Vacancy rates have now dropped for four straight quarters and the latest numbers are at their lowest level since 2009.   Could this be a true sign of recovery for Chicago?  Possibly as an uptick in demand from large companies who are expanding continue to acquire more space.  Groupon Inc., United Airlines and Ifbyphone, a tech firm, are just some of the big names that are moving offices into Chicago.  A consequence of this real estate rally is that asking rents are increasing as a result of growing demand.

Of all the space options, Class A space at premier addresses in newer buildings, appear to be the most sought after.  Landlords at these locations seem to have the upper hand for now and are starting to get asking rates without concessions.

The CB Richard Ellis report also points out that Class B vacancy rates for downtown Chicago edged up – a sign that the downtown recovery may not be evenly spread across all types of spaces.

Guests enjoy an evening of feasting at the Grande Buffet, where they can feel free to select from a festive array of salads, entrees, side dishes and mouth-watering desserts, and entertainment that varies from solo performances by the serving staff to DJs who are sure to get you up and dancing. 

Upcoming Full Moon Cruises are: Thursday, September 23, 2010, boarding at the Navy Pier, less than 2.5miles from OfficeLinks’ Chicago office space location, at 6:30 pm, cruising 7-10 pm.  Cost is $75.90 per person and Saturday, October 23, 2010, boarding at the Navy Pier, just a couple of miles from OfficeLinks’ Chicago office location, at 7:45 pm, cruising 8:30-11:30 pm.  Cost is $90.90 per person.

For more information about how you can be a part of the fun and festive Spirit Cruise Full Moon Cruise, filled with vibrant dining, dancing, entertainment, and breathtaking views, click here.

Willis Tower

The curtailment period will begin at 12:15 pm and continue through 2 pm. During this time, Willis Tower hopes to reduce power usage by shutting off or lowering non-essential common area and lobby lighting, reducing the temperature of hot water throughout the building and raising the temperature of outside air distributed through the building’s HVAC system. Clients at OfficeLinks Willis Tower location may feel the effects of our reduced electrical usage in the form of a slight degree increase in the temperature in your space, cooler water available from kitchen and restroom faucets and reduced lighting throughout the common areas of the building.

The team at OfficeLinks is delighted to support and applaud Willis Tower in their efforts to curtail energy usage in our building.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Building at 312.875.0066.

Upcoming movies include: 

August 9: The Goodbye Girl

August 16: 12 Angry Men

August 23: Bonnie and Clyde

The gravel area surrounding the Lawn opens at 4:00pm. The Lawn opens at 5:00pm. You can enter the Lawn Area at the 6^th Avenue side of the park (Wheelchair access to the Lawn Area is accessible through ramps at both 40^th and 42^nd Streets).  The film begins at sunset (typically between 8 and 9 pm).

Why not do dinner before the movie in the park? ‘wichcraft is providing picnic pickups on Summer Film Festival nights. All you have to do is:
1. Call or go online to place an advance order (212.780.0577 or wichcraftnyc.com)
2. Pick up at our kiosk when it’s convenient for you.
3. Sit back and relax over a classic film and your ideal summer meal.

This is the perfect way to enjoy summer in the City after working in the OfficeLinks’ Bryant Park and Avenue of the Americas locations. 

For more information about the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival presented by Time Warner Cable , call the Film Festival Hotline at 212-512-5700 or click here.

Some simple items that can be recycled instead of thrown away in the garbage in any office include: printer paper, file folders, envelopes, junk mail, cardboard, newspapers and magazines.   There should also be a place that you can recycle aluminum beverage cans, tin food containers, glass bottles/containers, and plastics.  At Willis Tower, home to OfficeLinks’ Chicago office location, we recycle plastic labeled #1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7.  We encourage you to find out what plastics can be recycled at your location.

Please do your part by participating in your office’s recycling program – and encouraging your co-workers to as well!

And don’t stop there – consider the environment when printing emails and traveling to and from the office.  There any many small things we can do that, together, add up to helping our planet!

OfficeLinks’ Conference Room provided the perfect space to display the artwork that was the topic of the evening.

On July 8, 2010, Grace Carreon, MD, Bhavesh Patel, MD, and Deborah and Glenn Doering hosted “Be Part of the Art,” a fundraising event in OfficeLinks’ office space at Willis Tower in Chicago.  The hosts held their fundraising event in the OfficeLinks’ meeting rooms and Cyber Café that provided a comfortable and impressive backbone for their fundraising efforts. The team at OfficeLinks was absolutely delighted to support their clients’ efforts.

The event was held to raise funds for an art project, initially titled “Facebook Too” between Mrs. Doering and a group of artists, mainly women in South Africa, many whose families have been affected by AIDS.

Fundraising event attendees enjoy a presentation in the comfort of the OfficeLinks Common Space.

You are invited to be a part of the art, too.  Tax-deductible donations may be made by writing a check to “Fractured Atlas” with “Deborah Adams Doering: Contemporary Art” printed in the memo line of the check. Send to: D.A. Doering, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Studio 517, Chicago, IL 60605. Please allow 2-4 weeks for thank you acknowledgement and your official receipt for tax purposes. Or call 847-977-0526 if you have any questions.

On Thursdays, June 17 through October 14, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm, you can find farm fresh produce and baked goods just a quick step from the Skydeck entrance on Jackson Blvd. Other goodies that can be found at the Wills Tower Farmer’s Market include organic and non-organic fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs, cheese, breads, flowers, honey, jam, pies, nuts and plants. Stop in for a delicious kick-start breakfast, healthy power lunch, or to pick up the freshest ingredients for perfect dinner (with dessert!).

For inquiries please contact the Office of the Building at 312.875.2423. For more information regarding other Chicago-land Farmer’s Markets, click here.

Survey results likes these highlighting a boost in worker productivity and satisfaction when workers have more autonomy over how, where and when they work, is leading companies to implement strategic technology solutions empowering employees to work in a more mobile and efficient way.

We all know the continuum of people working outside of conventional corporate boundaries will only rise in the future – shifting the focus from fixed office space needs to technology needs. Most experts agree the number of professionals working in a virtual environment could constitute 40 percent of the workforce within a few short years. As workers access information through different devices and need to collaborate and share content with colleagues across time zones, companies need to ensure they have a technology platform, which allows workers to be connected – professionally and socially.

New technology is fundamentally redefining work. Businesses that align their technology strategy to these new work styles will improve their overall performance while providing an ideal virtual work environment for their employees.