The number of coworking/shared office spaces is on the rise as businesses of all sizes move away from the traditional office model. All of this has coincided with a shift in when, where and how people work. One of the more established office providers in Chicago is Amata Office Solutions, which opened its first center more than a decade ago.
“We opened in 2002 in Chicago, said Ron Bockstahler, CEO of Amata Office Solutions. “Things have changed in the last three to four years—faster than the last 10 years all together. We saw this trend come on about 5 years ago when people started talking about coworking office space, and the whole open office concept. Then they realized they did not work because of noise and not being able to get away.”
Amata has taken a more contrarian view on the open-office model in that they think fully open floor plans – used in approximately 70% of offices, according to the International Management Facility Association – are an example of the pendulum swinging too far.
“Now I think the pendulum is swinging both ways,” Bockstahler noted. “We’ve gravitated toward spaces that offer a mix of private and collaborative work spaces. A model that we call “coworking 2.0.”. We just remodeled a center where it’s a 65/35 mix. Sixty-five percent private office, like team rooms made for four to six people. Then it’s thirty-five percent lounges, café’s, huddle rooms, and things like that.”
This ability to collaborate and network with other professionals without sacrificing privacy has been well received by Amata’s clients. The company’s newest center at 150 S. Wacker, which opened in May, is nearly 80 percent leased, and the company recently completed renovations at its original center at 225 W. Washington.
“150 South Wacker was our first attempt to see if the new concept worked, and it filled up in six months,” he said. “So we knew that the place was great. We continue to go to our clients for feedback, find out who they are, and if they’re changing for example. We found that our clientele list isn’t changing, but they do want to meet their neighbors, and they want more of a social aspect to what they are doing.”
Although Bockstahler noted that their clientele isn’t changing— attorneys, consultants, etc.—Amata is seeing new clientele coming in like writers.
“For example, the Tribune doesn’t have a huge staff anymore,” Bockstahler noted. “They have a bunch of people they’re hiring on a job by job basis. So that’s a new part of our clientele. We need more people like that because they want to be in a professional environment for a period of time, for a low cost, and then be able to meet other people in a social aspect. So we’re seeing more of that, and I think it’ll continue, as it’s a great thing for our industry.”
“I remember when I first started I was a client of a center,” he added. “The thing was back then that you didn’t want anybody to know you were in that environment. Whereas today that’s totally different.”
Another aspect to Amata’s 2.0 concept, according to Bockstahler, came from the hospitality industry.
“The whole thing is that when people come into a center, they want access to a lot of amenities, and they want to be treated like guests,” he said. “So customer service is a huge focus now. When 10 to 15 years ago in real estate, it wasn’t even thought about. That’s changing now because people expect to have someone that treats them well, and offer an environment where they feel special.”
Bockstahler also pointed out that in his line of business, they’re dealing with five generations of clientele.
“We read a lot about the millennials, the new wave, and everything that’s going on with them,” said Bockstahler. “But we’re still dealing with baby boomers. So how do you satisfy someone that’s 52 years old, and someone that’s 24 years old? Then the in-between generations as well? You have to find a mix that’s cool for everyone. Then you’ll see someone that’s 52, working with someone else who’s 24—thinking it’s cool to see what each other is working on—and they combine and be more effective together.”
In 2015, Bockstahler noted that the industry will see more than what’s taking place now. “You’re not going to see people opening up with wide open space. You’re going to see people identifying where the clients are coming from. For example, are my clients coming from Chicago or the suburbs? You’ll also see more micro centers stepping up, and opening up within those areas.”
