How CBRE’s New Toronto West Home Is The Office Of The Future
CBRE's nationwide workplace transformation program continues with the launch of its new Toronto West digs, billed by the firm as one of Canada's most forward-thinking office environments.
That's CBRE president/CEO Mark Renzoni with corporate strategy VP Ashley O’Neill and Toronto West managing director Greg Clark at an event last week to showcase the Toronto West office (at Dream Office REIT's 5935 Airport Rd). It’s the fourth revamped CBRE office to open in the last 18 months as part of its workplace transformation program; Vancouver, Halifax and London, ON, came before. Three more are still to deliver in 2016, Ashley tells us, including Montreal and the two other TO offices: CBRE’s Canadian HQ at 145 King St W and its Toronto North office at 2005 Sheppard Ave E.
CBRE’s Toronto West home—announced by signage atop the building (seen below), a Canadian first for the company—adheres to the WELL building standards for new and existing interiors, a “human-centred” approach to workplace design that focuses on fresh air exchange and exposure to natural light. The office is targeting LEED, too. In a nod to how Millennials roll, the premises is structured to spur connections and interaction, with seven different types of workspaces. There’s also RISE Café, the office focal point and a spot for "serendipitous collisions."
Every employee at CBRE's Toronto West office gets a laptop and cordless headset, and can plug in at any common workstation or meeting space, and hotel work suites are available for visiting staff and clients. A big step up from CBRE’s previous Toronto West space, which was "old and tired, and we were quite silo’d," Greg tells us. "This has much more of a community feel.” Indeed, staff who might not have interacted before are dropping by the café and finding themselves engaged in "organic conversations." That's great for CBRE, says Greg, “because we’re an information-based business.”
The workplace transformation program—executed by CBRE's own service lines, including workplace strategy, transaction advisory, office relocation and project management—“represents the blueprint for our future success,” says Ashley. The firm prides itself on its entrepreneurship, culture and strong relationships with staff and clients, “and this new space reflects that.” Having gone through an office revamp and the pursuit of WELL certification, CBRE’s team is better equipped to advise clients. “We can have honest conversations about challenges, and how we got through them, and that’s powerful.”
