Real Estate Quarterly
Premium content from Denver Business Journal by Jim Chrisman, Special to the Business Journal
Google’s Mountain View, Calif., campus offers all the amenities one might expect: gourmet cafeterias, plenty of open areas and workspaces meant to inspire creativity. What you may not know about are its swimming pools, extensive day-care facilities, onsite laundry services and even a replica of SpaceShipOne.
Similarly, Facebook’s corridors are covered in chalkboards, murals and vending machines that offer computer cables rather than snacks. Now the company is taking its headquarters one step further, hiring legendary architect Frank Gehry to give its space a complete overhaul.
Office space just isn’t what it used to be. Why this change? Much of it can be attributed to the work climate. In many companies, the traditional 9-to-5 workday and cubicle culture have been replaced by open schedules and open floor plans.
As the economy rebounds and companies regain their bearings, employers are finding it’s more important than ever to attract and retain a qualified workforce. What’s more appealing then a dynamic office environment?
As work and life intersect, employers are adjusting to better accommodate employees’ needs and to position themselves to attract the best and brightest talent.
