The Death of the Big Meeting Room: How Australia's Future is Small, Smart, and Flexible
Flexible Work is the New Baseline
In 2024, Australian workplaces crossed a major line that many organisations did not see coming. Flexible work is no longer a trial or a fringe idea. It has become the default setting.
Today, 68 percent of Australian businesses operate flexible work models, and employees are making it clear where they stand. Those with flexible arrangements are 33 percent less likely to resign compared to those stuck in traditional office patterns.
For Millennials and Gen Z, who are becoming the largest part of the workforce, flexibility is not a bonus anymore. It is the baseline expectation.
At the same time, the spaces where we meet are changing fast. The era of oversized boardrooms and static meeting spaces is giving way to something different. The future belongs to small, smart, and connected spaces built for natural, seamless collaboration across locations.
It is up to each organisation to decide their own working patterns, based on what is best for their organisation. However, the research shows that hybrid working has provided benefits to organisations across all sectors, including better attraction of new employees, higher employee retention, and improved productivity. - Sarah McCann-Bartlett, Chief Executive, Australian Human Resources Institute - https://www.hrleader.com.au/business/26679-70-of-businesses-plan-to-maintain-hybrid-arrangements-over-next-2-years
The Rise of Small, Agile Spaces
Meeting spaces are shrinking, but they are getting smarter.
Small focus rooms built for two to six people now make up 20 percent of all new office fit-outs in Australia. The average small meeting room covers about nine to fourteen square metres, designed for fast-moving, practical collaboration rather than formal presentations.
58 percent of newly designed offices now include small, agile rooms aimed at quick conversations and ad-hoc teamwork.
However, the shift is deeper than just room size. Work today is faster, more connected, and happens across locations. Small spaces allow for dynamic collaboration without the formality or friction of the traditional meeting model. Large boardrooms are still there for rare occasions, but the day-to-day action is moving elsewhere.
Rather, a blend of leased space, service amenity and satellite locations interstate or in suburban areas provide the opportunity for large businesses and government organisations to tailor the workspace experience to their teams – and budget. - Hub Australia
https://www.hubaustralia.com/hybrid-work/the-year-in-review-and-flex-workspace-predictions-for-2024/
Technology Needs to Just Work
Flexible work and multi-location collaboration live or die by the quality of the technology in the room.
In 2024, Australian businesses spent 1.2 billion dollars on AV and collaboration technology, an increase of 12 percent compared to the year before. This is not about prestige. It is about necessity.
What we are seeing now:
AI-powered cameras and smart whiteboards are becoming everyday tools, not luxury add-ons
Bring-Your-Own-Device setups are taking over casual and huddle rooms, giving teams freedom across platforms
Dedicated systems are still key in structured spaces where security and consistency matter
Most of all, reliability is everything. When remote participants struggle to hear or see clearly, collaboration breaks down. No one has patience for bad connections anymore. The best spaces today are focused on delivering crisp video, clean audio, and simple platform compatibility, so that the technology stays out of the way and the conversation can just flow.
Spaces That Flex With You
Flexibility is no longer just about working from home part of the week. It is about how spaces themselves work.
More than a third of new meeting rooms are now designed specifically for flexible, blended use. Furniture is modular. Room layouts are adjustable. The same space can shift from a quick two-person huddle to a larger planning meeting without a problem.
25 percent of meeting rooms now use movable furniture to adapt on the fly. Smart sensor-based management is also improving room utilisation by around 15 percent, helping companies make better use of their space without needing more floorspace.
Spaces that flex are becoming a serious edge for companies. They allow teams to collaborate naturally, adjust as needed, and work in ways that support creativity rather than box people into rigid formats.
Smart Design and Sustainability Are Expected Now
Sustainability is no longer just a box to tick. It is becoming a basic expectation.
45 percent of Australian businesses are now using eco-friendly materials in their fit-outs. Flexible work itself is helping reduce emissions, with many employees reporting a 54 percent lower carbon footprint compared to fully office-based work.
At the same time, people are paying closer attention to how meeting spaces feel. 74 percent of employees say a well-designed space directly improves their productivity. Things like good acoustics, natural lighting, intuitive technology, and comfortable layouts are now seen as essential parts of a successful workspace.
The old view that meeting rooms are just four walls and a screen is quickly disappearing.
Building for a Connected Future
The data could not be clearer.
Flexible work and multi-location collaboration are not passing trends. They are shaping the future of Australia's most successful workplaces. Small, smart, connected spaces are no longer optional. They are essential.
The real question is not whether flexible spaces are needed. It is whether your organisation is building them, or falling behind?
The choice is in front of every business leader today. Design workplaces that people want to return to. Or risk managing empty rooms and disconnected teams.
The future belongs to those who act. The question is, will you?
