Many of Atlanta’s offices, like those in other office markets in the U.S., have been waiting for tenants to occupy them. But according to a third-quarter Colliers report, while Atlanta’s office market vacancy was at a high of 20.6%, the market is on its way to becoming steadier with greater leasing activity.

Lindsay Wilson, president of architecture and design firm Corgan, said tenants looking for office space in Atlanta are not only focused on what amenities to provide in their own spaces but are also considering what local businesses and retail experiences exist in the surrounding neighborhood.

“The days of having just a small café in the office building are gone,” Wilson said. “Owners and occupants value recognizable brands, restaurants and retailers. These aspects are extremely attractive qualities to an office complex and extend the user experience beyond the office space.”

Wilson will be a panelist at Bisnow’s Atlanta Office Summit on Dec. 3, where attendees will dive into topics such as the aspects that Atlanta tenants want for their offices and what is on deck for financing and leasing developments. She will speak on the Ownership and Development Outlook panel.

Click here to register and purchase tickets.

In a conversation with Bisnow, Wilson discussed trends in the office sector, what neighborhood amenities are attractive to owners and tenants, and Corgan’s growing office footprint across the U.S.

Bisnow: What office market trends have stood out to you?

Wilson: There are two trends in particular that stand out. The first is that we remain in a period of uncertainty. As much as I would love to say that everybody knows exactly what they want to do with their offices, it’s not the case. Across our markets, we are still getting a lot of, “Can you share with us what other companies are doing?” or, “Can you bring us data about how other people are approaching return-to-work and flexible work, or how are others creating adaptability in their facilities?”

The second thing that I'm seeing is the continued flight to quality. When our clients are embarking on new or renovated office space, they're investing in technology, branding and furniture, which entail a lot of thoughtful design and maximizing their spend.

Our clients are really clear on what they're trying to accomplish and consider the workplace a tool for their business. It's been a much more collaborative process in terms of project budgets, with clients wanting help to align budget and expectations versus saying that they have a particular budget and wanting to know what they can do with it.

While we have uncertainty, once people make up their mind, we’re partnering with them on really nice, effective and inspiring workplaces, which is exciting.

Bisnow: What investments in the office sector are the most lucrative? What are tenants looking for in their spaces?

Wilson: I think building owners are certainly looking at curb appeal and first impressions as well as outdoor spaces and the spaces in between. As investors look to improve existing properties, maximizing usable outdoor opportunities for both work and for gathering are important.

Even in car-centric communities like Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth, we are seeing the conversation focused on the total neighborhood, not just the office building, with people considering, “What restaurants can people walk to?” or, “What boutique fitness opportunities do employees have?” We're seeing fewer companies build their own fitness facilities, for example, and more companies focusing on what the neighborhood provides.

Bisnow: How can office owners help ensure that their assets stand the test of time?

Wilson: There is tension between being trendy and being boring. We can all point to spaces that age too fast. The goal is creating an identity for a building or complex that feels authentic and distinguishes one building from another.

Taking the time to understand the aspirations is where a great owner-designer relationship can happen. What's the design story? Does the site or project have a meaningful history? The key is something users can connect to and looking for an authentic way to make your mark, rather than just trying to make a momentary splash.

Bisnow: How does Corgan serve its clients in Atlanta and across the U.S.?

Wilson: We practice in a lot of different markets in Atlanta, such as workplace, higher education, K-12, aviation and data centers. We just completed an office expansion to add even more capacity to continue to grow in Atlanta. We’re excited and invested with what’s going on in Atlanta.

We have 19 office locations total and are continuing to grow. We are organized by our sector expertise and connected across our locations. We pride ourselves on both client service and agility and adjust with our clients and their needs.

Bisnow: What do you look forward to most about speaking at the Atlanta Office Summit?

Wilson: I always look forward to others’ thoughts. I always end up learning from the perspective from the other panelists.

This article was produced in collaboration between Studio B and Corgan. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.