GlenStar Properties principal Michael Klein has seen the future of cool cribs, and he’ll share his findings at Bisnow’s upcoming Chicago Creative Office Summit on Jan. 30. (As long as they are not literally "cool," we're in.)
Michael (snapped with the family) got some insight into new ways of working on a recent trip to San Francisco with one of his partners at GlenStar, Rand Diamond. They toured Twitter’s modern HQ and other urban-feeling, collaborative loft spaces with hotel-like amenities. (One game room even had a keg, which is not very hotel-like but we hope they’ll consider it.) GlenStar has applied creative principles in its portfolio, building out open-plan spec suites that appeal to both techies and more traditional firms. At 55 E Monroe, they’re working on a conference center, as well as a bike room and showers. At the CBOT building (newly designated BOMA 360, vault below), a 10k SF fitness center will open at the end of the month and a rooftop deck is in the pipeline.
Creative office has even found its way to the suburbs, where tenants are now asking about “cool space” for employees to communicate and share ideas. But it’s not always simple, Michael says. For example, pets in the office are a hot topic in San Fran, where dog beds are a surprisingly common piece of office furniture. But an owner must consider: how many pets per office, if the building’s pet friendly, and potential allergies. Outside of the office, Michael’s been braving the chill to play paddle tennis with many other members of the real estate community, he tells us.
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