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Page 22 — Office Properties Quarterly — March 2017
® Denver’s Name in Commercial
Real Estate Since 1955
Fuller Real Estate, 5300 DTC Pkwy., #100, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (303) 534-4822
WE’RE HIRING EXPERIENCED BROKERS!
Fuller Real Estate offers the best name recognition in Denver, competitive com-
mission structure, new offices with new furniture and a great I-25/Belleview
location. Call John Fuller, Jr. at (303) 534-4822 for more information.
The Chancery, 1120 Lincoln Street
Lease Rates:
Call Bob Pipkin or Jeff LaForte
5925 E. Evans Avenue
Lease Rates:$18.70/SF FSG
Call Jack Hanlon
1075 S. Yukon Street
Lease Rates: $7- $14.00/SF FSG
Call John Becker or Mike Haley
14707 E. 2nd Avenue
Lease Rates: $13.50 - $14.00/SF FSG
Call Mary Jo Cummings
Design
M illennials make up the
majority of the U.S. work-
force, surpassing Gen
Xers in 2015, according to
Pew Research. As a result,
workplaces are adapting to the
needs of a new generation. Without
throwing out the rule book, com-
panies are looking at new ideas for
workplace design in order to appeal
to and support the wide range of
working styles and preferences that
make up today’s modern corporate
environment.
Apart from paying more attention
to what appeals to this new genera-
tion generally (e.g., flexible schedules
and meaningful work), many compa-
nies – some of which have existed for
decades – are taking a fresh look at
how the design of their office spaces
may be affecting the productivity,
intergenerational collaboration and
growth of their workforce.
By viewing the work environment in
a more strategic way, both employees
and the bottom line can benefit.
• Listen to employees’ needs. Estab-
lished corporations often stand the
test of time by taking care of their
employees. A couple of generations
ago, it was a common understanding
that a company would take care of
you, if you took care of the company.
That same sentiment is true today,
but with a slightly different approach.
What was once tackled through pen-
sions and 401K matches is now com-
municated through a commitment
to sustainability, flexibility and work-
life balance and by creating a sense
of purpose and camaraderie among
employees.
Today’s employees are looking for
work environments
that offer communi-
ty, collaboration and
agility – they want a
workplace that can
keep up with the
speed of technology.
Take FirstBank, for
example.When its
corporate headquar-
ters in Lakewood
underwent a mas-
sive expansion, the
company engaged
its employees to
create an environ-
ment that could attract and retain
top talent. As the architect of record
for the project, we devised a holistic
design process to include employee
feedback on how the space would
look, feel and function.
As the Denver market continues to
become more and more competitive
for top talent, FirstBank knew that a
traditional bank office design was no
longer a good fit.With changes in how
people use banks, the company now
views itself less like a traditional bank
and more like an IT company that
specializes in banking. Its space need-
ed to reflect that tech feel, while still
facilitating traditional bank functions.
Employees were shown render-
ing and finish boards in addition to
mock workstations with sit/stand
capability, task chairs and options for
lighting. Since individual workstation
space was being consolidated, it was
important to help staff understand
they were actually gaining more high-
quality workspaces and collaborative
zones. Engaging employees through-
out the entire process helped with the
change management of the project
and allowed the people who would be
using the space every day to establish
a sense of ownership.
• Improve health and well-being
through sustainability. Sustainability
is no longer a “nice to have” in office
design. It’s a standard. Not only does
sustainable design demonstrate envi-
ronmental responsibility, but also the
right design and material choices can
improve the health and well-being of
employees, which can save employers
time and money.
Take lighting, for example: Strate-
gic use of natural light and daylight
harvesting can make a world of differ-
ence in terms of energy consumption
(and costs) as well as employee well-
being. A growing body of research
points to the role of natural light in
supporting employee health and pro-
ductivity by mirroring their natural
circadian rhythms. In FirstBank’s new
headquarters, windows surround the
majority of the new work areas. Com-
bined with an open-concept design
for workspaces, this means that most
employees now have a view to the
outside.
Daylight harvesting also reduces the
need for electric light consumption.
Designed to offset operational costs,
RNL installed a sophisticated lighting
system that can read the amount of
natural light within a given space and
adjust electric light as needed, provid-
ing a comfortable, safe and efficient
work environment.
Other key sustainable features of
Cindy Harvey,
AIA, NCARB
Associate principal,
RNL Design,
Denver
RNL Design
The rooftop deck amenity offers panoramic views of the Front Range, is enjoyed by
employees and offers a great spot for FirstBank events.