“Office building owners have found that to remain competitive in today’s marketplace, they must enliven their buildings by offering more amenities and adding vibrancy to the common areas.” -NAIOP

Office building owners have found that to remain competitive in today’s marketplace, they must enliven their buildings by offering more amenities and adding vibrancy to the common areas. Some have introduced a range of new amenities, including outdoor workspaces and food trucks, and they have also programmed areas with happy hours, featured speakers and other activities. The common element in these amenities is that they all “activate” the common spaces by creating opportunities for socialization among tenants and the opportunity to work in areas beyond the tenant’s suite.

Years ago, many amenities such as rooftop terraces and large, conference grade facilities were built out, paid for and used exclusively by a tenant. With the rise of the sharing economy and the realization that many of those spaces sat idle for much of the time, tenants recognized that the costs and benefits did not pencil out. Employers needed such spaces in their building to attract knowledge workers, but they were willing to share them with others to avoid shouldering the entire cost. Thus began the shift in the design, ownership, and management of those spaces from tenant to owner. This study examines how the shift is impacting office buildings, what amenities are being provided, how common spaces are being activated and who is paying for it. Read More…