An office is like a home for a business, a place to learn, grow and celebrate business victories. A place that defines your corporate culture, invites your clients and ultimately holds your greatest assets… Your staff!
So what is the perfect office? Its not so black and white and naturally differs depending on the business sector, the founding members influence and what the staff have made of their business home.
I visit on average 2 businesses a day, that’s 10 a week, 40 a month and around 440 a year in my capacity at Niche Advisory and Niche Projects.
I’ve seen everything from the top of Chifley, marble surrounds, brass door handles, lavish boardrooms, harbour winning views to towers 1-3 of Barangaroo with a spectacular sunset view to secret creative hideouts in Redfern and Surry Hills, even a harbour boathouse converted into an architects office. There aren’t many buildings in Sydney I haven’t been to more than once.
Now I walk past buildings in town that have been demolished and remember my last visit to the lobby, journey up the lift and even the fitout that once was.
The space or grade of building is one thing but is it the defining factor of a business’s success? Is it the perfect office?
What do our clients look for most in an office, here’s the top 5;
1. Location
The most important thing for a business is location, it says about a business. Finance and Banking, Legal Professionals, Accountants, Barristers, Medical Professionals, Creative Agencies huddle together in precincts that almost define their status as a firm. Companies are accustomed to a certain location, the staff are familiar with travelling to work and one of the last things to change for a business is the area of the City that the reside. Most companies we work with literally move within a block radius of their previous office.
2. Natural Light
One of the most sought after factors of the perfect office is natural light. Not to be confused with a fancy view, natural light is important because it wakes us up in the morning and inspires us to think and be creative. Sure its nice to look out to Hyde Park, Sydney Harbour or Darling Harbour if you can afford it but a view is not essential. After all, most of us are paid to look at screens not boats.
3. Amenities
Now the rage is End of Trip Facilities (EOT) ranging from the shoe shining machine at Grosvenor Place or the Towel Service at MLC Centre. Or even the limo service and concierge at Chifley Tower.
Staff and Management also like fancy coffee shops and lunch spot hideaways, green courtyards, gyms and even pools! And landlords are out to impress.
Amenities add to the outgoings of a building but are great for staff attraction and retention. This is the true Gen Y approach to business.
4. Creative, Collaborative Layout
We are moving away from high partitioned workstations, private offices and staffed reception areas. Why? because they don’t promote collaboration and culture. The companies I visit now have the CEO and CFO within reach and proximity of everyone, not to be feared but to be looked at as mentors and teachers.
Staff need to be included, appreciated and rewarded and feel apart of a team. This cant happen from the depths of reception or behind closed doors.
Interest is generated by shapes, colour, texture, light and fancy furniture and businesses are investing in it. Above all it must be comfortable like a home. Have a look at GOOGLE
Now open ceilings, polished floors and complex ornaments stand proud, even law firms and accountants are moving from the monotonous rabbit warren of rooms and workstations to spaces more palatable for staff.
Also offices are being built to more spacious environments with less desks back to back and more casual seating areas and communal spaces.
5. Parking
Still high on the list is parking, although scarce, expensive and highly sought after, management and staff expect parking preferably within the building, especially CEO’s and CFO’s. Its a convenience thing for the busy professional.
How to find your perfect office?
Put simply, it requires understanding and reach. You need to be able to develop a brief that spells out who you are as a firm, what you are looking for and broadcast it effectively to the complex network of agents and owners out there so they understand you. Then its about detailed comparison, the process of elimination and a practical approach to office hunting, on foot with a coffee and the heads of each department.
Niche Tenant Advisory offers a Boutique turnkey style of Property Search, Negotiation, Design and Fitout for small to medium businesses. We are less about sitting behind a desk firing emails and more about face to face, getting to know you and your business and providing industry, market and practical knowledge to help your firm make the best commercial decision on its next office.
Get in touch with one of our experienced tenant advisors now for an obligation free lease review and discussion on the current Sydney leasing market HERE.