Planning for the Emerging Geography of Distributed Work

Office-based knowledge work is becoming spatially distributed due to technological advances, just-in-time space optimization practices, and the post-COVID intensification of remote and hybrid operations. Land use and policy planning around distributed work intersects and impacts planning for smart cities and innovation-driven economic development. Our review identifies four facets of the spatial DNA of distributed work and explains their built-environment outcomes. We examine these findings in three US metros that are grappling with tech-driven growth, development, and its consequences. We strongly encourage planning scholars and practitioners to investigate these dynamic phenomena and collaborate with techno-futurist designers to shape phygital decisions rather than focusing on regulating or managing them.