Dear Office,
Here are a few things you should know.
You are valued.
You might not see where you fit in right now; the real estate market has been rocky since the pandemic, and I’m sure you’re wondering what the future holds. Whatever that may be, we want you to know how much we appreciate you. You are always there when we need you – not only just on Tuesdays through Thursdays, but every other day of the week. And when we do come in, we know the lights will turn on, we will be comfortable, the equipment will be working, and the coffee will flow. Our work patterns and attendance have varied as we’ve navigated this post-pandemic era, and we recognize now more than ever that the office has the power to unite us, and for that, we are grateful.
You are beautiful.
We are proud to call you home! Like the Seagram’s Building in New York, you are a San Francisco designated landmark as one of the first International Style buildings to be built in the US and the first significant structure erected in downtown San Francisco following the Great Depression. With your interior renovation almost complete, you will be the envy of many for years to come. But, as lovely as you are, beauty isn’t everything.
You are functional, flexible, and resilient.
We all work in different ways, at different times, with varying numbers of people. We require mentoring, privacy, openness, feedback, input, and quiet thinking time. We adhere to schedules, but we also value spontaneity and the need to respond and innovate quickly. You are being asked to support all these aspects! You accommodate us by offering a variety of work settings across different activity zones and by providing us with tools, devices, equipment, and peripherals. Your technology ensures ubiquitous connections through pervasive Wi-Fi and offers a seamless, intuitive user experience.
You are sustainable.
When we realized we needed more from you, we faced a choice. Opting to stay rather than move significantly advanced our goal of supporting environmental sustainability. Subsequently, we encountered additional choices aimed at improving our environmental impact. This included implementing energy-efficient HVAC systems, effective daylighting, reduced lighting power density, and installing daylight/occupancy sensors, all contribute to reduced energy consumption. Water conservation measures, such as efficient low-flow fixtures, successfully reduce water use, and our goal is to minimize the amount of construction waste sent to landfills during the buildout process.
You are accessible.
In a great location, you can be reached by mass transit while also featuring an attendant serviced parking garage. You offer secure bike storage with a micro servicing center as well as shower and locker rooms to facilitate the transition from workout to work. The city is bouncing back – numerous options for coffee, lunch and dinner are within steps of your front door.
Beyond meeting ADA requirements, you have also been designed to accommodate our diverse neurodivergent population. By delineating hypo- and hyper-sensitive zones, you allow our people to work within a range of space types that meet their sensory needs. And because we all never seem to be working in the same place, you cater to our hybrid model with accessible technologies seamlessly integrated to ensure equitable experiences for all, regardless of where we work.
Change is hard.
We are in changing times – change is inevitable and essential to fuel growth within our organization and attract essential talent. As we continue to evolve in our ways of working, we appreciate your adaptability and support. You serve as a versatile tool to address our evolving needs, offering flexibility for ongoing development and growth.
You are an anchor.
A symbol of security, solidity, and meaningful ties, you are something that can be relied upon for support, stability, and security. You enable us to stay connected in tangible ways, keep us grounded in place.
You are us.
As colleagues, we are bound by a common location. You serve as the physical manifestation of our culture of collaboration and teamwork, offering us a range of spaces to work, think, meet, problem-solve, co-create, and socialize. While we could accomplish much of what we do without you, we recognize that our end results are vastly improved because you are there, providing an environment where we can form relationships, share our knowledge with one another, make personal and professional connections, and devise solutions to complex problems. Always ready, willing, and equipped to make our jobs and lives easier.
With much appreciation,
Your Team at HOK San Francisco
