As cities around the globe prepare to recognize World Environment Day 2025—this year spotlighting the global drive to end plastic pollution—the construction industry finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. In urban centers like New York City and Boston, the challenge of reducing plastic waste in interiors construction is urgent, complex, and to those who are paying attention, frustrating.

As cities around the globe prepare to recognize World Environment Day 2025—this year spotlighting the global drive to end plastic pollution—the construction industry finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. In urban centers like New York City and Boston, the challenge of reducing plastic waste in interiors construction is urgent, complex, and to those who are paying attention, frustrating.

In the wake of the pandemic, we’ve seen a fundamental shift in how cities use space. Commercial tenants are prioritizing quality over quantity, leaving older office buildings underoccupied and underutilized. At the same time, an increase in healthcare investment and technological advancements have led to a surge life sciences growth across the nation. These two trends have set the stage for an unconventional solution: converting office buildings into lab space.

In the latest episode of the Ask the Expert series, STOBG’s Global Services Account Executive, Stephen Dennis, breaks down the biggest cost trends shaping commercial interiors in 2025—from finish levels and permitting pain points to post-pandemic design priorities. Join Stephen as he dives into practical insights on workplace densification, sound design, and how companies are planning for the next decade of office space.