Workplace360 Office Borrows Industrial Cues

OAKLAND, CA—CBRE Group's office at 1111 Broadway is a part of its global Workplace360 initiative, the company's approach to workplace strategy designed to promote flexibility, mobility and productivity through technology-enabled 100% free-address and paperless offices. CBRE has opened approximately 50 Workplace360 offices worldwide and approximately 25 in the United States.

CBRE's Workplace360 initiative provides a flexible way of working and a system of places, technologies and behaviors that allow for choice based on an employee's changing needs throughout the day. Workplace360 offices feature a variety of work settings–a balance of both collaborative and private spaces–from which employees can self-select depending on a particular project. Enhanced technology that supports this mobile way of working is a core element of each of CBRE's Workplace360 offices.

The transit-friendly building is located on the BART line with the City Center station directly below for easy commuting for employees and brokers. CBRE occupies a portion of the 18^th floor with ceilings of exposed ductwork. The office was designed by Gensler, with input from a staff and brokerage committee to create a refined industrial space, including work by local artists.

“We have both a café and a living room in this lobby space,” Trevor Thorpe, managing director, CBRE, tells GlobeSt.com. “In the work zone, we have unassigned sit/stand desks. The lockers along the wall store laptops and other work supplies overnight.”

Beyond the large open work area, there are “huddle rooms” for collaborative groups, offices for a day which are larger spaces for confidential client meetings, wellness/resting room for naps or meditation and corner nooks for solo work. The overall vibe is quiet, with piped in white noise and lowered voices the norm, GlobeSt.com learned on a recent tour.

“Better business performance begins with better workplace performance, and at CBRE, we practice what we preach,” said Cicily Dostalek, program manager for CBRE's Workplace360 initiative, tells GlobeSt.com. “We've built wellness programs in each local office and the majority of the post-occupancy surveys are positive.”

The wellness initiative includes tech-related apps such as a Fitbit challenge/step-counting competition in Los Angeles, a monthly health and well-being program in San Diego, upgrading vending kitchen snack offerings, meditation/mindfulness courses, and lunch and learn topics on healthy living, each varying slightly from office to office.

“The program goes hand in hand with the design and overall mindset,” Dostalek tells GlobeSt.com.