Employees are in the driver seat of office design as employers realize that creative office space is one of the keys to retaining talent. That's why we're excited to bring together a panel of experts to discuss the latest in creative office development trends at Bisnow's San Diego Creative Office Summit on Dec. 16, 8am at 5015 Shoreham Pl.

Co-Merge WorkPlace partner Michael Kenny (right, snapped with partner Robert Conrad), who will be a speaker at our event, tells us that the new paradigm is more than just open space, since people have a variety of needs from their workspace. Among other features, Co-Merge includes a training room, so there’s an environment in which someone can give a workshop or a talk. “Then all you have to do is cross the hallway to get working on the project, rather than get in your cars and drive back to an office.”

Michael says that he and Robert knew when they bought the building at 330 A St a few years ago, they didn’t want to do a run-of-the-mill office redevelopment. A convenience store wanted to take about a third of the space, but they decided against that. They wanted collaborative space--"a place to pay for what you need, when you need it," especially since mobile tech is finally making the idea not only more feasible, but in demand. The space's clients run the spectrum from one-person businesses to Fortune 1000 companies.

Co-Merge has both high- and low-top desks and a capacity of 70 seats. (Bisnow's own Sean Spear works there periodically...but he never steals other people's sandwiches.) It wasn’t the first such space in San Diego, but Michael says it was early in the game, and they're planning for future improvements. Recently CONNECT partnered with Co-Merge to provide incubation and business acceleration for startups and early-stage companies at Co-Merge's space. “A lot more people are going to work this way,” he says, "and we want to be ready for that wave of interest."

IA Interior Architects managing principal Brian Koshley, who will also speak at our event, tells us that progressive clients are now focusing on their employees (right, snapped with Cross Campus founder Ronen Olshansky). “The war for talent is on!” Brian emphasizes. A workplace should engage, empower and energize employees and foster interaction among them. “Our role as designers is to equip our clients with a workspace design that recruits and retains the best and brightest talent in their field."

Join us to discuss the latest in creative office development trends at Bisnow's San Diego Creative Office Summit on Dec. 16, 8am at 5015 Shoreham Pl. (Sign up here.)