What Does Your Lobby Really Say About Your Building?

Rethinking how commercial real estate defines value, wellness, and the spaces we walk through every day.

In commercial real estate, the lobby has long been seen as a first impression. A handshake in marble. A cue of professionalism and prestige. But in 2024, as tenant expectations evolve, a question is quietly echoing across Class A buildings:

What is your lobby really doing?

Is it performing as an amenity—or just occupying one?

The Tenant Mindset Has Shifted

Today’s tenants are more discerning, more wellness-conscious, and more attuned to how their environment supports productivity and health. According to CBRE, 75% of tenants now rank wellness-focused spaces as a top leasing factor. That’s not a soft preference. That’s a decision driver.

And it’s not just about fitness centers or access to sunlight.It’s about how a space makes people feel the moment they enter.

The Most Visible Space Is Often the Most Underutilized

Lobbies are walked through more than any other space in a building. But they’re often designed to impress—not to engage.

Think about it:

• Does your lobby support leasing teams during tours?

• Does it reflect your building’s commitment to sustainability?

• Does it offer anything your tenants actually interact with?

• 
  

Too often, the answer is no.

From Static to Living: The Biophilic Shift

The buildings capturing new leases are sending a clear signal:Nature and wellness aren’t luxuries—they’re expectations.

Green-certified spaces accounted for 75% of all new office leasing in the first half of 2024.And according to Gensler, access to nature ranks among the top 3 drivers of workplace satisfaction.

This is where lobbies have untapped potential—not as decorative space, but as functional, personalized, high-ROI real estate.

What If Your Lobby Was a Showroom for Tenant Experience?

Imagine walking into a lobby where tenants can select their own Smart Plants. Where biophilic design isn’t just aesthetic—but interactive. Where the environment tells a story of sustainability, wellness, and care—all without adding to your operations team’s workload.

At Zauben, this is the vision we’ve built toward:

• Plug-and-play installations that tenants fund directly

• Nature-based experiences like workshops and curated greenery

• Lobbies that lease faster, retain longer, and cost ownership nothing to activate

Final Thought

Your lobby is already making a statement.The question is—is it saying what you want it to?

Because in a world where wellness is winning, your most valuable space might be the one that brings nature in—and brings tenants back.