Technology Upgrades To Help You Lease Your Office Space

Modern offices are evolving into more productive atmospheres, moving away from open floor plan designs and incorporating more technology.
“More of a hybrid concept is showing up," says Eddie Shapiro, owner of SmartTouch USA, a Bethesda, Md., audiovisual integration firm. “We're seeing better group-gathering spaces and more innovation. It's not all about technology, but technology definitely plays a role."
Today's corporate offices need to provide a consistent technology experience across the building for employees. But what amenities do today's managers and company owners look for when they're leasing office space? How can investors capitalize on bringing the latest technology into exclusive or shared workspaces?
Incorporating the latest sound, lighting, and video technology, adequate networking bandwidth, and managed services within a building can help keep operational costs down so you can rent spaces faster, keep tenants longer, and earn more.
Video Everywhere
When most investors think of audiovisual technology within a corporate building, video for communication is the first thing that comes to mind.
“Video is not just a trend," says Tory Holmwood, account manager at New Era Technology, a West Chester, Penn.-based technology solutions provider. “It's an expectation from the large corporate sector down to smaller organizations. Video is everywhere."
As more companies move toward software-based videoconferencing systems like WebEx or Zoom, the onus is on the landlord to ensure the hardware, including screens and cameras, meet the necessary requirements.
A Robust Network
Providing video conferencing throughout a venue means not just supplying high-quality screens in huddle spaces and conference rooms, but ensuring there's enough network bandwidth to support 4K resolution video and beyond.
“We've had situations where we put in beautiful video systems with 4K Ultra HD screens everywhere, but the client had throttled their network to the point where it could only handle standard definition video," Holmwood says.
Jak Daragjati, owner of the Staten Island, N.Y.-based Dara AV is also a proponent of installing the best you can get when it comes to networking. “You're going to be using the bandwidth if you have multiple office spaces. And once they all start videoconferencing, it's going to start choking the system."
Likewise, Daragjati advises investors to ensure the WiFi network is robust enough to handle streaming video in public spaces, from the lobby to the break room. “You want to get an IT expert in to handle the networking, [one] who can work with your AV specialist to ensure the requirements for audio, video, and control are met," he says.
“Frictionless" Huddle Spaces
Investors should look to provide systems that are intuitive and user-friendly in conference rooms, huddle spaces, and throughout the building.
“If it's not easy to use, people will just let it be," says Holmwood. She recommends video conferencing spaces be equipped with a USB camera, PC, and USB extensions to the table, so tenants can come in, plug in their laptop, and run the meeting.
Shapiro also notes the trend of voice control within a space. “Some huddle spaces are so simple, you just walk into the space and say you want to have a conference with an individual or company and the system does all the work."
"Technology-As-A-Service" Increases Revenue
New Era Technology provides similar systems with auto-switching functionality for wired or wireless presentations. A Crestron controller mounted behind the screen gives the integrator remote control of the system, including the ability to dial in to troubleshoot and fix problems before the user even realizes there's an issue.
“That's a huge advantage because it means ample uptime, minimal downtime, and a really high level of service and support," Holmwood says. She adds that landlords can sell this “building-as-a-service concept" to tenants, marking up the monthly service charges for increased profitability.
“The concept of supplying all the technology in the space is a big trend in the industry," she says. “Investors may be tempted to pull back to lower the costs on their initial investment, but if they can provide technology-as-a-service across the building, they can turn it into an OpEx instead of a CapEx, which they should love."
White Lighting to Improve Worker Focus
If it seems like most of the technology systems are tied to public spaces, that's not quite the case. It's important to give workers in closed offices and open spaces, alike, the tools they need to stay focused.
Shapiro recommends tunable white LED lighting, which adjusts with the body's natural circadian rhythms to improve worker focus and enhance energy during mid-day slumps.
“Tunable white light adjusts the lighting in the space from whiter colors in the morning hours to warmer colors as you near the end of the working day," he says.
Sound Masking
In open offices, sound pollution is often a concern. Some modern offices incorporate phone booth-style spaces that help mask voices so employees can make calls without disturbing their co-workers.
Daragjati installed distributed audio and sound masking speakers in the Blueprint & Co. building in midtown Manhattan, the co-working space owned by Daymond John of Shark Tank. Sound masking speakers can play classical music, which has been shown to stimulate the brain, white noise, or even nature sounds.
“A lot of companies don't want to spend the extra money," Daragjati says. “They think they don't need it until they get in the space and realize they do."
Find an Integrator You Can Trust
Finding an audiovisual specialist you can trust can make or break your building project—and your budget.
“You want somebody who's going to be reliable and stand behind their work," says Daragjati. “You also want somebody who's going to sell you what you need—not oversell you. Look for somebody who's actually listening to you and is going to develop a system that does what you need—not something your tenants will never use."