New Office Adaptability Study Finds Investing in Modular Rooms Could Save Industry €1B

The analysis examined meeting rooms built using Mute Modular, Mute’s adaptable room-in-room system, or constructed using traditional methods such as plasterboard and glass partitions. Recognising that business needs change dynamically and that modern offices must adapt over time, the authors also analysed the costs of reconfigurations throughout the lease, which, in the case of modular units, are typically faster and cheaper.

The research conducted across 27 cities on three continents proves that modular solutions are far more economically efficient than traditional constructions, particularly in fast-paced business environments that require office adaptability. According to the authors' calculation, the adoption of modular rooms instead of traditional construction would save occupiers across EMEA over €1 billion over a lease term.

“The key finding is that reuse dramatically improves both cost and carbon performance,” said Colin Wood, Partner at EthosEQ and author of the report. “Traditional rooms may be effectively single-use, whereas modular rooms retain their value and embodied carbon through multiple cycles of use. That shift is critical for organisations trying to reduce both financial waste and environmental impact. Based on market data published by JLL and assuming one configuration during the lease, we’ve calculated that the saving for the entire market would exceed €1 Billion for EMEA and €1.5 billion for the American market.”

The cost comparison analysis shows that in most markets, modular rooms are more cost-effective even at installation, and their financial efficiency increases sharply with reconfigurations and lease-end reinstatement. The results show that:

· Mute Modular rooms are around 10% cheaper on average on day one and up to 60% cheaper in high-cost cities such as London, Paris, and New York.

· Even minor layout changes make Mute Modular rooms more cost-efficient across all analyzed markets, with average savings of 41%.

· Major reconfigurations significantly increase the cost of demolishing and rebuilding traditional rooms, making Mute Modular rooms far more cost-effective, with average savings exceeding 90% and even up to 150% in high-cost cities.

· At lease end, reinstatement costs for traditional rooms are more than three times higher than for modular alternative.

“The research shows that choosing between traditional and modular methods is no longer just a design decision, but a strategic one. Organisations must design for change, and adaptable solutions offers a way to reduce both financial risk and environmental impact. When the entire lifecycle cost is considered, room-in-room systems like Mute Modular can fundamentally reshape the economics of fit-out decisions across global markets.” said Szymon Rychlik, CEO of Mute.

The study also highlights strong ESG benefits. Traditional rooms are largely single-use, generating waste and embodied carbon at each change. Modular rooms retain and reuse embodied carbon across multiple layouts and locations, aligning with net-zero and circular economy goals.

The full report is available as a free PDF on Mutes website.

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Media contact: Cora Kemp cora@informare.co.uk Scarlett Walker-Hebborn scarlett@informare.co.uk

About Mute

Mute is a leading innovator in adaptable office architecture. With its Mute Modular office system and two families of acoustic pods, Mute helps companies create comfortable, sustainable, and future-ready offices and commercial spaces.

Celebrated by clients and industry experts, its products have earned prestigious awards including Best of NeoCon Gold and Mixology and are featured in the offices of Netflix, Microsoft, L’Oreal, and Audi.

https://www.mute.design/