Most Firms Use Some Degree of Workplace Strategy

AUSTIN, TX—Targeting companies with 15 to 300 employees that may have never enlisted the help of a workplace consultant, Spacer is a free product that applies workplace trends to office layouts via a user-friendly interface and a gamified experience. It recommends customized office workspace specifications designed to help organizations enhance company culture, drive productivity and creativity, and attract and retain the best talent. CBRE Group Inc. recently launched Spacer to assist companies in achieving workplace objectives.

“Most large companies are now utilizing some degree of workplace strategy in their real estate process, designing their space with a data-driven understanding of how they work and what their employees care about. Smaller companies are also looking to create a workplace environment that attracts talent and engages employees in meaningful ways, but often without access to the resources larger organizations are using,” said Damla Gerhart, senior managing director and Americas lead for CBRE’s workplace practice. “Spacer is an accessible technology that allows companies of all sizes to think about how to integrate new ways of working into their office space in formats that make sense for them.”

Spacer delivers a custom architect-ready space program with square footage recommendations for every desk, office and collaboration space. In addition, the planner adds built-in amenities that matter to a company’s workforce, such as wellness rooms and community areas for eating and socializing.

“The right office space can help you hire competitive talent, keep your employees happy and healthy, reduce operating costs, and create the perfect conditions for innovation. Each of your organizational priorities should have a direct impact on the structure and layout of your workspace. We created Spacer to help more companies make informed decisions about their workplace environment,” said John Stephens, product lead, CBRE workplace.

Users answer a series of 17 profiler questions, designed to identify the company’s unique characteristics, priorities and office environment goals. Recommended results can be modified and visualized in 2D and 3D using CBRE’s proprietary Floored Plans technology, and then saved and shared with colleagues.

“Real estate-based technology is really applying science to an industry that has historically been reliant on the art,” Tim Donohue, senior associate with CBRE, tells GlobeSt.com. “For forward-thinking producers to practice this and infuse it into their daily practice and vernacular is creating great advantages to clients and a competitive advantage for brokers at CBRE. The overall thought among both colleagues and clients is that Spacer is a unique technology in the sense that it blends together both quantitative needs and qualitative thoughts. This in turn produces thoughtful space analytics, which allows us as brokers to be more agile in meeting client needs.”