Are Your Cubicles In San Antonio Still Working?

Offices in San Antonio have undergone a major transformation over the past decade.

While cubicles were once seen as a way to save space, today, in 2025, they have become much more than that.

Now we want to know, are your cubicles in San Antonio still working?

The emergence of hybrid work models, the growing importance of employee health and well-being, and the global trend towards sustainable design have led to a redefinition of office cubicles.

Gone are the high walls and closed spaces of old; the new cubicles are a combination of flexibility, beauty, and smart technology that both meet the need for individual focus and enable group collaboration.

In addition to, or in conjunction with, the increase in office space rents, the San Antonio metro area, situated at the southwest point of the Texas Triangle, is the third largest metro in the state with 2.3 million people.

On its own, the City of San Antonio is the seventh largest in the U.S., with 1.4 million people, ahead of both Dallas and Austin. 

With a small base of office inventory, large tenant activity can have a big impact on fundamentals.

San Antonio Administrative Realities in 2025

If a decade ago the focus was more on saving space and reducing costs, today the priorities have changed:

•         Designing flexible workspaces that are suitable for both individual and team work,
•         Serious attention to sustainability and the use of environmentally friendly materials and solutions,
•         and the expansion of hybrid work models that have become a fundamental need for companies after the Corona era.

In 2025, a new look at the San Antonio office market shows that conditions have changed significantly compared to the past.

The inventory of office spaces and their absorption or vacancy rates provide a picture of the supply and demand in the market.

At the same time, employment trends and urban population growth have fueled demand for office space.

On the other hand, the spread of remote work and hybrid work patterns has caused companies to rethink how they use and design their offices.

Why Square-Foot Efficiency Matters More Than Ever in 2025

San Antonio was somewhat late to the office market recovery, with net absorption still relatively light through 2012. 

Yet, spikes in corporate activity have supported the market with build-to-suits for NuStar Energy and Nationwide Insurance in 2012 and USAA’s expansion in 2014.

In the years that followed, population growth, corporate relocation, and San Antonio’s stronger role as a regional business hub fueled a sustained demand for office space.

But as we entered the 2020s, the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of the hybrid work model fundamentally changed the face of the market.

By the end of 2024, conditions improved slightly; net market absorption was reported to be positive at around 83,000 square feet, and the office vacancy rate reached around 12.8%.

Office vacancy rates in San Antonio fluctuate between 16.5% and 18.8% in 2025.

There are no new large office projects under construction, so the best available spaces are becoming scarcer.

Average full-service office rents have reached $24-$27 per square foot, representing a year-over-year increase of about 12%.

Statistics show that the population of the San Antonio metro area will exceed 1.53 million in 2025.

Population growth means greater demand for professional services and, consequently, a continued need for office space.

These fluctuations send a clear message to corporate executives in San Antonio: In 2025, making the most of every square foot of office space is critical.

In such circumstances, many companies prefer to make the most of the existing space rather than upsizing their office.

The main solution is to use modern, compact cubicles (usually 5×5 feet or 6×6 feet in size).

Cubicle Design Trends San Antonio Firms Are Adopting in 2025

As companies’ needs change and work styles evolve, the design of office cubicles in San Antonio has evolved significantly in 2025.

The main focus is on productivity, flexibility, and a better employee experience, and several main trends are evident in modern office design:

•         Low-wall + glass toppers: This design allows for clear sight lines while reducing ambient noise to some extent.

This feature is great for offices that have a culture of teamwork.

•         Acoustic add-ons (felt panels, phone pods): One of the top design priorities for 2025 is noise control in hybrid offices.

These features help employees experience less noise disturbance when on the phone or when focusing on an individual task.

•         Power/data raceways & USB-C tiles: This equipment is essential for employees who work in shared or hoteling environments.

In addition, it prevents cable clutter, making the work environment more organized.

•         Green finishes and remanufactured panels: Using sustainable materials and recycled panels earns LEED points and reduces costs by about 30-40%.

Employee Well-Being and Functionality in Cubicles

One of the most important office design trends in 2025 is a focus on employee health and well-being.

Companies in San Antonio have realized that an efficient workspace must be designed in a way that positively impacts the physical and mental health of employees.

Some important elements in this type of design include:

•         Ergonomic Features: Using ergonomically designed chairs, desks, and office cubicles that help reduce fatigue, improve posture, and prevent injuries from prolonged sitting.
•         Acoustic Privacy: Adding acoustic panels to office cubicles, sound-absorbing walls, or Phone Pods can help employees in busy environments and hybrid offices focus more easily and have more private conversations.
•         Biophilic Elements: Using nature-inspired design, such as felt panels with natural patterns or integrating green plants into cubicle spaces, not only helps reduce stress and improve employee productivity, but also adds beauty.

Why Cubicles Still Make Sense in San Antonio

Despite widespread changes in work practices and office design, cubicles have retained their place in San Antonio offices.

The reason for this is the flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and multi-purpose functionality that these types of workstations offer.

1. Flexibility and Scalability

Products like ROSI’s Synergy line or REcube’s repurposed workstations are examples that show how cubicles can simultaneously address three key corporate needs:

•         Reduced costs compared to expensive custom designs.
•         High functionality with modularity and easy layout changes.
•         Modern aesthetics that are compatible with today’s designs.

On the other hand, by purchasing affordable and used cubicles, you can reduce the costs of equipping office spaces.

2. Benefits of Sound-Absorbing Materials

One of the biggest challenges in modern, hybrid offices is noise control.

Today’s cubicles allow employees to focus more and have more effective work calls by using sound-absorbing panels and coverings.

3. Modular Design for Office Growth

Workplaces in San Antonio are constantly evolving.

Modular cubicles allow companies to easily adapt their spaces to changing needs, without the need for a complete redesign or heavy costs.

Especially in San Antonio, where rapid economic growth and increased employment demand more efficient spaces, the importance of properly designed office cubicles has doubled.

Are Your Current Cubicles Still “Working”? ROI Checklist

To make sure your office cubicles are still compatible with 2025 needs, check these:

•         Utilization: Do you have less than 75 square feet of space for each chair?

If more than 75 square feet of space is taken up per seat, your space is not optimal.

Modern cubicles measuring 5×5 or 6×6 feet help you make the most of every square meter.

By choosing the best office layout, you allow employees to perform their tasks with high concentration. 

•         Focus Time: Do employees have fewer than 2 noise complaints per week?

Constant complaints about noise are a sign of poor design.

Acoustic panels and phone pods can create a quieter environment and increase employee focus.

•         Flexibility: Can the panels be easily moved without the need for an electrician?

If you have to call an electrician to move a panel or change the layout, it means a lot of money and time is lost.

Today’s modular cubicles are easy to change.

•         Ergonomics: Are the chairs adjustable, and are the monitors at eye level?

Adjustable chairs, eye-level monitors, and standard desks help keep employees healthy and reduce fatigue, which means greater productivity.

•         Branding: Are the colors, finishes, and graphics of your cubicles aligned with your 2025 brand identity?

The colors, finishes, and even graphics on the panels should align with your brand image in 2025.

The workspace is the first thing a customer or new employee sees, so it needs to convey the right message.

Cost comparison: cubicle refresh vs. open-office rebuild

According to the information in the table below, reconfiguring existing cubicles is cheaper, faster, and more flexible.

This can be the best choice for companies that want to upgrade their space without serious disruption to daily work.

Benching and open-office, on the other hand, have a modern look, but their high cost, longer downtime, and difficulty in re-dividing the space make them not always the best choice.

Especially in the San Antonio market, where efficiency of available space is a priority.

As a result, if your company is looking to reduce costs and have more flexibility in the future, reconfiguring cubicles will be the best decision.

Free resources for San Antonio business owners

To help you upgrade your workspace without risk or additional cost, we at ROSI Office Systems Inc. have put together a collection of free resources for you:

Interactive Space Plan: Simply upload your office plan to us; our design team will send you a 2D and 3D layout within 48 hours.

Cubicle Buy-Back Program: Return your old cubicles to us and receive credit to use towards the purchase of refurbished REcube products.

An affordable way to upgrade your workspace!

Showroom Tours: Visit our office furniture showroom in downtown San Antonio, try out acoustic pods and sit-stand desks up close, and feel the difference.

FAQ

Do cubicles violate hybrid-work culture?

No, modern cubicles, with their compact, modular design and technology, are perfectly suited to the hybrid work culture and even improve collaboration and focus.

How long does a cubicle refresh take?

A cubicle renovation typically takes 1-2 working nights, depending on the number of stations and the amount of changes, without seriously disrupting the daily operations of the office.

John Ofield

John Ofield is a recognized expert in the office furniture and office cubicle industry in Houston, TX, with over 40 years of experience. As the founder of ROSI Office Systems, he specializes in furniture space planning, custom cubicle designs, modern office chairs and tables, and high-quality commercial furniture. John’s expertise helps businesses enhance productivity and collaboration. He is also dedicated to mentoring entrepreneurs and redefining workspaces to inspire success.