That means every major company—whether it's a law firm, bank or service provider—is trying to think through how to win the war for millenial talent, and one way to do that is workplace design. Millennials are interested in collaboration so they're looking for team environments. They're more connected [than other age groups] by informal conversation and bumping into each other in the hallway or maybe a lounge and having that serendipitous moment. That's sometimes where new ideas are generated.

They're also focused on work/life balance so that leads to amenities, like green spaces, meals served on site, cafes and, in some cases, fitness or game centers. The new model is: you want to keep people in the office but it's not 9 to 5, it's come when you want and leave when you want; or If you want to take a sabbatical for a big idea, you can do that too.

Also millennials want to live, work and play in cities; they like 24-hour lifestyles.

They look for funky, cool environments with high ceilings, roof decks, and the next big trend we'll see is wellness of the work environment-amount of fresh air, the lighting, materials being used and the latest trend-the standing. Some of my clients are talking about providing a limited # of moving desks. The design of the workplace is shifting at warp speed. The days of private exterior offices with dropped ceilings and sheetrock are gone.

GlobeSt.com: What office buildings in New York are providing examples of this?

Kuriloff: L&L is recreating 390 Madison Ave. with double and triple height ceilings and penthouses using the FAR. The refurbished building's lobbies are not marble but instead provide a cool, more relaxed environment. Many offices now are glass because millenials like to see action and activity versus concrete.

GlobeSt.com: Have you worked on assignments that illustrate this trend?

Kuriloff: I've recently worked on some major assignments that illustrate this trend. Revlon is moving from Park Ave. to 1 New York Plaza in Downtown Manhattan, an area that's evolved into a 24/7 community. The ceilings all are exposed, there are no exterior offices but there are multiple cafes and lounge areas. The company has moved from where it was for decades and has redesigned its workspace to create a collaborative environment.

On other end of the spectrum, we rep the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which saw the importance of transforming its building, at 2 Broadway, and creating community space. So there are more conference rooms, café and lounge areas. Also, the cubicles had been designed to create privacy but now they're meant to foster collaboration with lower partitions and better ergonomics. Companies now have amenities like cereal, televisions and large refridgerators to engage workers in a casual environment.

All of this isn't just a trend, it's a way of doing business.