The average American spends over 90,000 hours at work over the course of a lifetime. This figure is even higher for business owners, who spend twice as much time at work as their employees. Given these statistics, one of the best things you can do as a business owner is to choose a location that is spacious, secure, and full of the amenities you need for your employees to excel at their jobs.
The path to the perfect office space begins by understanding that a fruitful office search process is typically longer and more complex than anticipated. Every step is important, and cutting corners during the search process may lead to future shortcomings with your space. The key to your satisfaction is to take the time to determine your criteria before you initiate your search rather than diving blindly into the process. Once you identify the qualities you are seeking in an office space, you can narrow your search to spaces that meet those criteria and begin evaluating the proposals you receive.
Layout Considerations
Selecting an office space that is a good fit for your company culture is essential. As you compare available spaces, be sure to consider your everyday business operations and narrow your search to those that have a layout that will have a positive impact on your productivity. Here are some layout considerations and key questions to consider as you compare spaces:
Workspace Type: Will you require an open workspace, cubicles, or a space with private offices? Or are you seeking a mixture of the three?
Reception Area: Do you require a spacious reception area to welcome frequent guests, or will you rarely receive customers or visitors?
Conference Rooms: Approximately what size conference room are you seeking? Will you require multiple conference rooms?
Lunch Rooms: What size lunch room or break room would you like? Will you also need space for additional vending?
Design and Work Environment
Once you have identified your layout criteria, you need to determine what type of work environment you require. If you are a new business owner and are unsure about the design features you are seeking, think about the attributes that will attract your ideal employee and create the work culture you are envisioning. Remember, these features can be pivotal to employee acquisition and retention. Here are some key points to consider:
The type of building you are seeking
Your desired location within the building
Preferences regarding floor location
Natural light availability
Your view of the outdoors
Size of the building and floors
The building's condition and infrastructure quality
Ability to feature signage inside and outside the building
The space's visibility to passers by
Indoor air quality
Type of lighting provided
Inclusion of plants inside and outside the building
The building's sustainability
Facility Services
As a business owner or operator, it is your responsibility to keep your facilities and physical assets clean, safe, and secure. You can accomplish this by choosing a space that offers the professional services that are necessary to make this goal a reality. As you compare available spaces, be sure to inquire about the inclusion of the following:
Onsite Security: What security measures are in place? What security elements are you responsible for?
Site Maintenance: Does your lease include repairs and preventive maintenance on HVAC, plumbing, and elevators? Is there onsite maintenance staff available to respond to emergencies and make repairs?
Mail Service: How frequently is mail delivered? How will your mail be delivered and with what frequency?
Cleaning Service: Are cleaning services included within your lease or is each tenant individually responsible?
Special Requirements
After you have a good sense of the layout and work environment you are seeking, it is time to make a note of any special electrical or floor load requirements you may have. For example, if your business regularly ships or receives large 800-pound crated tables, then you will need a space that is equipped to receive and move cargo. Does your business require a space that is ADA compliant. Failure to consider these points could cause disruptions to productivity and may result in costly fines. Before settling on a space, ask yourself if you will need any of the following:
ADA Access
Electrical Requirements
Internet Requirements
Special Equipment
Floor Load Minimums
Loading Docks
Freight Elevator
Off-Hours HVAC
Featured Amenities
Today's forward-thinking employers and workspace designers are working diligently to develop the workspaces of the future . If you are looking for a way to increase productivity and boost employee retention, then consider choosing an office space that is rich with amenities. Here are a few of the most popular amenities to consider:
Parking: Does free parking accompany the space you are considering? If not, will employees have access to nearby parking?
Onsite Gym: Are you seeking a space with an onsite gym? Are you interested in a building with a gym that is shared by multiple tenants?
Shared Conference Room: Does the building you are considering have a communal conference room that can be reserved by tenants?
Convenience Market: Will the building feature a store or market with easy access to food, beverages, and toiletries?
The key to ensuring your office space has the features your business needs
As discussed above, the office search process should be undertaken with care and should never be rushed. The single best step you can take to make sure you choose an office space with the features you need is to seek the expertise of a specialist in Pittsburgh's office space industry. A seasoned commercial real estate expert will help you identify and prioritize your list of criteria and evaluate available office locations that meet those criteria.
As Pittsburgh's most trusted office space management and development firm, Venture Office is here to provide the guidance you need to find the ideal office space for your business. We leave no stone unturned as we walk you through these five important phases of the office space selection process:
Development of criteria you require for your office space
Identification of available spaces that meet your criteria
Request for Proposals (RFPs)
Evaluation and comparison of proposals from commercial property owners
Professional lease negotiation to ensure that you receive a fair, cost-effective price
If you would like to learn more about available office space in the Pittsburgh area, then contact us to schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation with one of our experienced specialists. We look forward to hearing from you!