OIQ_091521

September 2021 — Office & Industrial Quarterly — Page 15 www.crej.com OFFICE — CONSTRUCTION ...and much more! CAM Services is Proud to Offer the Following Quality Services Multiple Service Discounts Available Power Sweeping Parking Lot Sweeping Snow Removal Day Porter Services Tenant Finish/Improvements Interior/Exterior Building Maintenance Power Washing Power Scrubbing Fence Repair Stormwater & Erosion Control Signage Repair Curb & Sidewalk Repair Parking Blocks Construction Clean-up Water Damage Clean-up Property Security Temporary Fencing Barricades Rubber Removal Airport Services Event Services Silt Fence Fully Bonded Phone: 303.295.2424 • Fax: 303.295.2436 www.camcolorado.com 24 Hours/Day, 7 Days/Week State-of-the-art equipment, with GPS tracking for your convenience W ith many workplace return- to-office policies still in flux, recently designed and soon to be constructed office spaces are in a quandary. The ratios of open office to closed office, square footage per employee and the shifting needs of the modern office environment are all in question. To provide answers that are nimble and responsive to the evolving needs, owners are finding innovative and collaborative solutions to move them forward.They are finding success in partnerships rooted in the principles of creating a unified team that fosters ongoing dialogue between the owner, employees, architect and contrac- tor, allowing all parties to be able to maximize the budget while integrating next-generation solutions. While remote working and hybrid schedules are not a new practice, the events of the past year have challenged many companies to make long-term decisions about the working location of their employees. Given COVID-19 and social distancing requirements, the average square footage per employee is increasing from pre-pandemic require- ments.These increases can create challenges for owners from a budget and design standpoint. By working through the design and building pro- cess as a collaborative team, architects and general contractors can be trans- parent about costs and associated value upfront to allow owners to align their budget from the start without sticker shock later.This continuity also can lead to time savings down the road by allowing for prioritization of the decision-making process. If an owner is unsure about certain design aspects of a project, the con- tractor and architect can support them in prioritizing decisions that allow construc- tion to move for- ward, while offering more time to make decisions based on evolving owner workplace policies and technology on the horizon. In an ever-chang- ing environment, it is hard to predict the future of working in an office, but companies still need to move forward with new spaces for their employees as leases turnover to promote growth and maintain the vitality of their businesses.The best way for own- ers to combat this uncertainty is to be open to construction and design ideas that can add future flexibility. Concepts such as access flooring, mul- tipurpose spaces, movable furniture and increased audiovisual and video conference capabilities add increased flexibility. Access flooring provides an elevated floor above the building’s orig- inal floor to allow for electrical compo- nents and wiring to fit below, offering future flexibility as workstations can be easily moved around as the office layouts are modified. Moveable furni- ture with multipurpose spaces allows for more nimble environments that easily can change based on the evolv- ing needs of the business. Finally, there is no doubt that advanced technology is here to stay, and planning for this element no longer can be an after- thought. Planning needs to start in the design and early construction phases to ensure maximum functionality and productivity. Ensuring that all the tele- com, audiovisual, security and access controls are integrated and planned early into the project is paramount for an optimal employee experience and work efficiency. The office space of the future is still a work in progress, but a few trends are being explored that can provide some insight into where it is headed. Many building owners have been focused on enhancing the functional items of their workplace to promote employee safety from COVID-19 and other viruses that could be spread in the workplace.We have seen increases in air purification systems being applied to the air sup- ply systems in the building to keep employees safe from the flu and com- mon cold.These systems are primar- ily bipolar ionization, HEPA filtration and ultraviolet light systems that can be retrofit into existing air-handling equipment or be integral to new air handling equipment. We also are seeing many different devices being installed in office envi- ronments to minimize the touching of surfaces such as touchless faucets, water coolers and motion-activated auto door operators. Additionally, antimicrobial coatings are available on highly touched surfaces such as fixtures, faucets and door hardware, and copper buttons are being used in elevators as copper is a naturally anti- microbial solution. As a population, we are moving toward a more touch-free How to design and build for the unknown future Joel Pennick Vice president, JE Dunn Construction Joseph Roybal The best way for owners to combat uncertainty is to be open to construction and design ideas that can add future flexibility. Please see Pennick, Page 18