While reopening plans have been put on hold for the foreseeable future, office owners are continuing to make plans to welcome employees back to work. The logistics are vast and include everything from creating touchless spaces; sanitizing common areas and addressing shared amenities. While social distancing makes shared building amenities challenging, amenities will remain an important part of workspaces—and landlords need to find the right amenities for employees.

"People are naturally skittish about going back to the office in light of COVID-19. These justifiable jitters can seriously hamper team members' ability to concentrate and be productive in an office environment," J. Wickham Zimmerman, CEO of OTL, tells GlobeSt.com. "It behooves office owners and employers to take steps to put their tenants, team members and visitors at ease by following the proper sanitation and social distancing protocols."

Amenities could become more important in workspaces to help create a feeling of safety and security. This could also help to relieve stress and improve productivity. "Having the right amenities in the building can go a long way toward keeping people relaxed, de-stressed, and focused at work," says Zimmerman. "Reducing stress has been proven to boost the immune system, which encourages health and well-being. There's strong evidence that connecting with nature quells stress, fear and anxiety. One of the most accessible ways to connect with nature is through water, which makes water features an ideal amenity for office owners to incorporate in their buildings."