Facebook recently unveiled the company’s high-priced renovations made to its Menlo Park, California campus.  The social networking giant spent $250 million to enhance its one million square foot headquarters.  The objective was to create a space that reflected the culture of the company.  Without question, tech giants like Twitter and Facebook are on a mission to design “creative spaces” that will not only support their growth but provide an environment conducive to creativity for the employees.

According to Dan Fasulo, managing director of Real Capital Analytics, “A new generation of corporate leaders is looking at space-planning as a core part of business to increase productivity and keep people in the office. The old guard looked at it as an expense.”

Tech firms are thinking outside-the-box and transforming stale spaces like corridors, nooks and kitchen areas into places where workers want to linger and collaborate with colleagues.  Major cities in the US are seeing a rising demand for this type of space, including New York, Boston, San Francisco and Seattle.

Obviously, not every company can spend $250 million like Facebook on their office space but it does reinforce the role that office space has in defining a brand.

An article in Entrepreneur revealed one professional’s opinion about office space and the importance of matching office space to a business’ identity.  It’s all about striking the right balance.

“When I go into a start-up burning $300,000 a month, and they’ve got posh offices with great furniture, I immediately think the leadership team’s priorities are in the wrong place,” says Mark Montgomery from a Nashville, Tenn.-based VC firm.  “On the other side, I don’t think you should have your people sitting on cardboard boxes at a card table. It really is a matter of being practical.”

So what should your office space look like?  First and foremost, it should project a professional image for clients and prospects.  It needs to be functional and provide a number of work environments to suit different needs where employees can thrive.

Montgomery looks back at a recent visit to Google’s Mountain View, Calif. headquarters and says the company’s culture is perfectly reflected in their workplace design.  “There were areas where it was small and tight and closed-off, and that was where the coders lived, and that was right next to big, open spaces.  It was just a great mix of how they tend to operate the business.”

Obviously, office space needs to serve a business; but don’t forget it also should be a place where creativity can be limitless and workers want to invest long hours.

Researchers at Ohio State University and the National Institute of Mental Health studied white-collar workers at a government facility in the central U.S. and found varying levels of stress for workers who were placed in different environments.  After one year, the scientists found that individuals assigned to work in the older office building, rather than the newer renovated space, were significantly more stressed even when they weren’t at work.

Alternatively, a carefully planned, well-equipped workspace does help people focus and can encourage creativity.

At some point, businesses will go through the process of securing office space.  Here are some things to consider before signing a new agreement:

• Location:  What does the address say about your business?
• The building:  Does it enhance your image?
• Space:  Does the layout work for your business?  Can it be adapted as needs change.

Choosing the right office space is not a decision that should be taken lightly.  “Getting the right office space is so important because your business will have to live with it for the life of a lease,” says Paul Kelly, head of marketing for Morgan Lovell, a UK-based company that does office build outs and design.

Today’s businesses are dealing with so much uncertainty that a solid office plan will give them the competitive edge they need.

A National Landmark right in the heart of Chicago

Picture it: stepping onto the stage where legends Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Liza Minelli, Harry Connick Jr., Aretha Franklin, Prince, Robin Williams, David Letterman, and Beyonce have performed.  Taking in the murals above the stage and on the ceiling, the 3,600 seats, the sheer majesty of a true Chicago landmark.

We know you’ve seen it: it’s hard to miss it with the famous vertical “C-H-I-C-A-G-O” sign that stands nearly six stories high.  Less than a mile from Willis Tower, OfficeLinks’ Chicago office location at 175 North State Street, The Chicago Theatre, called “the Wonder Theatre of the World” when it opened in 1921, is one of the last standing movie palaces in the country and is a legendary performance venue.

The Chicago Theatre will offer tours April through September Monday through Thursday at 12 pm and Saturday at 11 am and 12 pm (tours are held year round, but times/days vary).  You are invited to capture beautiful photos of the signature photo spots, see where the biggest names in entertainment have autographed the backstage walls, and enjoy a historic photo display.

Tickets are just $12 per adult, children 12 and under are $10 (and groups of 10 or more are $10 per person).  Purchase tickets by clicking here.

Get to know your Chicago and put yourself where legends stand – on The Chicago Theatre stage!

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently ranked U.S. cities based on the total number of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified buildings present in each city.

According to last month’s report, Chicago ranked first.  Among the buildings that helped boost Chicago to the top of list is Willis Tower, located at 233. S. Wacker Drive, which is home to our Chicago office.

Chicago currently has 223 LEED-certified buildings, far surpassing the next closest markets – Washington, D.C. and New York.  Each of those cities has 146 LEED-certified buildings.  Chicago can’t afford to get complacent.  Both Washington and New York are ramping up development.  Each city has more than 600 buildings in the construction pipeline that have registered for LEED certification.   Right now, Chicago has 516 construction projects underway.

So why does LEED certification and going green matter for prospective office tenants?  First, it can certainly strengthen a business’ corporate image as it demonstrates a commitment to a sustainable workplace with minimal impact on the environment.  Secondly, it also reduces operational costs for a tenant and provides employees with a safer work environment.

Does working in a LEED-certified building matter to you?  Let us know.

1492 Tapas Bar, Berghoff Restaurant, Elate Restaurant, The Village, La Cantina, Vivere, Morton’s, The Steakhouse, N9NE Steakhouse, and Rosebud Theater District are just a few of the restaurants right here in the Loop that are participating.

Participating restaurants may offer Restaurant Week menus for lunch, dinner or both. Check out the list of participating restaurants and book your reservation by clicking here.

This is a great opportunity to discover new dining hot spots and re-visit a few of your favorites.

So, grab a colleague or client for a lunch meeting that won’t break the budget, a friend for a fun dinner, or a loved one for an affordable date night.

*Pricing excludes beverages, tax and tip. Price is subject to change.

Yes. Times are tough and we have to streamline travel costs…But there IS a very positive flip side!

We all know it.  Globalization, the easing of governmental rules and regulations, technological evolution and an increased competitive landscape has torn down geographic barriers to entry – forever.   Whether you are conducing business in your home city, the next state over or across the pond, the fact is nothing truly replaces the power of face time with customers, prospects and team members. Today, business travel is not just an option, it’s a necessity.  And it’s not cheap.  But the forecast isn’t all that dark and gloomy.  OfficeLinks has a client who holds the secret we all want to hear about.  Work with them and they’ll cut costs – and still have you dining at “the” restaurant, flying business class and even taking holidays on a private yacht!

Yes, we said it. It is possible.  Altour Travel, an OfficeLinks client located in our Willis Tower office space location in Chicago, knows that now, more than ever before, companies and individuals alike are seeking help to streamline costs but really don’t want to give up all the pleasures of travel – even if it is for business.  It’s Altour’s job to get people traveling while monitoring expenses, cutting costs and still enabling them to enjoy.  If they can do that for business travel – just imagine what they can do for your personal travel!  Let’s face it – we want to be able to hop on the plane, close our eyes, and reach our destination without fretting about travel details and costs.

Altour has earned a name as an unparalleled expert in business and leisure travel. Consistently recognized by top industry critics as a savvy and sophisticated leader, Altour blends the convenience of modern technology and worldwide networking with old world attention and personal relationships with clients and hotel, car and airline partners.

So what’s their secret? A love for travel, a system to measure travel costs and the inside scoop into exactly where the deals are and how to take advantage of them.   It’s true, the Altour team knows travel. They love travel.  And, they pride themselves in listening to their clients needs and mapping out the ideal travel program that is second to none.   In addition, Altour has created a proprietary system that allows clients to track all spending on travel. Their reports break out costs, allowing clients to see where money was spent and areas for optimization. Top all of this off with the fact that Altour is able to negotiate discounted rates on behalf of their clients – enabling them to save them money. A single word comes to mind: smart. Working with Altour is just plain smart.

Edward Roque, Altour’s East Coast Operations Manager, recently gave me some tips for my personal travel that I thought you might appreciate:

-          Book international travel 14-days in advance (We know, it takes a little spontaneity out of it, but it’ll help you save – and a little planning can’t hurt!)

-          Always have a Saturday night stay (Bet we don’t have to twist your arm on that one!)

-          Look at alternate airports (For example:  Check out Gatwick vs. Heathrow)

-          Utilize low cost carriers (Southwest is an example)

-          Don’t be afraid of Train Travel – its making a comeback!  (Edward swears!)

-          For anyone who is traveling to Europe or abroad for long period of time – you can get longer term tickets really cheap.

-          People get caught up with frequent flyer numbers, so a lot of times people have frequent flyer numbers with every carrier.  Consider picking up one carrier – depending on what city you are from – and staying with that one carrier.   Same thing with hotels and car companies.  Sometimes your airfare might be more expensive but if you calculate your miles you can get a free ticket – it pays off.

-          Air is consolidating – be aware of them because acquisitions consolidate miles.

-          When you travel internationally buy insurance.

And, if you ever have the desire to charter a private, staffed, 19-foot sailboat for a Mediterranean cruise where you can bask in the sun by day and sleep under the stars at night – just ask Ed.  He knows from personal experience how to put that trip together for you!

For more smart travel tips from OfficeLinks’ client Altour Travel, click here.

 The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is a highly-anticipated event drawing people of all ages to the heart of Chicago’s downtown Loop. Musical performances and festive holiday music begin at 4:30 pm and the holiday season officially starts when the switch is flipped and the lights begin to dazzle in Daley Plaza at 5 pm. This festive evening is presented by The City of Chicago and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and is free for all to attend. For more information about the Christmas Tree lighting, click here.

 Also on November 24, 6-8 pm, Jolly Old St. Nick will again spread some holiday cheer on Chicago at the Daley Plaza! Grab the kids and visit Santa’s House on Daley Plaza, where families can experience the wonder of the North Pole and have their picture taken with Santa Claus throughout the holiday season. Don’t forget your personal cameras or Underwriters Laboratories will be offering free photos that can be downloaded.

 Santa’s House will continue to be open throughout the holiday season with special hours on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 11 am – 4 pm and regular visiting hours 11 am – 8 pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 19 beginning on Friday, November 26  (Santa does get a cookies and milk break from 3 – 4 pm).  Special Christmas week hours are December 20-24: 11 am – 4 pm. For more information on Santa’s House, click here.

A sense of optimism in the Chicago office market is emerging thanks in part to some high-profile large deals.  A segment from Chicago Business Today includes an analysis of the market by John Dempsey, SVP, CB Richard Ellis.  

Dempsey appropriately said in the piece that no one is pleased with current office market conditions; however, there are positive trends, which could suggest a robust recovery in Chicago.   

Another sign of progress in Chicago was the net absorption rate for the third quarter was positive – the first time it has been on the upside since late last year.   Top-tier Class A space remains a bright spot in Chicago with vacancy rates below the overall downtown figures.

Based on feedback from our customers at our Willis Tower location, they tell us they are relieved to be operating in a flexible workplace environment, which has enabled them to create a nimble property strategy plan that flexes with their business and has shielded them from the lows of the real estate market.  

Although there are limited choices for large space tenants (100,000 sf) in the downtown market, we would caution all businesses with small space requirements to make sure they have considered all workspace options before signing on the dotted line.