As employees return to offices, many are facing the same old frustrations from the pre-pandemic era—bland cubicles, inadequate spaces for hybrid meetings, and uninspiring designs. It's time for a change, and former Facebook executive Annie Dean is leading the charge.

Dean, who previously served as Facebook’s first director of remote work and held a VP position at Atlassian, believes that both employees and companies deserve an office experience that feels more luxurious and inviting. She asserts that offices should resemble hotels, offering exceptional service, seamless technology, and inspiring designs that foster a sense of community.

"When offices are designed to attract people, a sense of community flourishes—an essential aspect of any thriving business," Dean told Business Insider.

Recently, Dean transitioned to a new, hands-on role as chief strategy officer at CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm. In this position, she will oversee the CBRExIndustrious Building Experience Lab, a groundbreaking project aimed at redefining workplace design.

The lab will collaborate with client companies to gather data on how office spaces are utilized, aiming to develop innovative solutions that enhance workplace functionality for employees and teams.

With CBRE managing an impressive two billion square feet of office space globally, including offices for major clients like Brookfield Properties and Deutsche Bank, Dean sees a wealth of data to capitalize on. Her goal is to help companies apply the same data-driven strategies they use in their business operations to their workplace management.

This initiative comes at a pivotal time, as many companies are mandating employees return to the office. According to recent foot traffic data, the number of U.S. workers commuting to offices has surged, reaching levels not seen since the pandemic began.

Jamie Hodari, CEO of CBRE's building operations division, emphasizes the need for workplaces to facilitate collaboration and connection. He notes that it's crucial to create environments where employees don't feel coerced, but rather, valued.

"There's a blend of elements that foster amazing teams and fulfill employees in their work, and a part of that is being together in person," Hodari explains.

For Dean, this new venture feels like a natural evolution of her career, rooted in a lifelong interest in how buildings influence people's lives—an interest that started with her family background in architecture.

With plans to launch initial collaborations by the year’s end, this innovative lab holds the promise of transforming our office spaces into inviting places where productivity and creativity can truly thrive.