Big Companies Want Creative Space Too. Here's Why.

Creative office space isn't just for startups and entrepreneurs—large corporations have also taken an interest. Come hear why at Bisnow's Boston Creative Office on April 14 at the Revere Hotel.

Among our speakers will be John Hancock Financial Services director-facilities planning Marc Surprenant, who tells us a corporation the size of John Hancock—for which insurance is the best known of a diverse range of financial products—has challenges similar to that of a tech giant like Google.

The company needs to attract and retain the best and brightest talent, so it needs space that helps facilitate attraction and retention, just like a tech giant would.

"A key driver of workplace trends are driven by the tech world, and it behooves us to be current with the types of space and amenities that industry officers," Marc adds. "Not because we're a technology provider, but like them, everything that we do is technology- and collaboration-driven." Space that's conducive to creativity is what the rising generation of talent expects.

Encompass Real Estate Strategy director of intelligence Brendan Carroll tells us that more than anything, office space is becoming more clearly defined and segmented.

"The urban influx trend is driven by those organizations that need to hire a lot of Millennial workers somewhat rapidly, and consider these workers to be core assets," he says. Interestingly, he points out, two of the largest lease deals signed during Q1 were along I-495: Kronos & Mercury Systems.

Cutting-edge office space isn't just for urban core, Brenden tells us. "One interesting place is Waltham. Live/work/play is being built into many of the new assets under development there, and the place is generally becoming far denser with amenities. Over time, it may start to blur the lines between urban and suburban."

Hear more at the Boston Creative Office event at the Revere Hotel, beginning at 7:30am on April 14. Sign up here.