CREJ

Page 10 — Office & Industrial Quarterly — March 2021 www.crej.com OFFICE — OWNER INSIGHTS A s COVID-19 vaccinations are being rolled out, companies are trying to figure out their return-to-office plans. Many office workers have been working from home for almost a year. As a result, many companies are plan- ning some type of flexible work policy if they did not have one prior to the WFH experience. Some companies are opting for a hybrid model where employees work the majority of days in the office and fewer days at home. Others are exploring the hub-and- spoke model, which includes a main “hub” with offices spread out closer to employees’ homes. Despite some advantages toWFH, the office continues to be the ideal place for collaboration, innovation and maintaining company culture. Granite Properties, owner and man- ager of five office buildings in Denver, conducted a return-to-office customer survey and received more than 3,200 responses from decision-makers and office employees in our buildings. The survey found that people miss the office camaraderie and creative energy that comes from being with their teammates and that they value the flexibilityWFH allows. In addition, these companies said they want more workspace flexibility to help them run their businesses more efficiently and productively.We believe that going forward companies will be looking for flexible workspace solutions. To meet the growing demand for flexibility, it will be important for office owners to adapt and help companies find the right office solutions.This is why we modified our leasing platform and integrated “evolve,” a newmenu of office and leasing solutions.Through this solution, we now offer a wide range of solutions, including conven- tional, on-demand, move-in-ready, short-term and coworking space. We also can support the hub-and-spoke model through partnerships with coworking firms. The platform con- sists of the following solutions that com- panies can tailor to their individual needs: n Create. Many companies cannot wait for their employees to return to the office full time because they either miss it or becauseWFH isn’t a feasible solution for them. Our company con- tinues to offer leases of one to more than 10 years with this option. Cus- tomers can customize their offices to fit their brand.They also will have full access to the amenities, including fit- ness centers, conference rooms, food services, indoor lounges and outdoor workspaces.To accommodate the need for flexibility, customers can take advantage of our short-term and on- demand solutions as well. n Ready. Short-term office space has been popular with startups because it is harder for them to forecast how much space they’ll need for the future. Short-term, one- to five-year, lease options provide startups with the flex- ibility to grow, downsize or move to a different market. Now that more companies are trying to figure out their flexible work policies, a short-term and fully furnished lease space can be an attractive solution.This short- term Ready option allows customers to move in right away, furnished or unfurnished, with lease terms ranging frommonthly to yearly. n On-demand. Nowmore than ever, companies are looking for collaborative office space with high-end amenities to encourage employees to return to the office.Through this option, cus- tomers have access to amenities in buildings across all markets. For exam- ple, when Denver customers travel to Dallas for business, they will be able to use any of the amenities, like fitness centers or conference rooms, at any Granite building in the Dallas area.The On-Demand program also supports customers interested in the hub-and- spoke model through partnerships with coworking firms.Through a pro- gram called G.O. Pass, customers can lease their primary space in a Granite building and establish a network of satellite offices at coworking locations to support remote employees. We have spent this last year focused on the future of office space.We have listened and communicated with our customers, and taken this time to innovate and anticipate future needs. We have made our buildings healthier and safer in Denver, and portfoliowide, with our $10 million InspireWellness initiative.We have enhanced the air quality with Needlepoint Bipolar Ion- ization, retrofitted touchless fixtures in restrooms and improved outdoor workspace experiences.We are moving quickly to help our customers adapt to their changing business needs with our office leasing solutions. As we approach returning to the office, we believe that office owners who adapt to the changes and focus on flexibil- ity, wellness and collaborative work environments will attract the greatest demand. s slawrence@graniteprop.com Howwe’re evolving to meet new leasing demands Stephanie Lawrence Senior managing director, Granite Properties An interior shot of Regency Plaza in Denver