work with us.

Location: No. 1488 Hongqiao Road, Changning District, Shanghai