However, the look and feel of office environments is changing.ĭevelopers are investing in projects with physical, mental and emotional wellness in mind. A PwC survey conducted in January 2021 found that 87% of company leaders believe the function of the office is important for team building and collaboration. Elevating the Office ExperienceĬompanies still value central office space where employees can come and bounce ideas off one another and feel connected to the organization’s culture. It emphasizes physical and psychological wellness in the workplace through its physical structure, outdoor amenities and access to natural light. The first phase, under construction now, comprises 50,000 square feet of retail, 292 multifamily units, 3.4 acres of outdoor entertainment and greenspace, and 300,000 square feet of creative spec office.
According to a January 2021 article by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the project will be developed in phases over the next five to seven years.Įcho Street West’s design features sustainability and wellness benefits while appealing to the existing residents of English Avenue and the talent pouring into Atlanta’s Westside from Microsoft, Georgia Tech, Apple, Amazon and Atlanta’s historically black colleges and universities. Lincoln Property Company, the developer behind Echo Street West, saw an opportunity to bet on a neighborhood that has seen years of disinvestment and create a modern, amenitized place that would appeal to tech companies and the surrounding community. Located on the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Connector Trail, the project intersects a fast-rising technology hub with a historically underserved black neighborhood called English Avenue. Designed many months before the pandemic, the $250 million Echo Street West development is a 19-acre mixed-use village under construction on the edge of the growing West Midtown market. One development rising in Atlanta’s Westside has many features that may fit well in the post-COVID office experience. However, the pandemic did change the thinking around the workday and what employees need out of their workspaces to be successful.
On the contrary, 87% of workers say they are ready to return in some capacity, according to a survey conducted by OnePoll in December 2021. To get your creative juices flowing, have a look at our Outdoor Furniture Roundup from NeoCon 2019.In Atlanta, a project connects with nature and the surrounding community.ĬOVID-19 did not kill the office. Providing outdoor places for people to work and relax can create a positive shift in attitude, refresh depleted energy and lower heart rate and blood pressure.Ĭonsider outfitting a patio with furniture and umbrellas, extending your wifi network to those spaces and encourage outdoor meetings. There has been a major effort to “bring the outside in” to the office space, and as spring starts calling us to return to the outdoors, the office can support the call. That connection can reduce stress, enhance our creativity and increase productivity. Alternative work and play zones for employees in the wide-open spaces support connectivity to nature and others.Īt a fundamental level, humans have a biological connection to nature–we have the tendency to seek out connections with other living beings. Have you noticed the days are getting longer? With the bright sunshine and warm weather we’ve been having, customers are beginning to ask about outfitting their outdoor spaces for spring.