The shape of offices of the future may change as twentysomething Generation X workers increasingly exert their influence on the workplace.
“Offices aren’t set up to satisfy X-ers, who are used to being catered to, and won’t accept the homogeneity that today’s CEOs want to dish out,” said Jeff Reuschel, industrial design manager at Haworth Inc., an office furniture manufacturer in Holland, Mich.
Speaking at a seminar on office trends at the NeoCon World’s Trade Fair 95 held last week in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, Reuschel described the steady regimentation of office workers, starting with the first office building, the Uffizi (now an art museum) in Florence, Italy, in 1560.
Patterns for today’s offices were set in the mid-19th Century when office work was simplified and standardized.
“Desks were lined up in rows, as they still are today, so workers could be constantly scrutinized,” he said.
The introduction of elevators in the early 20th Century meant that hundreds of workers could be stacked vertically, and systems for heating and air conditioning removed workers from the sight and sounds of the outside world, he noted.
“Uniformity in offices, business suits and ties, clean-desk policies-these are supposed to promote efficiency, but do they?
“The elite members in a corporation try to maintain what got them to the top. But there is no evidence that such perks as large, corner offices help the bottom line.”
He noted that operating costs “are 92 percent related to people, and only 8 percent to buildings, so it’s better to look at people. You don’t get the bang for the buck with buildings.”
Today’s pagers, portable fax machines, cell phones and laptop computers mean workers can take the office home with them.
“Now we’re supposd to work every minute,” Reuschel said. “This appears to be progress, but what are the effects on us? Many things are being done faster today, but nothing is being done better.”
His solution to office problems?
“Offices should be spaces that workers can construct themselves. Offices should be a reason to bring people together in one place, a watering hole for the survival of the corporation. Characteristics of the workplace should include qualities found in parks, cafes, and libraries.”
Ravinia building sold
A private investment group has purchased the 15,000-square-foot office building at 1575 Oakwood, Highland Park, from Ravinia Festival, according to Colliers, Bennett & Kahnweiler Inc. and Combined Real Estate Inc.
The one- and two-story structure has housed the Ravinia Festival administrative offices for the last 10 years. The property became available following a $15 million renovation of the 36-acre Ravinia Festival grounds. As part of the renovation, new offices were developed for the administrative staff, which relocated last month.
Other features of the renovation included redeveloping the main gate, adding new entrances, creating a new Pavilion stage shell with better acoustics, updating stage lighting and sound system, and refurbishing and expanding the Pavilion seating.
Auction in the Loop
A vintage 16-story office building in the Loop will go on the auction block at 7:30 p.m. July 13 in the O’Hare Marriott, 8535 W. Higgins Rd. Located on the northwest corner of Wells and Van Buren Streets, the 68-year-old Class C building has 118,000 square feet of space.
Currently 50 percent occupied, the structure is being auctioned on behalf of the original mortgage holders by Chicago-based Sheldon Good & Co.
New spec buildings
Industrial Developments International (IDI) has broken ground for two speculative buildings in Bolingbrook. One is a 325,600-square-foot warehouse/distribution facility at the 160-acre Corporate Crossing. Scheduled for completion in November, it will be the third spec building IDI has developed in the park. It is located on a 14-acre site.
The other IDI structure under construction in Bolingbrook is a 150,000-square-foot facility suited for office, warehouse, and light manufacturing at Woodcreek Business Park. Circuit City Stores Inc. has leased 36,400 square feet in the building for use as a regional warranty repair facility. Located on 11 acres, the Woodcreek building is scheduled for completion in August.
Other new plants
– The FCL/Stava Group Inc. has been selected as design/builder for Engineered Fastener Co.’s new 25,425-square-foot office/warehouse at Covington Corporate Center in Blomingdale. Engineered Fastener Co. is a distributor of specialty industrial fasteners. The architect is Heitman Architects of Itasca. Completion is expected near Labor Day.
– Ground has been broken for a 66,700-square-foot build-to-suit industrial building just north of the Illinois-Wisconsin border in Pleasant Prairie, Wis., for Wispark Corp. Elk Grove Village-based MTI Construction Services Inc. is the project’s design/build general contractor.
Located east of Interstate Highway 94 in the Lakeview Corporate Park, the single-story building will feature a glass and stained precast exterior. It will be built on a 6.3-acre site. Wispark was represented by Bennett & Kahnweiler.
– NAPCO Graphics Corp., a custom label manufacturing company, has retained Missner-Lirtzman Co. as the design and building contractor for a new 40,000-square-foot headquarters in Bloomingdale.
Currently based in Glendale Heights, NAPCO plans to move into the new facility in November. The plant is situated on a three-acre site and includes 10,000 square feet of office space. Eckenhoff, Saunders is the architect. Hiffman, Shaffer Associates represented NAPCO.
Sales and leases
– Trans World Airlines has signed a 36,842-square-foot lease at 225 N. Michigan Ave., according to the Prudential Realty Group. The St. Louis-based airline occupies the 17th floor of the 25-story building for its regional reservations office.
– A 25,000-square-foot speculative addition to Leslie Oaks Business Center in Elgin is 100 percent preleased, according to CB Commercial Real Estate Group. The complex will total 151,500 square feet when the fifth building is completed this summer.
Signing 12,500-square-foot leases for space in the new single-story building were American Racing Equipment Inc., a California manufacturer of custom automotive accessories, which plans to expand and relocate its regional administrative office from Schaumburg; and American Isuzu Inc., which will relocate its technical center from Elk Grove Village.
– Charles Industries, an electronics company specializing in telecommunications, has purchased the 82,220-square-foot industrial building at 3200 Squibb Dr., Rolling Meadows, according to Paine/Wetzel Associates Inc.
The one-story manufacturing and distribution facility has 17,276 square feet of office space, 22-foot ceilings, and seven interior truck docks. Situated on a 10-acre parcel, it has property sufficient for a 90,000-square-foot expansion. The asking price was $4.5 million.
– Universal Coach Parts Inc. has leased 80,000 square feet at 55 E. Howard St., Des Plaines, from the owner of the industrial facility, Juno Lighting. Baird & Warner represented Juno Lighting and Grubb & Ellis represented Universal Coach Parts.
Baird & Warner Commercial also arranged a short-term lease for Juno Lighting at 10545 Waveland, Franklin Park. Juno Lighting’s headquarters is at 2001 S. Mt. Prospect Rd., Des Plaines.
– Platinum Technology Inc. has leased 85,000 square feet of office space at Corporetum Office Campus, 850-950 Warrenville Rd., Lisle, according to Stein & Co.
The addition of the new space expands the headquarters of the high-tech software developer and marketer to 350,000 feet.
