In the real estate industry, data-driven decisions have become the key to optimizing properties and, more importantly, creating an even better experience for users of individual properties.
DEAS Group is a leading real estate specialist in the Nordics, known for its innova-tive approach to property management and space planning.
The company advises on optimizing real estate to enhance user experience, ensu-ring that properties serve the evolving needs of their tenants.
Since 2020, DEAS has adopted a data-driven approach, gaining critical insights into how space is utilized in their buildings to create better-designed environments for users.
Property management
Needs of
tenants
Space
planning
Optimizing
real estate
Data-driven approach
Better-designed environments
In the past, DEAS would rely on intuitive interior plans to optimize their spaces, but with the advent of data analytics, they've shifted toward a fact-based strategy.
In the past, we would create interior plans based on how we thought they would work. Now, we are able to not only gather data on how our space planning functions but also continuously change and optimize it
Lead Architect for Space Planning at DEAS Group
One specific project exemplifying this new approach is the Flintho-lmCompany House in Copenhagen, a property owned by the pen-sion fund PKA.
When the tenant expressed a need for more meeting rooms, DEAS responded not by adding square footage, but by collecting data on current space utilization.
This shift allowed DEAS to accurately assess whether the request for more rooms was due to an actual shortage of space or merely a distribution issue within the existing setup.
By gathering occupancy data on the meeting rooms, DEAS uncovered insightful patterns that suggested an optimization of current spaces rather than expansion was the best solution.
We were surprised by the data. Our data showed that there were enough meeting rooms; it was just that so-me were always in use while others were not used at all
Lead Architect for Space Planning at DEAS Group
Meeting rooms were booked only 28% of the time between 8:00 and 16:00.
Rooms held an average of 4.5 occupants, despite a capacity for 10.
Room utilization was higher in smaller spaces, showing a direct correlation between room size and usage.
Peak occupancy occurred mainly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, highlighting specific usage patterns.
These findings allowed DEAS to challenge the initial request for more rooms confidently, providing investors with concrete evidence that the existing square footage could be optimized without costly expansions.
This data allows us to confidently approach our investors and argue that there is no need for additional square footage. Instead, we can base our design on facts and create spaces that tenants wish to use
Lead Architect for Space Planning at DEAS Group
With the insights provided by the data, DEAS was able to make informed recommendations that not only improved space utilization but also aligned with the tenant’s needs and investor interests.
We analyze our current layout. Can we redesign the cafeteria in a way that encourages informal meetings, for example?
Lead Architect for Space Planning at DEAS Group
This approach minimized unnecessary expansion costs, optimized existing spaces, and enabled a smarter, data-backed strategy for future planning.
In addition to immediate project outcomes, DEAS’s use of data-driven space planning has broader implications for workplace design. For instance, DEAS explored creative uses for underutilized areas like cafeterias, which typically see peak use only during lunch hours.
Looking forward, DEAS is committed to maintaining a data-driven approach in all property management aspects.
By examining each square meter, we ensure maximum utilization of the space. Insights come with responsibilities, and we possess a wealth of data that our investors can benefit greatly from. Data collection will only continue to play a larger role in our daily work"
Lead Architect for Space Planning at DEAS Group
