Working from the office, or from a private club? Both will be possibilities in the near future. A recently announced partnership between two global companies promises to put more icing on the cake of the traditional 9-to-5 workday’s going-away party. Get ready to celebrate the workday — and night — in a new way.
Residential luxury design brand YOO and flexible workspace solutions leader International Workplace Group (IWG) have joined forces to reimagine and reshape the office experience. The collaboration blends YOO’s visionary lifestyle design with IWG’s expansive network of hybrid workspaces to blur the boundaries between work and leisure.
As organizations look to get more people back in the office through hybrid work models, the partnership will help to transform IWG locations into places where people can work and entertain with spaces redesigned for networking, wellness events and social connection.
“We’re bringing YOO’s iconic designs to a global audience while addressing the changing demands of modern life. Together, we’re creating destinations where people can work and thrive,” said YOO Chairman and Co-Founder John Hitchcox in a press release.
But why now? And what makes this partnership so intriguing for office professionals, real estate developers, A&D leaders and workplace strategists?
I caught up with IWG Founder and CEO Mark Dixon to unpack what this collaboration signals for the future of workplace design — and what it could mean for cities and people everywhere.
A Natural Fit for a New Era
If the idea of a workspace that morphs into a lounge or event venue after hours sounds aspirational, that’s the point. The partnership between IWG and YOO merges world-class design with operational flexibility, aiming to answer what Dixon calls “the evolving needs of the modern worker.”
“This was a naturally formed partnership,” Dixon said. “We’ve admired one another’s brands over time. There’s a real synergy in how we both think about the intersection of space, lifestyle and experience.”
YOO, known globally for its transformative approach to residential and hospitality design, brings a layer of aesthetic sophistication and experiential luxury. IWG, with a vast portfolio of coworking and flexible office brands like Regus and Spaces, brings infrastructure, global scale and operational know-how.
“Flexible working is now a fundamental part of life,” Dixon said. “Over the past few years, hybrid and more flexibility have become the default model for millions. With YOO, we’re creating a new category — beautiful, functional, hospitality-inspired workspaces that adapt to how people really live and work today.”
The New Rhythm of the Workday
The combined concept is more than just a pretty package — it’s about fundamentally rethinking how people use space throughout the day.
“Our customer experience is, by design, tailored to the needs and wants of the individual,” Dixon explained. “That could mean collaboration in the morning, focused solo work in the afternoon and winding down with a wellness session or networking mixer in the evening.”
Rather than single-purpose spaces, the YOO x IWG venues will be multi-functional — designed to transition gracefully from daytime productivity to nighttime atmosphere. Think flexible furnishings, curated lighting, integrated AV for events and built-in zones for everything from quiet work to cocktail hours.
While IWG is tight-lipped about specific design elements, the influence of YOO’s residential and hospitality sensibilities will be felt throughout. Each site will balance global design cues with local flavor — drawing on community context to shape programming and style.
“We’ll be releasing more design specifics soon,” Dixon noted, “but what I can say is that these won’t look like traditional offices. They’ll feel like places you want to be — not just for work, but to connect with others and engage in meaningful experiences.”
The Return-to-Office Reimagined
The timing of the launch is no accident. With return-to-office mandates gaining steam across industries, companies are looking for new ways to entice employees back — not with mandates, but with environments people actually enjoy.
“What we’re seeing is a growing desire for localized working,” Dixon said. “Employees want flexibility, but they also want connection — and they don’t want to spend an hour commuting. Our spaces offer that middle ground: a place close to home, with real community and professional value.”
This vision aligns with IWG research showing that only 20% of employees are prepared to commute more than 30 minutes daily. It also addresses one of the biggest post-pandemic questions for employers: how do you bring people together without reverting to the old model?
“Companies are recognizing that culture isn’t built on video calls,” Dixon added. “These spaces will help foster the kind of collaboration, spontaneity and innovation that can only happen face-to-face.”
And it’s not just for startups or freelancers. IWG’s vast scale means this new model can flex to meet the needs of both global enterprises and independent professionals.
“Our resources and scale are in great demand as employers look for solutions that are flexible enough to fit their changing needs,” Dixon explained. “IWG membership provides access to thousands of locations globally across more than 120 countries. Our clients span firms of all sizes, including 83% of Fortune 500 companies, and we offer them a range of products and services — from fixed-to-day offices, coworking spaces, meeting rooms, secretarial and admin support, events and networking — all completely customizable.”
The numbers speak volumes. According to Dixon, IWG research shows that 81% of hybrid business leaders believe flexible work has helped them to realize cost savings, while 80% say it has helped to mitigate economic pressures.
“It’s not just about aesthetics — it’s about creating real value for people and for businesses,” he said.
Designing for Community, Not Just Capacity
The partnership puts a premium on programming — positioning events and social connection as central to the user experience, not an afterthought.
“Whether it’s a wellness workshop, a food pop-up or a professional mixer, we want these locations to feel alive,” Dixon said. “You can come in for a few hours of work and stay for a talk, a drink or a yoga session. That’s the rhythm of modern life.”
The idea is to build not just a customer base, but a community. By infusing spaces with programming and cultural relevance, YOO and IWG aim to make hybrid offices more than transactional work zones — they become third places for creative collisions.
And while details around technology and sustainability will be announced later, Dixon hints that everything is being built with adaptability and longevity in mind.
“We’re designing for what’s next — not just what’s now,” he said. “Workplaces have to be fluid. Our job is to make them desirable as well.”
Looking Ahead
The rollout of YOO x IWG spaces will begin in key markets across Europe, North America, South America, Asia and the Middle East over the next five years. Though IWG isn’t disclosing how many locations will be transformed, Dixon confirms the ambition is global — and scalable.
“Success for us means creating spaces people genuinely want to use — spaces that attract talent, reduce operational overhead and elevate the workday into something people look forward to,” Dixon concluded.
For architects, interior designers and real estate developers watching the post-COVID evolution of workplace design, this partnership may offer both inspiration and opportunity. The future office might not look like an office at all — it might look like a beautifully designed, experience-rich, hospitality-infused destination.
One where work doesn’t end at 5 p.m. — it just changes attire.