Skip to main content

4 Ways Amenities Have Changed the Office Landscape




While one-size-fits-all office spaces have ruled the landscape in the past, the trend is shifting away from cookie-cutter and moving toward a different kind of workspace with unique amenities. 

These amenities represent a much more flexible and activity-based design approach to the workplace which, when incorporated, can both attract and retain employees -- an obvious benefit to employers.

It’s no secret that “location, location, location” applies to commercial real estate as much, if not more than, residential real estate. But a good location and fun coworkers simply isn’t enough to keep your employees happy -- office amenities (or the lack thereof, in some cases) can truly make or break their day. And smart employers are not only taking notice, but they’re also making the changes necessary to promote a great corporate culture within their walls.

Read on for 4 ways amenities have changed the office landscape…

1. Space for socializing

Buildings and suites with a good amount of unused or undedicated space, regardless of location, can have a significant impact on the overall dynamic of the space by implementing space for socializing, such as a lounge. 

Add in some basics, such as simple furniture, a wifi connection, some snacks and a coffee machine, and you have instantly transformed this space into the perfect place for collaborative working, impromptu meetings, and more.

2. Workspaces with a view

Long gone are the days of staring at walls in a closed up office or your coworkers in rows or pods of cubicles. Today’s workers are looking for a desk or a workspace with a view -- and for good reason. Studies have reported a direct correlation between employee’s exposure to natural daylight and their overall quality of life. 

Want to help keep your employees happy? Give them something to look at!

3. Top-notch kitchen spaces

Dynamics in the office are shifting. With a focus on healthy eating and meal prepping, more and more employees are choosing to eat lunch in the office, rather than running out for fast food or a sit-down lunch. But that doesn’t mean they want to eat cold leftovers at their desks! 

Wow, your CRE clients and tenants with a fully stocked kitchen with enough space for common tables. You’d be surprised at the camaraderie that this can create. 


4. Smart technology

One of the most attractive features in CRE is smart technology built-in throughout the space. Today’s offices boast smartboards, automated AV equipment, and even smart thermostats. Take, for instance, the Comfy thermostat. 

Ask anyone who’s ever worked in an office, and they’ll tell you that one of the biggest disagreements is over the temperature. It seems that someone is always freezing, and someone is always complaining of the heat. 

A smart thermostat can change all that. Comfy even has an app that employees can download and then suggest their ideal temperature. The app then generates an “average” temperature, making everyone happy (well, almost everyone).

These design trends and amenities seem to be here to stay. Adapting and updating today’s office spaces is key to CRE success.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

4 Senior Housing Trends That Will Continue to Change the Space in 2020

Senior housing developments have been a popular conversation within the commercial real estate business. As the life expectancy of seniors keeps getting older and older, the growing elderly population faced a serious housing crisis in 2019. The 80+ population skyrocketed before CRE could keep up. And when it finally did, there was a lot of work to do. In order to accommodate today’s aging population, senior housing developments were a serious need. Even though investor demand started off slow, the sudden boom motivated commercial real estate developers and investors to take action and begin making moves. With more CRE pros jumping on the senior housing market opportunities, the competition went from 0 to 100 in no time. As a result, an amenity-war has broken out - but it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Let’s look at these 4 senior housing trends that are redesigning the senior housing module in 2020 and beyond: In-House Medical Services Seniors ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Protecting NOI in the Senior Living Space

When observing the latest trends in senior living, don’t jump to any conclusions - make sure you’ve got the whole picture first. CRE’s senior living sector is facing low occupancy rates - but that doesn’t mean the industry isn’t standing strong. When it comes to NOI, occupancy isn’t everything. While a property’s occupancy rates can act as the main contributor to net operating income, there are other elements that help fuel profits for commercial real estate investors . So what’s going on in the senior living spaces that are sparking turbulence for commercial real estate? Here’s a breakdown: Construction is Booming For the last few years, senior living spaces have been undergoing a surge of construction. Unfortunately, this elongated period of growth has taken a major hit on occupancy rates. In the five years between 2014 and 2019, national occupancy rates for senior living facilities have dropped 2.5% . As reported by the National Investment Center for Senior H...
Post a Comment
Read more

NAI Emory Hill Sells Warehouse During Pandemic

Wilmington, DE – NAI Emory Hill ( www.naiemoryhill.com ) is pleased to announce the sale of 3 James Court in the City of Wilmington, a 23,000 SF Industrial Building with dock and drive in loading. 3 James Court located off of South Market Street, between the new Christina River bridge and the 76ers field house and in a federally recognized QOZ .  Tim Plemmons and Neil Kilian, of NAI Emory Hill, represented the seller in this transaction. Senior Associate Tim Plemmons commented, “an increased demand for industrial buildings like 3 James Court coupled with a low interest rate environment makes now a compelling time for owners of industrial buildings to liquidate and get top dollar.” The quick sale of 3 James Court highlights the power of the team approach at NAI Emory Hill. Neil Kilian, Principal at NAI Emory Hill, noted, “Our high-powered marketing approach actually coincided with the start of the pandemic, nonetheless, we generated multiple competing offers which led to above...
Post a Comment
Read more