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Axios
6 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Chicago's identity crisis: Who's leaving and who's staying
A new global report suggests Chicago is in the midst of an identity crisis. The big picture: When asked what they love about the city, people's answers were split by how long they've lived here, according to City Pulse 2025: The Magnetic City from Gensler Research Institute, an arm of the design firm that has built several projects in Chicago. Some say they would grow old here while others were making moving truck reservations. Methodology: Gensler surveyed 33,000 anonymous urban residents in 65 global cities in 2024, including over 500 people in Chicago. By the numbers: Residents who have been here fewer than 10 years show a 13% likelihood of leaving compared with those living in other major cities. They are 16% more likely to leave than someone who's been here for more than a decade. Older adults surveyed were more concerned about the city's future. Zoom out: Chicagoans were above the national average in saying their city is a strong place to socialize and find connections. They also said walkability was a huge positive, higher than in most cities. The biggest factors in staying in a city are cost of living, level of crime, healthcare costs, job opportunities and taxes. Respondents said the city is a good place to grow old, showing confidence in affordability, aging and safety. Yes, but: Some were concerned that the city's reputation and identity is getting worse. Zoom in: The report comes days after U.S. News & World Report ranked Illinois toward the bottom of its latest best states ranking. Also, the newly passed state budget calls for more taxes, while Cook County residents are seeing increases to their property taxes and utility bills. The other side: Chicago has been named "Best Big City in the U.S." by Condé Nast Traveler for eight straight years. And our cost of living and tax burdens are less than in Los Angeles and New York City and other global cities. What they're saying: Gensler Chicago's Brian Vitale sees the results as a chance to keep Chicagoans interested in the city. "Chicagoans clearly feel the magic of their city, and that's something to build on," Vitale tells Axios. "We can turn these strengths into lasting experiences by continuing to create neighborhoods that are dynamic, inclusive and welcoming at every stage of life." Tell us Chicagoans: Should you stay or should you go? We'll publish results later in the week.
South China Morning Post
28-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Transformation of workspaces sees employee experience and well-being take the lead
A shift is taking place in the way businesses approach the workplace, moving beyond focusing on location and office specifications to prioritising people-centric design. Enhancing employee well-being and addressing diverse needs are now of paramount importance for business leaders, as they strive to attract and retain talent, and maximise performance. Advertisement According to the Gensler Research Institute's 'Global Workplace Survey 2024', employees in high-performing workplaces that offer spaces for relaxation, concentration and confidential conversations exhibit improved productivity, better work quality and faster decision-making. The survey also revealed that employees in high-performing workplaces benefit from amenities and services that improve their work experience and cater to lifestyle needs. These spaces include areas that enhance social connectivity. In the competitive landscape of Hong Kong's office market, Swire Properties says it has successfully distinguished Taikoo Place as a premier business hub by focusing on tenant engagement and employee well-being. The developer says this approach has not only maintained high occupancy rates but also fostered a vibrant community where businesses thrive. Taikoo Place, home to more than 35,000 office workers and 200 multinational corporations, has recently completed a HK$15 billion (US$1.9 billion) revitalisation project, adding two triple grade A office towers and 390,000 sq ft of amenities to a total area of 7 million sq ft. Together with expansive landscaped gardens, parks and new elevated air-conditioned walkways, these enhancements have created a dynamic environment that supports both productivity and relaxation. Taikoo Place offers a blend of business and leisure amenities across 10 office towers to cater to the needs and well-being of its tenants. 'Our goal at Taikoo Place is to create an amenity-led portfolio where people want to work, play and stay, therefore extending the operating hours of what is predominantly a commercial district, and breathing life into the area outside normal office hours,' says Don Taylor, director, office, Swire Properties. 'Before it became a world-class business hub, Taikoo Place was an industrial trading estate in what was then considered a decentralised location on Hong Kong Island. As Taikoo Place has evolved, so have the amenities and services that we offer to our tenant base. By leveraging our placemaking attributes, including amenity provision, ESG [environmental, social and governance] credentials and initiatives, as well as tenant engagement activities and biophilic design, we have successfully captured the current 'flight-to-quality' trend, as corporates look to upgrade their office accommodation to meet their ESG goals and enhance staff well-being.
