Tech Companies Trek Downtown

Google, Apple, and Amazon have set the trend across the continent. Office tenants will do what it takes to lure talent. (So start thinking of your favorite ice cream flavors before employers ask.) At Bisnow's Creative Office Summit last week, our all-star panel dove into what younger employees find most appealing.

Many young people, in particular, make work choices based on their desire to live in the core. A new Colliers study released this week bears that out—“Silicon Valleys” are slowly moving into the downtown core of major cities in North America. Colliers' Devin Ringham (above) says a main storyline is high-tech companies putting themselves in a position to compete for top talent.

Brightlane prez George Horhota (snapped with Google's Andrea Janus) says the firm's opening a 30k SF space on King St W on Oct. 1, an “aspiring” workplace environment for 300 entrepreneurs. George says for larger companies, it’s more and more about teamwork and open floorplates. For smaller companies, it's always been "live and die in part by flexibility and collaboration,” he says. “And five- to 10-year terms no longer work.” 

IQ Office co-founder Kane Wilmott says creative office is not just for Millennials. “Talent is saying I really value where I go work. Do I want to come and work in that space? ...You want an environment that attracts people.” Konrad Group's Geordie Konrad (pictured, well hydrated, with moderator and Gillam Group prez Marcus Gillam) says particularly for companies that are client-centric, the right space elevates the brand.