Tech recently overtook tourism as Victoria’s largest private sector industry. And Colliers researcher Marc Foucher tells us much of the leasing activity in Greater Victoria in the past year has been by tech and digital media organizations, many locating at Vancouver Island Technology Park (pictured below), a $11.9M, LEED Gold redevelopment with 190k SF of space in phase 1. (Colliers recently re-upped HP there.)

Tech and digital media companies accounted for more than 140k SF, or 35% of total space leased last year in Victoria by Colliers. So it's a small wonder that a new survey shows more tenants demanding open workplaces and denser workspaces, with open-concept floor plans, natural light and exposed brick and beams, Marc says. It’s not just tech firms; most tenants these days say they want buildings that are flexible, with efficient floor plans that facilitate collaboration and creative use.