4B — February 24 - March 9, 2017 — Owners, Developers & Managers — M id A tlantic
Real Estate Journal
www.marejournal.com
O wners , D evelopers & M anagers
Impress clients, inspire employees and create all-around functionality Transform your workplace with great design
veryone prefers to ar- rive at work with en- ergy and motivation, but s ome t i me s the thought of spending the entire day trapped in an un-inspiring building or cramped cu- bicle injects dread into the daily commute and poison into the corporate culture. In an age when attracting and retaining top talent is at an all-time premium, excel- E Les McCoy
ductivity, and ultimately em- ployee happiness. Despite the acknowledged value for office design, many companies fail to adequately evaluate, and periodically re-evaluate, their companies changing product mix, workflow, and workforce preferences. Below is a list of considerations to maximize your workplace to achieve the three goals of a great office: impress clients, inspire em- ployees and create all-around functionality. • Space Planning. It is crucial to take a look at the entranceway, common areas
• Interior Architecture. Analyze the industry, com- pany’s culture, brand and how clients and customers should feel when they walk in. With this in mind design to WOW and achieve those feelings with fabrics, furniture, colors, textures, and other accessories. • Culture. In today’s world keeping employees happy and productive is imperative. Ex- amine the company’s brand, work philosophy, strategic goals, communications, employ- ee interactions, and manage- ment styles. The interior design should support and facilitate these qualities to make their jobs easier (greater efficiency) and at a minimum more fun. • Client participation. A good interior designer is a great listener and asks many questions about all facets of the client’s business and work hab- its. If clients do not have a clear vision for their office layout and interior architecture then the designer will be ready for meaningful recommendations. The creation or remodeling of an office space relies heavily on client input. It’s the designer’s job to navigate them through the process and bring their wishes to reality. DesignPoint is a full-service interior architectural design firm that has helped many of- fices perform to their maximum potential for client engagement and employee productivity. Over the next few months, DesignPoint will be highlight- ing a few client stories that will provide insight into how top executives work. The stories exemplify how to strategi- cally inject best practices for space planning, layouts, and interior design for successful businesses. Les McCoy is president of DesignPoint. n Akelius acquires 34 apartments in New York NEW YORK, NY — The brick masonry property, built in 1920, is located at Dean St. in Brooklyn, within short walking distance from Barclays Center and Atlantic Terminal. The prime location offers excellent access to public transportation as well as to a wide variety of re- tail shops, bars and restaurants. The price is USD 16 million. With this acquisition, Ake- lius owns 14 properties in NY, and a total of 30 in the USA. n
lence in office design should also be held in high priority. A recent Forbes survey found that 73% of respondents said that their work area and office facilities directly influenced their job satisfaction. While hiring experienced employees with great attitudes remains fundamental for building a suc- cessful company, many manag- ers cite the need to facilitate and motivate the workforce by having systems in place to enable the employees’ success. This includes intentionally designing offices to facilitate workflow, collaboration, pro-
(restrooms, kitchen, break rooms, etc.), and meeting space to determine their optimum use. Consider what works, what does not, and review management’s wish list. How can the layouts be truncated or expanded for greater efficiency. For employee workspace, evalu- ate the roles of the employees and determine howmuch space they need. Consider things like electric and IT infrastructure, furniture, storage and work- space. Examine the layout and adjacencies of departments and work groups and re-position the spaces accordingly.
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