Office Amenities That Today’s Tenants Want

Every aspect of an office space or building must be analyzed to meet the needs of its intended tenants. Every tenant will be different and recognizing the needs of each company you lease a space to can be determined based on how they work. Their values as a company can help identify what office amenity assets will be essential, preferred, or not in their interest. Overall there are many office amenities that have become more and more popular among tenants these days. Commercial real estate brokers and property manager must be able to recognize the wants of their clients and how the spaces they’re representing can best fit their needs. The needs of a tenant can span from the look of the office space to how diligent the building is in its environmental efforts.

Office Design

Maintaining and revamping office design can help attract and retain tenants. Owners must think of ways that a space may need to be updated for the benefit of those who occupy it. This includes catering to a tenant’s current needs and offering flexibility as an option if a company sees increased growth in their near future. Options for growth can take the form of movable walls and build outs. Flexibility for tenants can take the form of having the ability to design an office space that can accommodate smaller or larger groups employee size if needed. Many tenants are now looking at office space as a creative space to increase collaboration and innovate, because of this shift tenants require more meeting spaces than before.

Tenant Lounges

Employee lounge in the Horizon Tech Center office building at 10301 Meanley Dr.

Lounges provides tenants with a sense of community where they can enjoy their breaks in a comfortable environment. Lounges can also be used as a collaborative work area or an area that allows tenants to enjoy themselves outside of the workday. This space can be further utilized by hosting social mixers to allow tenants to get to know one another.

In-Office Dining

Green Leaf Cafe at the Horizon Tech Center

Having a space dedicated to making quality meals or providing convenience items such as a snack can be a huge plus for a tenant. These spaces that can offer a quick coffee, a snack, or a full meal are a big convenience. The ability to come into work and grab a coffee or a salad and a sandwich can make tenants very happy. If tenants have to buy lunch, they will often times pick whatever is closest so providing a convenient option will be a selling point when bringing in a new tenant and maintaining a long term one. These conveniences may not even need to be on site but having stores in the vicinity of an office space can be a benefit.

Outdoor Space

An attractive patio or scenic rooftop deck with lots of seating will allow employees to get outside and recharge. Tenants will have to ability to take in fresh air as they take a walk, eat their lunch, or just enjoy their break. Outdoor areas have become an essential amenity for tenants, and if your building lacks this then an outdoor space adjacent to the property can be utilized and marketed as an asset.

Access to Parking and Transportation

Parking is essential to tenants and it is critical to anticipate tenant parking needs. It is important to consider how far a tenant may need to walk from their car or public transportation to the building. If the building is in a popular area it is important to consider that people outside of the building’s tenants may try to park there, so these parking lots may require security in the form of a gate or stickers to distinguish cars. Security can also provide a feeling a safety to tenants but may or may not be necessary depending on the building’s location.

Fast WIFI

Including WIFI is often a given these days as many tenants have now come to expect this amenity. Having a high-speed secure network can be a big plus for owners who may want their employees to stay connected through-out the day, even on their breaks. Offering secure networks is often a given for companies with handling sensitive information from their clients or from within their organization.

Eco-Friendly

The new generation of tenants’ care about recycling and any green measures that can incorporated into the building. They often expect a separate trash and recycling bin at the minimum but more progressive organizations may want a compost bin. These same tenants may be more inclined to want charging stations for their electric or hybrid vehicles which can often be an overall asset if not necessity as the use of fully electric cars increases.