SAN DIEGO—CBRE's new space within Westfield UTC provides great access to amenities such as hundreds of world-class retail stores and restaurants, but the perception about access to parking is a big hurdle to get over, VP Carrie Bobb tells GlobeSt.com. As we reported in December 2016, the firm was preparing to relocate its central San Diego office in UTC across the street to Westfield's shopping center, a move that managing director Paul Komadina told us allows clients greater accessibility, more amenities for employees—and more. The move was completed earlier this week, so we spoke with Bobb about the opportunities it affords the firm, how an office environment incorporates into a retail center and the challenges of moving into such a major, well-trafficked site.

Stay tuned as GlobeSt.com gets an exclusive tour of the new offices, but below is a sneak preview:

GlobeSt.com: What are the opportunities of having an office at a retail center—specifically, Westfield UTC?

Bobb: In today's competitive environment of recruitment and retention of key people, there must be an intense focus on employee experience. Great access to amenities is one of the most important elements to experience. With that in mind, CBRE felt there is no better location than within Westfield UTC's 1.3-million-square-foot shopping center with more than 200 world-class retail stores and restaurants. We host many employee and client gatherings, and it is our size and scale that allows us to develop relationships with retailers to curate unique experiences for our people.

Internally, CBRE has developed a full-scale wellness program, and we are fortunate to work with many of the retailers in the mall to bring the wellness program to life. We are working with fitness providers to host workouts and provide regular education opportunities. Additionally, we are partnering with many of the restaurants to develop a healthy menu of dining options for our employees and guests.

The lines between work and life are blurring more than ever, and providing our people superior access to the things they need to do outside of work hours maximizes their productivity. All in a day's time, I can pull into the valet, hand off my dry cleaning, order lunch through our concierge team, get my sunglasses repaired, and have a birthday gift wrapped and put in my car for when I head home for the day. CBRE is investing in its most valuable asset—people; by giving them access to resources to give them more time.

GlobeSt.com: How does an office environment incorporate into to retail center?

Bobb: Office environments can be incorporated into retail environments seamlessly. They are complimentary in many ways. Companies that occupy office space are employing people who need to eat, drink, shop and service their daily needs. It only makes sense to be able to do those things in very close proximity to the workplace. Additionally, the retailers have a significant built-in customer base when office employers are on site. As the real estate world continues to evolve, the intersection of office, retail, residential and hospitality will continue to get closer.

GlobeSt.com: What are the challenges of moving into a major, well-trafficked site like Westfield UTC?

Bobb: Change is difficult, no matter the situation. The single biggest challenge is the perception that access and parking will be difficult. However, if properly thought through, it can become an asset. To handle the parking and access challenge, we have worked with Westfield to develop a parking solution that satisfies our needs. In our case, the solution includes a combination of parking in the garage for those employees who are unlikely to come and go often, while providing full valet privileges for those that are frequently in and out of the office. Additionally, we have full complimentary valet privileges for our guests. This allows us to provide a much higher level of hospitality for our clients and guests.

GlobeSt.com: What about the process of this move has surprised you?

Bobb: We are not just moving to a new office; we are transitioning to a new way of working. Workplace360 is CBRE's internal workplace strategy that focuses on optimizing space based on how our people work. The management team has been communicating about the move to our new Workplace360 office and all it entails for almost two years. The amount of change management including technology training, file purging and digitization has been incredible. Starting close to two years ago has given us ample time to digitize all our files–which frankly makes you more efficient since everyone is so mobile.

Instant Insights /

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