A striking entry, like that at the newly repositioned 125 Summer Street, establishes a neighborhood connection point and maximizes natural light.
Do you remember the last office lobby you visited? Chances are you don’t. Once intended as an area you simply pass through to reach your destination, office lobby design traditionally centered on creating a non-descript polished, professional space focused on purpose and function.
Fast forward to today, where mobile and wireless technology allows us to work from virtually anywhere. Where impromptu and, even, planned meetings can be just as productive in a coffee shop as in a conference room.
Our flexible workstyles have inspired a new approach to office lobby design. Office lobbies are no longer just a place to pass through; savvy building owners are focused on using them to create a sense of place. Taking a page from the hospitality sector, office lobbies are now being designed as a setting to linger, connect, and recharge. With a goal of establishing a unique sense of identity, my team has been focused on designing workplace lobby spaces that are memorable and encourage a welcoming sense of hospitality.
Remember the first time you stepped into the lobby of your boutique hotel while on vacation? That sense of welcome, individuality, and attention to detail can now also be found in workplace lobbies. By utilizing all of an occupant’s senses, through interesting visual cues, textures, and even smells, a lobby can become a destination all on its own.
Particularly in my hometown of Boston, where rising new office construction has created a renewed focus from owners of existing office properties on maintaining a unique sense of identity and modernity, the office lobby can play an powerful role in the value of a property and its respective neighborhood. Especially as tenants view their “office” as extending beyond the walls of their leased space, occupier lease decisions can be impacted by the quality of such shared areas as the lobby, fitness area, and adjacent outdoor areas.