2023 Insight Special Issue

Letter from the Editor

As the landscape of commercial real estate continues to shift, CRE Insight Journal remains committed to addressing the pressing issues and emerging opportunities within the industry.

This special issue of CRE Insight Journal tackles some of the most important topics the industry faces. From the evolving needs of tenants to the development of inclusivity programs, this issue is a go-to resource for property professionals to learn and grow.

Creating an inclusive workplace is important for every CRE team, and developing support and resources in this area is critical to success. On page 16, you will learn how to develop inclusivity programs, their benefits, and their role in creating a stronger, more resilient future for CRE.

It is also important for real estate leaders to understand and appreciate generational differences in their teams. An article on page 20 explores one of the leadership competencies that is critical to success for today’s leaders: generational fluency. This competency is critical in bridging communication gaps, fostering understanding, and enhancing collaboration within multi-generational teams.

Strong partnerships with vendors and suppliers are also integral to effectively and efficiently operating and managing properties and enhancing tenant experiences. Building a strong relationship with these partners can lead to incredible results. The article on page 28 explores how to develop and enhance these types of relationships.

Developing strong partnerships with vendors is only one piece of creating a great tenant experience. Therefore, the article on page 12 includes practical insights into cultivating partnerships between tenants, the importance of tenant care, and how tenant expectations have evolved in recent years.

Today, many corporate tenants have environmental sustainability goals in mind when looking for a new office. Sustainability and efficiency remain important aspects of operational excellence in CRE, and our featured article, Developing Sustainable Excellence, found on page 24, delves into the programs and technologies that properties at the forefront of sustainability are using to achieve incredible results.

In this issue, you will also see a showcase of the 2022 CRE Insight Journal Award winners, honoring outstanding programs, properties, and collaboration. These award-winners illustrate the power of innovation, collaboration, sustainability, and excellence within our industry.

The www.creinsightjournal.com platform continues to expand, providing on-demand access to diverse resources, including free educational guides, articles, videos, and webinars. Be sure to check the website often for new resources and opportunities to add value to the people and properties you serve.

We also encourage you to stay connected with CRE Insight Journal with a complimentary subscription to our weekly email newsletter.

The speed of change is rapid, yet the team at CRE Insight Journal remains focused on our mission to identify, address, and provide resources that meet the evolving needs of the real estate industry.

We are delighted to share this year’s special issue with you and remain dedicated to being a valuable resource for property professionals. We look forward to exploring the wealth of new insights that lie ahead together.

Stay insightful.

Gabriel Eckert, FASAE, CAE CRE Insight Journal Editor-in-Chief

of Commercial Real Estate Insight Journal. He also serves as CEO of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Georgia and BOMA Georgia Foundation. He is a certified Association Executive; Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives; and has been named by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the Top 100 Who’s Who in Commercial Real Estate, a list of “leaders, deal makers, and legends who are changing Atlanta.”

Gabriel Eckert, FASAE, CAE, is editorin-chief

CRE Insight Journal presents: ENERGY STAR® Month 2023

Fall is fast approaching, which means that ENERGY STAR Month is almost here! This October, visit www.CREInsightJournal.com to find out what ENERGY STAR® can do for you.

CRE Insight Journal is proud to promote and encourage the ENERGY STAR ideals. ENERGY STAR is a program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and it is one of the most important and impactful tools for building managers and owners. ENERGY STAR Benchmarking is the primary program used for building energy consumption benchmarking.

Last year, CRE Insight Journal did deep dives into daylighting, the ENERGY STAR mindset, EV Chargers, how savings from high efficiency technologies can be reinvested, the impact of the ENERGY STAR program on CRE, and much more!

This October, CRE Insight Journal will release articles and videos each week covering a wide range of ENERGY STAR topics, such as benchmarking, changes in ENERGY STAR, emerging tech, and much more! These videos and articles will aid and refresh commercial real estate professionals on the ENERGY STAR programs.

ENERGY STAR is an important tool in working against climate change, improving building operational efficiency and operational cost savings. This October, CRE Insight Journal is proud to work with ENERGY STAR to promote cost efficient design, improving air quality, and protecting public health.

Come learn what ENERGY STAR will do for you!

Can’t wait till October? Scan this QR code to access the last year’s ENERGY STAR Month conent now!

2022 ENERGY STAR® Content Guide

The 2022 ENERGY STAR Content Guide features articles on the impact, adoption, and cost of EV chargers in CRE, the importance of sustainability in commercial real estate, how you can snowball operational savings into properties, CRE acronyms and terms, and more.

The Commercial Real Estate Insight Journal is published for:

CRE Insight Journal 5901 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, NE Suite C-300 Atlanta, GA 30328 (404) 475-9980 www.creinsightjournal.com

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Editor-in-Chief: Gabriel Eckert, FASAE, CAE

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT COMMITTEE

Chair Stephanie S. Scurlock, MCR

Vice-Chari Neschune Henry, RPA, LEED AP

Scott Baker

Karla Baldini

Crystal Baptiste

Laure D. Biel

Brittany Bobbitt, CMCP

Brittni Clark

Morgan Cohen

Bryana Dickerson

Laura Faenza

Melody R. Frcek, RPA

Ryan R. Gardiner

Jennifer Genant

Mike Ghinga

Candace Hight

Elizabeth Helvin

Brandon Hilton

Kinsey R. Hinkson, RPA, BOMI-HP

Renee D. Johnston

Marie Kastens, RPA,CCIM

Shell Marie Kirk

Mark J. Lo Castro

Cliff McAllister

Katie McCombs

Hal Moore

Lori Mullee

Joseph W. Murphy

Connor Spruell

© CRE Insight Journal 2023

CRE Insight Journal Award Winners

The CRE Insight Journal Awards celebrates excellence in commercial real estate companies and buildings. Real estate companies may apply to be recognized for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Buildings may apply to be recognized for Excellence in Tenant Care; Excellence in Environmental Sustainability; and/or Excellence in Collaborative Service.

The CRE Insight Journal Awards celebrate its second year, and competition has remained strong. Entries from around the country are anonymously scored by a panel of CRE experts in each respective category. These scores are then shared with and tallied by the CRE Insight Journal awards committee, who then alert the winners of their victory.

Winners are then interviewed by CRE Insight Journal staff, and their incredible insights are recorded and shared at www.creinsightjournal.com/awards. In this special issue of CRE Insight Journal, award winners of each category share how their properties, programs, collaborations, and teams achieved this incredible recognition.

Last year, the inaugural winners, Scott Weiland, PE, SE, Evan Moore, PE, SE, Palisades Office Park, 100 City View, Zeller, and Rubbermaid Commercial Products and Core Property Capitol were honored for excellence in thought leadership, sustainability, tenant care, DEI, and collaborative service respectively.

The CRE Insight Journal Award winners selected this year have made significant contributions to the real estate industry. They have advanced inclusivity in the industry. They have attained industry leading energy savings through highly innovative technologies and programs. They have executed novel tenant care and community building programs. Finally, they have made significant contributions as real estate industry thought leaders.

CRE Insight Journal honors these innovators, leaders, and teams through the 2022 CRE Insight Journal Awards. Learn more about these award recipients, and how you can apply for 2023 with the QR code below.

Todd Mitchell, CCIM, RPA Excellence in Thought Leadership CRE Insight Journal Awards

Todd also participated in the October 2022 Lessons in Leadership discussion panel and served as moderator for the program. Some of his remarks were released in January of 2023 as the Lessons in Leadership: Todd Mitchell article on CRE Insight Journal.

CAREER EXCELLENCE

Todd has held numerous senior leadership positions throughout his career in overseeing multi-million-dollar Commercial Facility Operations. His impactful and results-oriented leadership has enabled him to build and lead teams to drive growth, increase revenue, and maximize profitability for organizations.

Todd earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Risk Management and Insurance from Georgia State University and started at Carter and Associates in 1987. Todd then became a senior property manager with Wells Real Estate in 2006 where he eventually was promoted to vice president and general manager of Atlanta Operations. In 2016, he became Director of Operations, National Property Management with Columbia Property Trust.

Todd Mitchell, CCIM, RPA, received the 2022 Thought Leadership Award from CRE Insight Journal. A 20-plus-year veteran of the commercial real estate industry, Todd is an expert in implementing efficiencies across portfolios, developing topproducing teams, and driving operational excellence across the real estate sector.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Todd has collaborated with CRE Insight Journal numerous times, including writing articles on The Importance of Being Informed on CRE Advocacy and How to Build Trust as a New Presence in a Community. He has also contributed significantly to CRE Insight Journal video content related to the importance of advocacy and community building, including leading development of a video on the Steps to Acclimating within a New Market.

Additionally, during 2022, Todd was interviewed for the “It Takes a Village” series on the community impact of commercial real estate, where he spoke on creating buy-in for a new asset in the community, the impact a property and the property team can make, investing in the future, and more.

In 2020, Todd was brought on as the director of property management for Bridge Commercial Real Estate, where he led in areas of strategic planning, facility operation, real estate transactions, and construction projects.

Through his incredible tenure, Todd oversaw and executed facility/tenant management for 10.5 million square feet of real estate spread throughout Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, and Washington governing $50M in capital expenditures, strategic planning, operations, real estate transactions, and end-to-end construction projects leading to a reduction in carbon emissions.

Todd has also received numerous industry awards, including the 2017 BOMA Southern Region Member of the Year Award, 2016 Columbia Champion Award, 2014 PACE Award, 2014 Clean Air Campaign: Perimeter Shuttle Award, and 2011 BOMA-Atlanta Committee Chair of the Year Award for his service as Government Affairs Committee Chair. For his continued thought leadership and excellence in the commercial real estate industry, Todd Mitchell, CCIM, RPA, has received the 2022 Thought Leadership Award from CRE Insight Journal.

See more of Todd Mitchell’s incredible work on CREInsightJournal.com

Physicians Realty Trust Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

CRE Insight Journal Awards

DOC’s core values are centered around the acronym C.A.R.E. (Collaborate and Communicate, Act with Integrity, Respect the Relationship, and Execute Consistently). These values have been instrumental in further developing and enhancing DOC’s DEI initiatives and have impacted each member of the DOC family.

Strategies implemented by the company have included enhanced career development support for employees; ensuring equitable compensation and benefits; and intentionally creating an inclusive culture.

IMPACTING COMMUNITIES

Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE: DOC) received the 2022 Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award from CRE Insight Journal. The award recognizes a real estate company that has displayed excellence in fostering DEI within its organization. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Physicians Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust founded in 2013. It manages approximately 290 properties across 36 states and has invested in DEI through its DEI Council.

BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP

Physicians Realty Trust’s DEI Council was created in 2019 and is responsible for setting diversity, equity, and inclusion goals for the company; developing educational programs planning activities to promote DEI; and cultivating a culture of fairness and respect for all members of the company. The council is comprised of diverse members of the company, including individuals ranging from junior team members to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.

Physicians Realty Trust also developed three sub-committees for its DEI Council focused on the themes of Attract, Include, and Support. Attract prioritizes strategies for attracting and retaining top talent through a diverse and inclusive workforce. Include fosters the intentional inclusion of diverse voices and backgrounds at all company meetings and events while sharing the unique stories and experiences of the team members. Support emphasizes education and awareness of DEI themes.

Physicians Realty Trust’s DEI efforts began with attracting and retaining top talent to build a diverse and inclusive workforce. The company’s DEI Council has also worked closely with their human resources team to develop a roadmap to recruit, retain, and support underrepresented populations.

Another key DEI initiative is the Supplier Diversity program. Through Physicians Realty Trust’s national portfolio, the company took the opportunity to lead with its values and partner with diverse businesses through its capital purchasing around the country.

Physicians Realty Trust also created a contract and supplier diversity manager position in 2021 and published three-year program goals for diversifying suppliers. Through the Supplier Diversity Program, the company plans to generate economic opportunities and create a positive impact within the communities it serves.

In further support of the communities Physicians Realty Trust serves, the company also committed financial resources to create a more diverse workforce pipeline within the health care real estate industry. In 2022, the company partnered with NAIOP Wisconsin and Marquette University to support the MKE CRE Summer Program.

Through top-down investments in DEI, national support in diversifying contractor pools, development of a diverse workforce pipeline, the creation and maintenance of an internal DEI network for educational content and events, and working to elevate opportunities for underrepresented groups within commercial real estate, Physicians Realty Trust has received the 2022 Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award from CRE Insight Journal.

Learn more about Phsyicians Realty Trust’s AwardWinning initiatives on CREInsightJournal.com

NCR Global Headquarters Excellence in Environmental sustainability

CRE Insight Journal Awards

Outside of their incredible conservation efforts, has been highly awarded for their efforts, achieving a 2022 ENERGY STAR Score of 93, a BOMA 360 certification in October 2022, LEED Platinum in Core and Shell in 2018, and LEED Platinum in Commercial Interiors in 2020.

The property was the first LEED platinum in Core & Shell in Georgia, and the first double platinum in the Southeast. It has also received the BOMA Georgia The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Award for a Corporate Facility in 2022, the 2022 BOMA Southern Region TOBY Award for Corporate Facility, and the Most Intelligent Building Award in 2018 from the Intelligent Buildings Conference.

RECYCLING PROJECTS

NCR Global Headquarters, managed by Cousins Properties, received the 2022 Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Award from CRE Insight Journal. The award recognizes a building or building complex that has undertaken significant environmental sustainability efforts and/or has achieved long-term success in environmental sustainability.

NCR Global Headquarters, located at Spring and 8th Street in Atlanta, Georgia, is a 765,000-square-foot property that serves as NCR’s corporate headquarters. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) develops, owns, and manages a portfolio of more than 20-million square feet across Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, Tampa, and Phoenix.

A CULTURE OF CONSERVATION

NCR Global Headquarters implemented several successful sustainability measures, such as introducing aggressive recycling and composting programs, using green-friendly products, and educating staff on energy conservation and sustainability. Preventative maintenance programs are in place to monitor the efficiency of equipment and building systems. As a result, the building has been able to reduce energy consumption by 40 percent compared to traditional buildings.

The building’s HVAC system also plays a crucial role in conserving energy, with the Dedicated Outside Air Supply supplying more than 25,000 cubic feet per minute of conditioned outside air and reducing the use of larger air handling units. Additionally, over 400 solar panels installed above the parking deck can produce 120kVA AC power to the bus duct, allowing the building to reduce its reliance on fossil fuel-generated power. The building generated 164.22 MWh in 2022.

By using reclaimed water to conserve water usage, the property has reduced 85 percent of potable water usage by collecting reclaimed water from rainwater; rooftop air handling units’ condensation; and nuisance groundwater. The management team has also created a highly successful glass recycling program, which has recycled approximately 600 pounds of glass since October of 2022.

Cousins Properties also partnered with food provider partners at NCR Global Headquarters for composting efforts, diverting more than 4,000 pounds of food waste from landfills with back of house composting. The building also participated in fluorescent light bulb recycling, recycling 422 lamps in 2022.

The management team has engaged tenants to help them better understand their impact on environmental sustainability, hosting an annual Earth Day event to provide practical tips and eco-friendly products such as LED bulbs, succulent plants, wildflower seeds, and microfiber cloths.

Through its dedication to energy efficiency, effective recycling initiatives, green cleaning programs, and strong tenant engagement and education, NCR Global Headquarters, managed by Cousins Properties, has received the 2022 Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Award from CRE Insight Journal.

Learn more about NCR Global Headquarters’s Award-Winning programs on CREInsightJournal.com

Cushman & Wakefield and Structural Restoration Solutions Excellence in Collborative Service

CRE Insight Journal Awards

Over the course of the repairs, the SRS team removed and replaced thousands of square feet of concrete, formed and poured 36 double tee stem enlargements, and installed 40 new drop panels and 230 linear feet of vehicular guardrail. They also performed joint sealant work and installed new expansion joints and a traffic coating membrane.

This $1,000,000-plus project presented challenges due to the deck’s location in the heart of Atlanta’s Buckhead submarket. The most significant challenges were noise issues and logistical phasing, as extensive work had to be performed over the high traffic ticket booth at the main entrance of the deck. SRS overcame these challenges by building custom overhead protection on both sides of the ticket booth, ensuring no interruption to traffic flow and no lost revenue from the parking deck.

Cushman & Wakefield and Structural Restoration Solutions received the 2022 Excellence in Collaborative Service Award from CRE Insight Journal. The award recognizes an exemplary partnership between a real estate product or service provider and a single property or real estate management company. Building management teams and product/service providers often collaborate to improve operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, tenant care, and more. The award recognizes excellence found in this type of collaboration.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Cushman & Wakefield is one of the largest commercial real estate services firms in the world, with approximately 52,000 employees in over 400 offices and approximately 60 countries. Founded in 1917, Cushman & Wakefield offers clients core services including property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, and valuation expertise and other services.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Structural Restoration Solutions (formerly Everclear Enterprises), is a specialty and architectural contracting company offering numerous services for building envelopes, parking structures, and numerous other commercial, manufacturing, and industrial facilities. Originally founded in 1993, Structural Restoration Solutions has earned a reputation for successful collaborations across all types of structures including office buildings, parking structures, stadiums, medical offices, industrial facilities throughout the southeast.

PARKING DECK REHABILITATION

The parking deck at 3379 Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia required prompt mitigative repairs, including spalled concrete and structural repairs.

COLLABORATIVE RESULTS

The results achieved from the collaboration were extensive. Critical components of the parking deck structure were properly repaired and new structural concrete was formed and poured to provide strength for the vehicular guardrail system, as well as providing additional support for the cast-in-place section of the parking deck.

Communication was key to the success of the project, with weekly meetings and project updates between Cushman & Wakefield and SRS proving vital to keeping all parties on the same page. Project updates were emailed weekly to inform all parties involved of completed work; the schedule for the following week; and a two-week look-ahead schedule.

This project at 3379 Peachtree Street highlighted the importance of communication, showing that open and regular communication is essential to manage expectations and produce a quality project.

Through their regular communication, flexibility in addressing and overcoming unique challenges, thoughtful solutions to keep revenue streams open, and impressive collaboration, Cushman & Wakefield and Structural Restoration Solutions have received the 2022 Excellence in Collaborative Service Award from CRE Insight Journal.

Learn more about this Award-Winning collaboration on CREInsightJournal.com

Tech Square Excellence in Tenant Care CRE Insight Journal Awards

Next, Collaborative Real Estate developed a strong brand for the numerous tenants to rally around, the Tech Square ATL Social Club. This community was built to foster growth and innovation through the collaboration of individuals and companies within a curated environment. The Tech Square ATL Social Club provided a strong platform for event marketing and development, and it helped foster connections between tenants through their interaction in this exclusive digital space.

PROGRAM IMPACT

Tech Square, managed by Collaborative Real Estate, received the 2022 Excellence in Tenant Care Award from CRE Insight Journal. The award recognizes a building for excellence in tenant care, including health and wellbeing, communications, tenant engagement, and/or other activities that express care for building tenants.

Tech Square is a multi-block property located in Midtown, Atlanta and serves more than 100 startups, five startup accelerators, 25 corporate innovation centers, seven venture funds, 10 research labs, 10 Top 10 engineering programs, one Top 10 MBA program, and more than 2,100 Georgia Tech students.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Collaborative Real Estate manages numerous properties on college campuses throughout the United States, with properties in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida.

TENANT CARE

Collaborative Real Estate’s tenant care programs at Tech Square focused on four aspects: researching their tenants, defining the community, training the team, and implementing programing to increase engagement and ignite connections.

First, Collaborative Real Estate conducted research via their Community Collaboration Assessment. Through qualitative and quantitative research, they discovered Tech Square houses a community with broad expertise and interests.

Tenants were highly curious and wanted opportunities to not only connect with others in their respective fields and disciplines, but also meet other tenants and learn about their work, successes, and challenges.

The initiative’s results were significant, with the company reaffirming its commitment to a human-centric philosophy of property management. Collaborative Real Estate’s tenant care initiative demonstrated the importance of intentional programming in fostering connections and building community. And the company’s efforts have resulted in a thriving community of tenants who increasingly collaborate and innovate.

Joulea, a software platform startup in Centergy One, one of the buildings in Tech Square, utilizes drones for autonomous building inspections, but had run into issues with permitting within the City of Atlanta. Through its tenant collaboration programs, Collaborative Real Estate introduced the founder of Joulea to the CEO of TCPoly, another building tenant who utilized drones for inspection of their building efficiency technologies.

This collaboration between tenants and Collaborative continued to grow, with more local community members being brought in to discuss building efficiency. Joulea, TCPoly, Entek (an HVAC, building automation, and energy services company), and Collaborative met to discuss increasing building efficiencies by identifying and solving inefficiencies through a combination of high-tech problem solving, automation, HVAC innovation, and cutting-edge manufacturing.

Through its innovative tenant engagement platforms, data-driven tenant programs, impressive staff education initiatives, qualitative and quantitative research development, and incredible partnership building between tenants, Tech Square, managed by Collaborative Real Estate, has received the 2022 Excellence in Tenant Care Award from CRE Insight Journal.

Learn more about Tech Squares’ Award-Winning tenant care programs on CREInsightJournal.com

A New Paradigm in Tenant Care

By: David Tyndall | Collaborative Real Estate

The value proposition of office real estate has been transformed. No longer simply an address where employees are summoned to attend, the viable office of the future is a place that delivers experiences to its occupants, uniquely available at a certain location.

One of the chief aspects of that experience is the opportunity to collaborate with others in a manner unavailable from remote locations.

It’s one thing, though, to stake the claim that you embody a collaborative culture and a building that supports such a mission. However, to genuinely exhibit collaboration is a different matter entirely.

On one hand, there exist workplaces that appear to publicize their efforts in driving collaboration by ostentatiously revamping their spaces to incorporate what they deem to be assets “essential” to creating such an environment, such as open-floor concepts, game rooms, and collaboration rooms and lobbies.

But, in actuality, these are merely amenities that are pleasant to have, but do not visibly produce anything concrete. Meanwhile, there are antiquated employers who appear to actively resist transforming their spaces into the richly interactive environments that contemporary workplace culture requires.

Despite being on opposite ends of the spectrum, both approaches neglect the critical ingredient: the recognition and understanding that collaboration does not spontaneously occur. One must be purposeful in their endeavors and programming to enable collaboration to flourish.

Collaborative Real Estate believes buildings set the stage for collaboration and collision, but actual collaboration and connecting people requires intentional programming.

Connecting People

Our dedication to community building through collaboration initiatives focuses on the creative use of common spaces – both indoor and outdoor – that each property has available and utilizes multi-channel communications to connect entities, and more importantly, to connect people.

This novel service, especially in our industry, is fundamentally critical for cross-pollination to occur and economic growth to flourish – especially for our research and University-anchored properties, which include Tech Square ATL in Atlanta, GA, 250 E Ponce in Decatur, GA, and Bridgeside in Pittsburgh, PA – to name a few.

Inside our buildings reside a plethora of unique tenants, including entrepreneurs, corporate innovators, academic researchers, professors, students, scientists, and leaders.

And with access to such individuals typically restricted, we aim to capitalize on our ability to get to know our communities better in order to facilitate serendipitous collisions and foster new connections.

In essence, we want to expand beyond the physical brick and mortar and hone in on what matters most – the people inside – by focusing on the following goals:

• Uncover expressed and latent needs of the community

• Instill an increased focus on bringing the community together

• Formulate a data-driven collaboration plan curated to the community’s interests to build culture, increase engagement, and ignite connections

• Showcase each property as the “epicenter” of community activation and illustrate the economic impact

Ultimately, we set out to create space and opportunity for connections to be made that fuel collaboration. And this is done with a refined and researched four-part approach:

Researching our tenants

To best understand our tenants, we first conduct research via our Community Collaboration Assessment (CCA). The research itself is organized around our proprietary four Elements of Community and seven core Vehicles of Collaboration that harmonize those underlying elements.

Our spectrum of progressive research methods collect various forms of data to develop a robust understanding of the community’s current state, aspirations, and potential.

The idea is that the research would inform how to best implement a future culture and collaboration program strategy. Our aim is to not only to create a sense of citizenship within the community, but to also inspire innovation, enhance knowledge, and motivate and sustain progress – all while maintaining our traditional property management duties.

Through the qualitative and quantitative research conducted, we uncover many insights and findings. We have learned our buildings house a community of broad expertise and interests and are full of multidimensional people.

Our tenants are highly curious and want opportunities to not only connect with others in their respective fields and disciplines, but to also meet other tenants and learn about their work, successes, and failures.

Defining our communities

Since a strong brand engages and aligns employees and gives them something to rally around, we also create distinct names and messaging around each property, all with the same intent of cultivating a community that connects individuals and companies seeking productive collaborations to a curated environment designed to foster growth and innovation.

In order to further promote such curiosity, inspiration, discovery, and interdisciplinary exploration, we showcase to our tenants that we are centered around cultivating connections and offer continuous support by providing them with exclusive access to a shared workspace, community events, custom programming, and so much more.

From there, our community comes to be known as one filled with builders, creators, thinkers, collaborators, innovators, problem solvers, storytellers, and futurists who venerate curiosity, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of perfection.

Training our team

With an offering as unique as ours, training our property managers is a critical and necessary component. So, we have created a certification for our staff that focuses on the art and science of community collaboration.

The curriculum is built around the psychology of community, placemaking, and belonging – and the importance of data collection and analysis in building collaboration programs that create qualitative and quantitative results for people, companies, and owners.

Our interactive training curriculum is steeped in principles of innovation and crafted as a professional development experience. We equip our team members with the tools they need to create meaningful connections within the community through creative problem solving, impactful communications, and tactical experience design.

Implementing programming to increase engagement and ignite connections

Once properly trained, our team sets out to deliver a spectrum of thoughtful and innovative activation services aimed at breaking down natural barriers to interaction.

Our bespoke events are curated experiences thoughtfully designed to create unique conditions that strengthen the culture of our community. They foster more than a feeling of fellowship, they also serve as a catalyst for pushing the envelope, expanding horizons, and nurturing growth.

Every event is themed in some regard and based on community data, offering a different experience and outcome to participants.

They are strategically organized and executed in a way to collect further information and insight into our community members, and to also encourage collaboration and connections that otherwise wouldn’t be feasible.

Learn more about how Tech Square brought tenants together to discuss the transition from academia to industry.

Designed to gather data and test hypotheses, these interactions are intentionally observed in order to share insights gleaned from each activation. Not only does the data we collect help uncover expressed and latent needs of our community members, but it also helps depict what type of future engagements we implement.

And our devotion to human-centric property management has not led us to abandon the fundamental principles of this discipline; rather, it has enabled us to subjugate these rudimentary functions, freeing up resources for our property managers to deliver greater value to our tenants.

Our Tenant Care efforts have served as a testament to this philosophy, as we have demonstrated a mastery of delivering exceptional service to our tenants while simultaneously leveraging cutting-edge technology to optimize our operational efficiency.

Learn more about how Tech Square tenants built relationships through a meeting on drone permiting in Atlanta.

This has become increasingly apparent as the value of connections forged within our buildings becomes more evident, offering access to opportunities that would not have been available otherwise and facilitating organic interactions.

As for the future, our culture and programming remain in a perpetual state of evolution and iteration. Our tireless efforts to better understand the tenants that we serve have yielded fruitful results, allowing us to tailor our events and connections to their unique and specific needs with utmost thoughtfulness.

Our daily pursuit of a collaborative, curious, and connected culture serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, and we pledge to continue our quest for innovation and progress in the years to come.

About the Author

In fact, our established presence as premier property managers has led to many success stories from our activation services. Aside from the candid feedback and gleaming reviews we consistently receive, we also have witnessed first-hand the fruits of our labor.

Whether it’s introducing startups in a similar industry to help make drone permitting a possibility, connecting an organization dedicated to innovative therapies for neurological disorders with a company creating unique systems to help patients overcome disease-related hurdles, or virtually linking researchers and professors in Atlanta with those in Pittsburgh to discuss the transition from academia to industry, we have created numerous unique opportunities for new connections to form and flourish, with many having continued partnerships and programming – long after initial introductions were made.

Learn more about how Tech Square tenants collaborate to help patients overcome disease-related hurdles

David Tyndall is the Founder and CEO of Collaborative Real Estate, a full-service real estate firm specializing in innovation districts and university-anchored real estate. Working for over 40 years in real estate and development, moving from construction field engineer to company owner, David has learned firsthand what it takes to produce and maintain quality buildings.

The benefits of an onsite shared space with a thriving community epicenter are unmistakable, as tenants stand to gain from the collective expertise of their peers and capitalize on shared interests across diverse entities.

Catalyzing Collaboration

More importantly, we have come to recognize that catalyzing collaboration goes beyond mundane tasks such as changing air filters and collecting rents. It is an art that must be consciously and deliberately cultivated and instilled in our property managers on a daily basis.

We have observed that activation services specifically tailored to a particular community not only evokes a sense of membership, ignites innovation, and fosters enhanced collaboration, but it also drives economic growth and facilitates cross-pollination of ideas.

As CEO, David maintains daily involvement in all of Collaborative Real Estate’s property management, leasing, and development services. His specific experience in building and managing universitybased research and commercialization facilities –including 20+ years of managing (and officing daily in) the Technology Square area of Midtown Atlanta, combined with his past experience as a real estate attorney, venture investor, and commercial contractor to give David unique insight into the needs of technology-related developers, landlords, property managers, and tenants.

David has spent the last decade crafting very specialized management and operational techniques that Collaborative uses to ensure the continuous delivery of the engagement and collaboration value owners, tenants, and visitors are looking for – even long after the hardhats and cranes are gone.

CRE Insight Journal Guides

Commercial Real Estate Insight Journal several special guides each year. These digital publications feature insight from industry leaders through articles and video content. Guides are regularly posted to help CRE professionals navigate the ever-changing landscape of commercial real estate. These guides are all available for free at www.creinsightjournal.com/publications/

The tenant experience has always been at the center of commercial real estate and property management. Over the past few years, the tenant experience has changed significantly. The Tenant Experience Guide explores different questions and challenges real estate professionals may be facing.

The Commercial Real Estate Landscaping Guide from CRE Insight Journal is a resource for commercial real estate professionals as they consider the design and implementation of indoor and outdoor green spaces for the future of the real estate industry.

This Proptech and Cybersecurity Guide from CRE Insight Journal curates a special collection of articles, videos, webinars, and other resources that equip industry professionals with the knowledge and resources needed to effectively lead their organizations and properties into the future.

2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Project Excellence Award Winner

Building Inclusive Pathways in Commercial Real Estate

By: Leann Mester | Physicians Realty Trust

At Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE: DOC), embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a core pillar of the value creation we bring to our stakeholders, team members, and communities we serve.

We see this value creation through DEI as a type of return that takes many forms, including more resilient business operations, improved environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes, and increased societal well-being. We embody these efforts in our Invest in better® mission, which drives our nationwide team to greater heights every day.

We feel that DEI is instrumental in fostering innovation and problem-solving by incorporating diverse perspectives and experiences. Internally, DEI enhances talent acquisition and retention, attracting top talent while increasing team engagement and belonging. Ultimately, a fair, inclusive, and thriving workplace that values DEI contributes to financial success and taps into our team members’ full potential while working toward a more equitable society.

DEI Council Mission Statement

DOC’s DEI Journey

Our formal DEI journey began in 2019 when our President and CEO, John Thomas, initiated the establishment of our DEI Council. Our work started by acknowledging the significance of DEI, defining what it means to our team, and establishing a robust DEI program to foster a culture of fairness, respect, and opportunity for all members of the DOC team and our partners.

The primary objectives of our DEI Council include setting ambitious goals, developing educational platforms, creating a commercial real estate (CRE) leadership talent pipeline, planning activities to promote DEI at all levels of the organization, and cultivating a culture of inclusivity.

The Council has a diverse membership, including representatives from junior team members to executive leadership. This diversity of age and responsibility levels facilitates the creation of shared perspectives and ensures representation from various backgrounds.

Bytakingintentionalstepstoincludepeoplewithvariedvoices,ideasand perspectives,weaimtocreategreatersharedvalueforouremployees, shareholders,customers,suppliers,andthecommunitiesweserve.

A Roadmap for Developing DEI Programming

Developing an authentic and successful DEI platform requires time, intention, and sensitivity. Here are some ideas to consider when building a program in your workplace:

1. It Starts with Leadership: One of the reasons that our DEI programming has been so successful is that we have the support of our leadership team. By securing executive sponsorship of DEI, we have a voice in leadership discussions and ensure that our goals are supported by action. A great place to start building your case for DEI is the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion website (linked at the end of this article), which provides a pledge statement to create buy-in, activities, and resources through peer-led committees.

2. Form a DEI Council: Activate your most important resource—your team. Ensure intentional representation across as many diversity dimensions as possible, including departments, ages, experience levels, race, beliefs, backgrounds, and gender. Engaging a member of senior leadership as an executive sponsor also boosts visibility and buy-in.

3. Create Your “Why” as a Team: Establish a shared mission and vision for DEI within your organization. By creating a mission statement and a compelling “why” that resonates with your team, you cultivate a united purpose that guides success. For example, our shared vision at DOC is to create a safe space for open, honest, thoughtful, and respectful conversations. By offering memorable, meaningful opportunities for engagement, we advance our goals and create true belonging for our team members.

4. Establish Working Groups: Create specialized sub-councils focused on specific aspects of DEI, such as talent attraction, inclusion, and education. This step empowers team members to drive lasting change in the areas in which they are most passionate. At DOC, we established three sub-councils that act as the working groups for the larger body: Attract, Include, and Support, each focused on a specific aspect of DEI.

• Our Attract group concentrates on strategies for attracting and retaining top talent through a diverse and inclusive workforce.

• The Include group prioritizes the intentional inclusion of diverse voices and backgrounds, fostering an environment that celebrates differences.

• The Support group emphasizes education and awareness of DEI themes, ensuring that all team members have access to opportunities for personal growth.

5. Set Goals and Measure Success: Annually, our subcouncils decide on initiatives based on Council members’ passion projects and team feedback from an anonymous engagement and belonging survey. This work ensures the Council’s alignment with team interests, promotes meaningful educational experiences, and establishes a baseline for DEI sentiment.

6. Transparency is Key: Foster a hyper-focus on transparency at every step of your journey to ensure that DEI programming feels like a collaborative effort toward shared goals. Consider creating an intranet hub to share Council meeting notes, action items, member contact information, and educational articles. Openly communicate progress and challenges.

7. Reporting and Measuring Outcomes: Regularly present DEI reports to senior leadership, any Board committees, and your full Board, if applicable. This level of visibility encourages engagement, accountability, and the fulfillment of DEI goals.

Highlighted Impacts of our DEI Initiatives

In 2022, DOC’s commitment to DEI led to significant outcomes by focusing on collaboration, communication, integrity, and relationship-building.

For example, the Attract sub-council conducted a comprehensive benefits review, resulting in the implementation of a wellness reimbursement program and an onboarding buddy program to support a sense of belonging. They also focused on increasing diversity in our pipeline through our summer internship program.

One of the Attract sub-council’s signature efforts is the Milwaukee-based MKE CRE week-long summer real estate immersion program for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds.

By providing scholarships to a diverse group of students, offering mentorship, and working to organize this program alongside NAIOP Wisconsin and Marquette University, DOC actively contributes to creating opportunities for underrepresented individuals to explore and thrive in the real estate sector.

The Include sub-council emphasized the intentional inclusion of diverse voices and backgrounds at DOC. They fueled content for a company-wide online intranet forum as a transparent space to communicate DEI initiatives, encourage feedback, and share personal stories. The forum’s team spotlight section facilitated understanding and created a sense of belonging by highlighting our team members’ individual and cultural experiences.

In the realm of supply chain management, DOC remains committed to supporting diverse-owned businesses and building stronger communities. Recognizing the value of a diverse supply chain, we actively seek partnerships with minority-, women-, veteran-, LGBTQIA-, disabled-, and historically underutilized-owned businesses.

To track our progress, we hired a Contract & Supplier Diversity Manager and began monitoring the number of diverse vendors used and spending with these suppliers. We have also implemented an outreach process to invite new and existing diverse vendors to bid on capital projects. Additionally, we collaborate with suppliers to track and monitor sustainability policies, aiming for enhanced decision-making and portfoliowide reporting. Working with certified diverse vendors and suppliers promotes innovation and contributes to economic growth.

The Support sub-council prioritized education and awareness of DEI themes. They organized various programming, including all-team lunch and learn sessions, informal “Coffee Talk” discussions, and women in leadership discussions with a Board of Trustees member serving as our guest speaker. These initiatives provided opportunities for personal growth and encouraged open and safe conversations around DEI topics.

Finally, as a full Council, and in response to team feedback, we worked to offer wraparound tools for mental health and wellness through more than eight hours of mental health programming.

These efforts included the introduction of app-based resources to help foster mental health and wellness; a new paid time off day for mental health; and resources surrounding observances of World Mental Health Day, Mental Health Awareness Month, and Stress Awareness Month.

DEI in the Commercial Real Estate Industry

DEI has the power to be a transformative force within the CRE industry, but it takes time and intention to be truly impactful. Implementing effective DEI strategies involves leadership commitment, establishing a diverse Council membership, creating a shared vision, setting goals, fostering transparency, and measuring outcomes.

At DOC, we recognize that our journey towards a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive company and CRE sector is ongoing. We strive to lead by example, drive positive change in the CRE industry, and work collaboratively to build a pipeline for CRE diversity. By remaining committed to our shared DEI vision, we believe we can make a meaningful difference and positively impact our team, clients, and the communities we serve.

About the Author

Trust (NYSE: DOC) in 2016, leading the company’s internal and external marketing strategy and execution.

Mester manages multi-channel marketing efforts to drive client engagement and business development for the company’s health care real estate portfolio, spanning 290 properties and over 16 million square feet in gross leasable area as of 2022. In addition, she has been instrumental in leading the company’s rebranding and its award-winning corporate sustainability platform.

Since 2022, Mester has chaired the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, which received national recognition for excellence in 2022. She is a proud resident of Milwaukee’s vibrant Historic Third Ward and serves on the neighborhood association’s executive committee.

Leann Mester has over 15 years of marketing, communications, sustainability, and management experience. After spending 10 years in nonprofit fund development, marketing, and communications, she joined Milwaukee-headquartered Physicians Realty

Scan the QR code below to access the CEO Action for Diversity website and begin developing your DEI programs.

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Generational Fluency in the Workplace

Generational fluency is a transformative skill in the modern workspace, a melting pot of distinctive generational cohorts. It’s an understanding and proficiency in communicating across different generations, appreciating their unique attributes, values, and communication styles.

This enriched perspective is the key to driving inclusivity, cohesion, and productivity in the workplace. This article delves deeper into the concept of generational fluency, the distinctive characteristics of various generations, and its criticality in the workforce, concluding with the profound impact that robust generational fluency can have on teamwork.

Generational Fluency: An Overview

Generational fluency is the art of grasping and skillfully engaging in cross-generational communication. It encompasses the appreciation of each generation’s unique traits, values, and communication preferences. Companies that master generational fluency cultivate an inclusive, cohesive, and high-performing work environment.

Understanding these differences fosters effective communication, reduces misunderstandings, and enhances collaboration, leading to a more cohesive and productive work environment.

Deciphering Generational Differences

Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)

Baby Boomers are often perceived as competitive and work-centric, striving for positions, perks, and prestige. They value face-to-face communication and personal interaction. This generation is defined by their strong work ethic, often prioritizing work over personal life.

They are known for their loyalty, interpersonal skills, and adherence to traditional corporate structures. Despite generally being less comfortable with digital tools compared to younger generations, they bring invaluable experience and wisdom to the table.

Generation X (Born 1965-1980)

The bridge between the digital immigrants and digital natives, Generation X is often perceived as independent, resourceful, and adaptable. They generally have a balanced approach to work and personal life, often valuing job security and work-life balance.

Members of Generation X are generally adept at both in-person and digital communication, flexibly navigating between the two. Their value systems are often characterized by pragmatism, self-reliance, and an appreciation for diversity in the workplace.

Millennials (Born 1981-1996)

Millennials, or Generation Y, are generally technology aficionados who value collaboration, flexibility, and feedback. They often prefer digital communication and generally thrive in less hierarchical structures.

They generally place a high value on work-life balance, often seeking work that aligns with their personal values and goals. They are often times known for their social consciousness, ambition, and desire for continuous learning.

Generation Z (Born 1997 and later)

The latest entrants to the corporate world, Generation Z, are true digital natives. They generally value authenticity, diversity, and creativity, and prefer swift, visual-based communication.

Members of Generation Z are generally more comfortable with remote and flexible working arrangements, valuing a healthy work-life integration. They are often known for their entrepreneurial spirit, global mindset, and a high degree of digital literacy.

The Heart of a Harmonious Workplace

Generational fluency is pivotal in enhancing communication within a multigenerational workforce. It promotes clarity and minimizes misunderstandings, ensuring that messages are effectively received and understood. By understanding each generation’s communication style, businesses can foster a culture of openness and trust, which is the bedrock of any successful organization.

Generational fluency also plays a vital role in nurturing a culture of respect and understanding. By acknowledging the unique experiences and viewpoints of each generation, organizations can create an environment that encourages idea-sharing and collaboration. This appreciation of diversity reduces conflict and fosters a harmonious work atmosphere.

When employees feel respected and understood, they are more likely to be engaged and loyal. Generational fluency therefore directly impacts talent retention and employee satisfaction.

By ensuring that the unique needs and values of each generation are recognized and addressed, companies can boost morale and motivation, leading to higher retention rates and a more committed workforce.

A critical benefit of generational fluency is the enhancement of innovation and problem-solving capacities. Each generation brings a unique perspective to the table, which can lead to creative solutions and fresh ideas. By leveraging the strengths and insights of each generation, businesses can drive innovation, better navigate challenges, and excel in their respective industries.

The Power of Generational Fluency in Team Dynamics

A team with strong generational fluency can harness the potential of each member, irrespective of their age or generational identity to greatly improve collaboration. It facilitates a more inclusive and cohesive team dynamic, promoting efficient collaboration.

Understanding and appreciating the distinct communication style of each generation can create a seamless information flow and improved decision-making within the team. Teams that comprehend and value the unique traits and contributions of their colleagues are more likely to foster a culture of mutual respect.

This respect translates into a positive work environment, which is a cornerstone for high-performing teams. Mutual respect drives engagement, motivation, and productivity among team members, leading to better overall performance.

Teams that have developed generational fluency are better equipped to adapt to change. They can effectively leverage both digital proficiency and value and integrate team members’ experience and wisdom to navigate new situations and challenges. This flexibility is invaluable in today’s rapidly changing business environment, where adaptability is a critical success factor.

Robust generational fluency within a team can serve as a catalyst for innovation. The blend of different perspectives, ideas, and experiences sparks creativity and innovative thinking. When these diverse insights are synergized, it can lead to ground-breaking solutions and strategies that would not have emerged in a more homogenous group.

Different generations approach problems from different angles. A team with strong generational fluency can combine these varied approaches to problem-solving, leading to more effective and well-rounded solutions.

Generational Fluency in the workplace

Navigating the multigenerational landscape of today’s workforce is not without challenges. One of the most common issues is the stereotyping of different generations, which can lead to biases and misunderstandings.

Overcoming this requires concerted efforts to foster open dialogue, encourage empathy, and to recognize one another as individuals. Regular team-building activities and workshops can be instrumental in this process, as they provide opportunities for employees of different generations to interact, learn from each other, and break down preconceived notions.

Another challenge lies in balancing the diverse needs and expectations of each generation. Many times, this is seen in how different generations may view management styles, work structures, and policies. This requires managers to strive to understand more clearly individual needs and expectations and think critically about building an inclusive organizational culture.

Looking towards the future, the importance of generational fluency is only set to increase. With the advent of Generation Alpha, the children of Millennials, the workforce will soon welcome another generation. This will necessitate even greater levels of understanding, adaptability, and collaboration.

Embracing Generational Fluency

To foster generational fluency, here are a few practical tips. First, ensure that your communication is inclusive. This means tailoring your message to accommodate the preferences of different generations.

Second, cultivate a culture of mutual respect and understanding. Encourage employees to share their experiences and perspectives and celebrate the unique strengths and contributions of each individual.

Finally, be flexible and adaptable. Recognize that one size doesn’t fit all and strive to create an environment that caters to the diverse needs and expectations of your workforce.

By embracing these strategies, businesses can overcome the challenges of generational diversity and harness its many benefits.

The Evolving Workforce

As we move into the future, generational fluency will become an increasingly crucial skill, shaping the way we work and driving success in an ever-evolving global marketplace.

By comprehending and valuing the unique characteristics and communication styles of each generation, organizations can cultivate a more inclusive and productive work environment.

Teams with a high degree of generational fluency can reap the benefits of improved collaboration, mutual respect, increased flexibility, enhanced innovation, and superior problem-solving capabilities. Thus, the development of generational fluency is a strategic priority for organizations seeking to unlock the full potential of their diverse workforce.

The evolving workforce will undoubtedly enrich the pool of ideas and skills, fostering innovation and creative problemsolving. Yet, it will also necessitate greater effort in ensuring effective communication and mutual understanding, given the widened range of generational differences.

ENERGY STAR NextGenTM

Empowering a clean energy future

ENERGY STAR and the EPA have announced an upcoming certification for commercial real estate properties. ENERGY STAR NextGen represents the next step for properties wishing to show their dedication to sustainability, efficiency, and net-zero greenhouse gase emissions. This new program is slate for release in 2024. Here is a sneak peak at this new program.

“ENERGY STAR NextGen certification will represent America’s most energy-efficient low-carbon commercial buildings,” stated Lauren Hodges, EPA Communications Director in a January webinar announcing the ENERGY STAR NextGenTM Certification.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a new certification called the ENERGY STAR NextGenTM certification. This certification mirrors the ENERGY STAR certification in a few ways, and the this new certification will be tracked through Portfolio Manager.

Why was NetGen Developed?

The Biden administration has set a goal of net-zero emissions economy wide by 2050, and buildings play a big part of energy use. Buildings used approximately 6.8 quadrillion BTUs of energy and spent $141 billion on energy costs in 2018 (2018 CBECS), and these numbers were trending up as buildings continue to increase in size.

To this end, the EPA has proposed the ENERGY STAR NextGen certification, which will act as a step up from ENERGY STAR certifications and incorporate other factors in decarbonization and emission reduction. NextGen certifications will exist for every property type eligible for ENERGY STAR certification, and the commercial segment of this new certification is expected to go live in late 2023 or early 2024.

ENERGY STAR NextGenTM is meant to increase efficiency, grow national renewable energy capacity, and transition from fossil fuels to electricity while achieving net-zero emissions economy wide by 2050. There are three proposed categories of this certification: efficiency, renewable energy use, and electrification. Each category has requirements that set a standard of excellence for buildings, with a strong focus on the future.

EFFICIENCY

Studies have consistently shown that inefficiencies in building systems snowballs into wasted energy, greater emissions, higher costs, and increased strain on energy grids. One of the goals for the EPA’s ENERGY STAR NextGenTM certification is to ensure energy efficiency. To meet the requirement for the efficiency standard, properties must be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification and achieve an ENERGY STAR score of at least 75.

Want

ENERGY STAR certifications recognize building efficiency, and ENERGY STAR portfolio manager is a widely used tool for tracking energy use. Currently, ENERGY STAR NextGenTM recognition will only apply to ENERGY STAR eligible property types, but this will expand as the EPA expands scores and certifications for other property types.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

To meet the requirement for the “renewable energy” standard, buildings must use at least 30-percent renewable energy meaning at least 30-percent of the energy a building uses must be from a renewable energy source. This can include “onsite renewable electricity, offsite green power procurement, renewable fuels, and/or renewable thermal certificates.”

Note that the 30-percent required from renewable energy cannot be from renewable components of standard grid electricity, and this requirement is expected to increase over time.

To track renewable energy use, the EPA will expand energy tracking features in Portfolio Manager to include tracking for renewable energy credits (REC), other renewable energy products, and inform users if they meet the 30-percent threshold.

ELECTRIFICATION AND EMISSIONS

To meet the “electrification/emissions” category, a building must be 100-percent electric and have a specific greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGi). Each building will have a specific GHGi target based on Heating Degree Days (HDD).

By using a building’s HDD, the EPA is normalizing each building’s target because GHGi is different based on heating needs. According to the EPA, they “found that for each property type, median GHGi per HDD is relatively consistent across climate zones” and can be applied broadly.

This section will also be tracked through an expansion of Portfolio Manager to show NextGen Direct GHGi Target and GHGi Factor.

learn more about this new certification?

Developing Sustainable Excellence

By: Ashley Simien, CPM, BOMI-HP, and Blair Powell | Cousins Properties

Integrating sustainability into commercial real estate (CRE) has become imperative for property managers, owners, and operators. With tenants emphasizing net-zero policies and needing to lower operational costs, sustainability has become a fundamental consideration for both tenants and managers.

NCR Global Headquarters (NCR GHQ), managed by Cousins Properties, stands as a shining example of successfully implementing sustainability programs and technologies.

Through our efforts, we have achieved environmental benefits, realized significant cost savings, and garnered prestigious recognition. We invite you to join us as we shed light on how similar sustainability programs can be established at other properties. By embracing sustainability practices and fostering collaborative relationships, we can create thriving properties that benefit both the environment and the bottom line. Let us explore the possibilities and unlock the potential of sustainable CRE together.

Building a Vision

Our approach to sustainability is holistic, covering energy conservation, water conservation, water reclamation, recycling, and tenant engagement. Our journey began with a commitment to creating a conservation culture by encouraging staff and tenants to participate actively in sustainability efforts.

We firmly believe that everyone has a role in reducing environmental impact. Sustainability efforts benefit the environment and contribute to lower operational costs and improved tenant satisfaction, making it a win-win for both property managers and tenants.

Our program’s centerpiece is conservation, achieved through deploying innovative technologies and rigorous monitoring of equipment and building systems efficiency. Our efforts have resulted in a 40-percent reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional buildings through a combination of technologies and a robust preventative maintenance program, a testament to the power of deliberate, targeted action.

From the outset, we prioritized the integration of energy-efficient technologies such as a Dedicated Outside Air Supply (DOAS) system, minimizing the need for larger air handling units by providing conditioned outside air.

We have also installed over 400 solar panels, generating 120kVA AC power, reducing reliance on fossil fuel-generated power and producing 164.22 MWh in 2022 alone, which is 10% of the building’s energy needs.

Our energy-efficient air-cooled chillers utilize advanced compressor technology and variable speed drives to optimize energy efficiency. By drawing in ambient air and cooling it using refrigerant, the chillers eliminate the need for a separate cooling tower and water circulation system, reducing water consumption and maintenance costs.

Additionally, air-cooled chillers offer improved reliability and ease of maintenance compared to traditional water-cooled systems, requiring fewer components and mitigating water quality and treatment issues.

We also prioritize water management. Our state-of-the-art reclaimed water system converts wastewater into a valuable resource for irrigation and non-potable uses, reducing reliance on freshwater sources and minimizing our environmental impact.

Additionally, we implement advanced groundwater management practices, including responsible pumping and active monitoring, to preserve local groundwater resources. These initiatives reflect our commitment to sustainable water usage and a greener future for our community, tenants, and owners.

The building features water-efficient landscaping, carefully chosen to minimize water usage while maintaining an attractive outdoor environment. Native and drought-tolerant plant species are incorporated to reduce the need for excessive watering, promoting biodiversity and supporting the local ecosystem. Moreover, incorporating smart irrigation systems takes water conservation to the next level.

These advanced systems utilize cutting-edge sensors and realtime weather data to adapt watering schedules and quantities dynamically. By leveraging this technology, the landscape receives precisely the water required, eliminating wasteful overwatering and fostering optimal plant growth.

This intelligent irrigation approach minimizes water usage and promotes healthier and more resilient plant life, contributing to the property’s overall sustainability and aesthetic appeal.

Inside the building, water-saving measures continue with the installation of low-flow faucets and toilets in the bathrooms. These fixtures are designed to significantly reduce water consumption without compromising performance. Low-flow faucets use aerators to mix air with the water flow, creating a satisfying stream while using less water.

Likewise, low-flow toilets utilize innovative flushing mechanisms that effectively remove waste while consuming less water per flush. These water-saving features exemplify a commitment to responsible resource management and set an example for sustainable practices in commercial real estate.

Sustainable Technologies

Implementing sustainable technologies is central to any successful sustainability program. These technologies span various categories, including energy, water, waste, etc. In addition to energyefficient systems, water conservation is a core focus. Our water reclamation program, which collects rainwater, condensation from rooftop air handling units, and nuisance groundwater, has decreased potable water usage by 85 percent.

Emerging technologies offer exciting opportunities for further enhancing sustainability. For instance, Building Automation Systems (BAS) paired with Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) can drastically reduce HVAC costs. At the same time, the Internet of Things (IoT) can provide real-time data on building operations, facilitating more precise and proactive management and maintenance.

Staying on top of these advancements requires a commitment to continuous learning and exploration. Attending industry conferences, engaging with sustainability-focused organizations, and collaborating with vendors prioritizing sustainability are all valuable strategies for discovering and evaluating emerging technologies.

Leveraging Partnerships for Sustainability Goals

Achieving sustainability goals is a team effort, and we have fostered strong partnerships with service partners and tenants to drive our initiatives. Our vendors play a crucial role, as we ensured the introduction of a Green Cleaning Program when transitioning our cleaning contractor. This program guarantees sustainable products and equipment, prioritizing air quality, health, and the environment. We established clear expectations and metrics through open communication and collaboration to ensure successful implementation and ongoing management.

Our tenants actively participate in our recycling and composting programs, resulting in significant waste diversion. Together, we have recycled over 1200 pounds of glass and diverted an average of 4,000 pounds of food waste per month through partnerships with our food service provider.

Even small-scale initiatives like our K-Cup composting program, recycling around 90 lbs. per month, demonstrate their potential impact.

At NCR GHQ, we collaborated closely with tenants and our food service provider to develop comprehensive recycling and composting programs, minimizing food waste and utilizing BPIcertified compostable items.

A robust collaboration between Cousins property management staff and tenants was at the heart of this successful endeavor. Recognizing the impact of food waste, both parties devised practical solutions and instilled a culture of sustainability. For a weekly event with a significant crowd, we launched a targeted glass bottle recycling initiative, promoting proper recycling through visible signage and accessible collection points.

Our management and engineering teams play instrumental roles, adhering to company policies, tracking utilities, and collaborating with service partners for benchmarking and reporting. Analyzing monthly utility reports and benchmarking energy performance, we identify improvement opportunities and remain accountable to our sustainability commitments.

Working closely with utility providers and sustainability consultants, we leverage their expertise to drive sustainability improvement. Our comprehensive sustainability report reflects our commitment to transparency, providing stakeholders with credible information on our environmental performance and progress in energy efficiency and waste reduction initiatives.

Engaging Tenants and Owners

The buy-in and active participation of both tenants and owners are pivotal to the success of our sustainability programs. At NCR GHQ, we’ve found that education and communication are vital to fostering this engagement. We regularly share the progress and outcomes of our sustainability initiatives, helping our community understand the benefits of their participation.

For tenants, our sustainable practices often mean improved comfort and wellness. For instance, our DOAS system improves indoor air quality, enhancing well-being and productivity. Furthermore, our LEED Platinum and ENERGY STAR certifications demonstrate our commitment to maintaining a highquality, environmentally responsible workplace, which can boost tenant satisfaction and retention.

As owners, we can benefit from reduced operational costs, increased property values, and potential financial incentives for green building practices. For example, our sustainable strategies have resulted in enormous savings in utility costs. Additionally, green buildings often command higher rents and enjoy lower vacancy rates, contributing to our bottom line.

Building a Sustainability Roadmap

Embarking on a sustainability journey requires a well-defined roadmap. Here are a few key steps you can follow to build an effective sustainability program:

1. Establish Clear Objectives and Goals

The first step is to define what you want to achieve. Ensure that your sustainability goals align with your organization’s mission, values, and stakeholders’ expectations. For example, our objectives focused on energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and promoting health and wellbeing. These goals provided a clear direction for our efforts and guided us in identifying the necessary programs and technologies.

2. Conduct a Baseline Assessment

Evaluating your current performance is essential to understanding where improvements are needed. Conduct an energy audit to identify inefficiencies, assess water usage patterns, and analyze waste management practices. We partnered with Blue Ocean Energy to conduct monthly utility reports, providing valuable insights into our energy performance. Additionally, collaborating with our waste vendor, Waste Pro, allowed us to evaluate waste diversion strategies and identify opportunities to reduce our waste impact.

3. Develop a Strategic Plan

Develop a strategic plan based on your objectives and the insights gathered from the baseline assessment. This plan should outline the initiatives to be undertaken, the technologies to be employed, the resources required, and the timeline for implementation. Consider both short-term and long-term initiatives to ensure a comprehensive approach to sustainability.

4. Implement the Plan

Start with small steps such as upgrading to energy-efficient appliances in common areas, installing solar panels, implementing a recycling program, or introducing green cleaning practices. Monitor your progress closely and make adjustments as needed to ensure the successful implementation of your initiatives.

5. Monitor and Evaluate

Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are crucial to track your initiatives’ effectiveness and identify improvement areas. Regularly review utility bills, track waste output, and seek tenant feedback. Use this information to fine-tune your strategies and make continuous improvements that align with your sustainability goals.

6. Communicate and Celebrate Success

Share your progress and successes with your stakeholders. Regularly communicate the outcomes of your sustainability initiatives to build support and engagement. This showcases your commitment to sustainability and enhances your property’s reputation as a sustainability leader within the community.

Throughout this process, strategic partnerships are essential. Working with energy consultants, green technology providers, and sustainability-certified contractors can provide the expertise needed to implement your plan effectively. Moreover, partnering with your tenants and engaging them in your sustainability efforts can drive more significant results.

Building a sustainability program is a strategic process that demands commitment, collaboration, and a willingness to innovate. By following these steps and cultivating key partnerships, you can create a program that enhances your property’s sustainability performance and substantially benefits your tenants, owners, and the broader community.

The Path Towards a Sustainable Future

Cultivating sustainable practices in CRE is an environmental imperative and a significant opportunity to reduce costs, enhance building performance, and improve tenant satisfaction. NCR GHQ exemplifies how sustainability programs and technologies can seamlessly integrate into CRE properties to produce substantial benefits.

About the Author

We’ve created a model to guide other properties on their sustainability journey through our commitment to energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and continuous innovation.

But the journey does not end here. As technologies advance and our understanding of sustainability evolves, so must our approaches. We must continually seek new strategies, tools, and partnerships to push the boundaries of what is possible.

Our success so far proves that a culture of sustainable excellence is achievable and immensely rewarding. By embracing sustainability as an integral part of commercial real estate practices and nurturing strategic partnerships, we can collectively shape a sustainable future that benefits our industry and the environment.

We invite all CRE professionals to join us in this critical endeavor. The path towards sustainability is a journey worth undertaking, and every step taken is a step towards a greener future.

About the Author

Blair Powell is an accomplished professional in the commercial property management industry, boasting nearly six years of experience. As a dedicated candidate pursuing the esteemed Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation with the Institute of Real Estate Management, Blair exemplifies her commitment to advancing her skills and knowledge. With a strong background in multi-family real estate and an active membership in BOMA, Blair brings a diverse skill set and a wealth of industry insights to her role.

Blair’s invaluable contributions to the building began from its inception, where she played a pivotal role in implementing numerous green policies prioritizing sustainability and environmental responsibility. Her passion for creating sustainable spaces and experience in residential and commercial real estate have made her an instrumental figure in driving the building’s success. Blair’s involvement in BOMA showcases her dedication to professional growth and staying updated on industry trends and best practices. Her expertise and enthusiasm for environmental stewardship, makes her a valuable asset in driving sustainable excellence at NCR GHQ.

Ashley Simien, CPM, BOMI-HP is a highly experienced Commercial Property Management professional with over 12 years of expertise in the field. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Management Information Systems from Sam Houston State University and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

As a Certified Property Manager (CPM) with the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and earning the prestigious BOMI-HP designation, Ashley exemplifies her commitment to upholding the highest standards in property management. Additionally, she is a dedicated Fitwel Ambassador, actively promoting occupant wellbeing and sustainable building practices.

With a strong academic background, extensive industry experience, and professional certifications, Ashley Simien brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the realm of Commercial Property Management. Her focus on sustainability and her role as a Fitwel Ambassador highlights her dedication to creating healthier workspaces and driving sustainable excellence at NCR GHQ.

Relationship Building in CRE

By: Jenifer Wright | Structural Restoration Solutions

The commercial real estate industry relies on strong relationships between property managers and vendors to achieve optimal results. This article will discuss the importance and benefits of relationship building in commercial real estate, with a focus on communication as a crucial component of successful partnerships.

The Importance of Relationship Building

In commercial real estate, fostering solid relationships between property managers and vendors is essential for achieving successful outcomes. Effective collaboration can lead to improvements in operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, tenant care, and more. The partnership between Cushman & Wakefield, a global commercial real estate services firm, and Structural Restoration Solutions, a specialty contracting company, exemplifies the benefits of establishing strong connections in the industry.

The partnership between Cushman & Wakefield and Structural Restoration Solutions highlights the importance of communication in their collaboration on the parking deck rehabilitation project at 3379 Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia. This complex, $1,000,000-plus project presented significant challenges, including noise issues and logistical phasing.

To overcome these hurdles, the two companies maintained regular communication through weekly meetings, project updates, and a two-week look-ahead schedule. This constant flow of information allowed them to collaborate effectively, address problems, and ensure that the project stayed on track.

The project’s success hinged on the strong relationship that had been built over time through prior collaborations. The rapport established between the two companies meant that they could trust each other and work together more efficiently. This trust allowed them to address challenges creatively and collaboratively, ultimately leading to an award-winning result.

Best Practices for Relationship Building

To foster strong relationships and reap the benefits of them, you must invest the time in your peers over time. Relationships are more than just a phone call. Get to know one another beyond just the work environment.

Get to know about their kids, their family, what they do for fun. Find out what you have in common outside of the office. Then make those connections outside of business hours.

Grab dinner or a drink, schedule an activity that you both enjoy. Connect! Building a strong relationship with your partners in CRE can ensure numerous benefits, and here are a few tips to help you foster strong and effective vendor-manager partnerships.

It is important to start small with your projects. Begin by collaborating on smaller projects to build trust, demonstrate expertise, and establish a solid foundation for future collaborations. This approach allows both parties to learn each other’s work styles, strengths, and weaknesses, setting the stage for more complex projects down the line.

Communicate Consistently

One of the most crucial aspects of relationship building in commercial real estate is maintaining open and regular communication. Clear, consistent communication allows both parties to manage expectations, align goals, and work collaboratively to overcome challenges that may arise during a project.

A constant flow of information facilitates the development of creative solutions, ensuring that all parties stay on the same page and work towards the same objectives.

Make sure you maintain regular communications, outside of projects or proposals. Don’t be a person your property managers hate to hear from, be a friend, not a salesperson.

During a project, share relevant information openly and honestly with your partners, even when it may be challenging or uncomfortable. Transparency is key to building trust and fostering a collaborative environment. This open communication will help prevent misunderstandings, manage expectations, and enable effective collaboration.

Be proactive, not reactive

Anticipate challenges and potential issues and develop contingency plans to address them. Taking a proactive approach can help minimize disruptions and ensure the project remains on track. At 3379 Peachtree, we knew traffic pattern changes would require extensive planning, as well as at the entrance/exit locations.

Clear and constant communication was necessary to ensure there were no injuries or accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians. Our teams collaborated regularly to prepare for the what-ifs so we can make sure to avoid them.

As you complete your projects, acknowledge, and celebrate the achievements of both parties. Recognizing each other’s contributions can strengthen the relationship and foster a positive working environment.

This can be as simple as a handwritten note, or even a call after the project. Never stop learning and growing. Reflect on completed projects and identify areas for improvement.

A continuous learning approach can help both property managers and vendors to refine their processes, improve collaboration, and achieve better outcomes in future projects. Have monthly checkins where honest feedback is given, where it highlights both the good AND THE BAD, so things can be corrected early as needed and positive momentum can be strengthened.

Improved Efficiency and Problem Solving

Strong relationships between property managers and vendors can lead to more efficient projects as both parties understand each other’s processes and expectations. With a solid understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses, property managers and vendors can allocate resources more effectively, streamline processes, and complete projects in a timely manner. This efficiency ultimately results in cost savings and improved project outcomes.

With established trust, both parties can work together to tackle challenges and develop creative solutions. By openly discussing issues and potential solutions, property managers and vendors can leverage their combined expertise and experience to overcome obstacles.

This collaborative approach to problem-solving not only addresses immediate concerns but also helps identify and prevent potential issues from arising in the future.

A strong relationship between property managers and vendors helps to identify and address potential issues proactively, minimizing risks and reducing the likelihood of costly disruptions or failures.

ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS

Do my elevators run reliably?

Are there too many recurring elevator problems?

Do I only see the elevator technician when my elevator is broken?

Am I getting billed for trouble calls that could have been prevented by maintenance?

On some problems when I really need my elevator ser vice company to help me out, do I instead feel like I am being held over a barrel?

Now ask yourself this question: What would true preventive maintenance look like?

approach.

Greater Flexibility

A solid relationship allows for greater adaptability in the face of unexpected changes or complications. Trust and open communication enable property managers and vendors to respond to changing circumstances and develop contingency plans more easily.

During our work at 3379 Peachtree, we faced challenges with the project around noise when working under the building and how it affected tenants. We were able to come up with a revised schedule to make noise (drilling and chipping of concrete) during certain times of the workday that was acceptable to the tenants. During times when we were unable to make noise, we shifted our crew to a different section of the deck and worked on separate scopes.

When property managers and vendors trust each other, they can more easily adapt to changing circumstances, such as fluctuating budgets, shifting timelines, or evolving project requirements. This flexibility can help keep projects on track and ensure that they are completed successfully, even in the face of unforeseen challenges.

Better Overall Outcomes

Strong relationships and effective communication contribute to the success of projects, leading to more positive results and increased business opportunities. By working together, property managers and vendors can achieve higher quality outcomes, complete projects on time and within budget, and build a solid reputation for excellence.

These successful outcomes can lead to new business opportunities, repeat clients, and long-term growth for both parties. By investing time in building and maintaining strong relationships, property managers and vendors can create a network of reliable partners, leading to increased business opportunities and long-term growth for both parties.

Effective collaboration between property managers and vendors can also lead to improved tenant care and satisfaction, as both parties are focused on delivering high-quality results.

Benefits to Tenants

Tenants also benefit significantly from the strong relationships between property managers and vendors. Strong partnerships between property managers and vendors ensure that buildings are properly cared for and maintained, providing a safe and comfortable environment for tenants.

These partnerships can also lead to more efficient building operations, resulting in reduced energy consumption, lower operating costs, and a smaller environmental footprint.

When property managers and vendors have a strong working relationship, they can respond to maintenance requests more quickly and effectively, ensuring that tenants’ needs are met promptly.

This can also allow for a proactive approach to identifying and resolving potential issues before they become significant problems, resulting in fewer disruptions and inconveniences for tenants, such as with the project completed at 3379 Peachtree Street.

Tenants also benefit from clear and transparent communication between property managers and vendors, as it helps them stay informed about any ongoing maintenance or improvement projects, as well as any potential impacts on their daily operations. This can give tenants a better understanding of the value their property managers bring and give a positive impression of the property team.

Relationship Building in CRE

The commercial real estate industry relies on strong relationships between property managers and vendors to achieve optimal results. The collaboration between Cushman & Wakefield and Structural Restoration Solutions serves as an excellent example for other commercial real estate professionals to follow.

By prioritizing relationship building and effective communication, property managers and vendors can work together to create a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved, including tenants, investors, and themselves.

Jen Wright serves as the Business Development Manager for Structural Restoration Solutions (formerly Everclear Enterprises). She is an active and award-winning member of BOMA Georgia, serving on the Board of Directors and assisting in the development of the BOMA Technical Organization at BOMA Georgia.

Her collaboration with Lezly Robinson of Cushman & Wakefield led to both companies winning the 2022 CRE Insight Journal Excellence in Collaborative Service Award.

About the Author

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NExtGen

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Cousins Properties

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An Interview with Todd Mitchell

How did you enter the industry?

Like most of us, by blind luck. I was given an unsolicited opportunity to join the Property Management team at a premier midtown asset, 1100 Peachtree. #OriginStory

What do you enjoy most about commercial real estate?

The diversity of options. There is Property Management, Appraisal, Investment Sales, Service Provider, to name a few.

Do you have any mentors? What have your mentors taught you?

Everyone I have ever had the privilege of working with has mentored me one way or another. That said, people like Jack Bossert, Russell Lipscomb, Pat Freeman, and Linda Bolan have been very impactful to my career. My mentors have taught me what to do, and at other times, and of equal importance, what not to do.

For you, what does it mean to be a thought leader?

Thought leaders are forward thinkers and consummate learners. Thought leaders are people who are open to unconventional ideas, and have the skill needed to articulate those ideas.

What key lesson have you learned through your work in CRE?

Number 1 with a bullet point: People are the MOST important part of any business plan always have been and always will be. Everything in our industry, whether we’re business development, sales professionals, or operations professionals, it is all people first. On the engineering or the administrative side, it doesn’t matter. Everything is people, everything has always been people, everything always will be people.

At the 2023 ESG Summit, you presented on corporate transparency, why is this an important concept?

Transparency can build confidence in a firm’s internal and external stakeholders. Conversely, a lack of transparency will build mistrust and lead to divisions in the ranks of the stakeholders, weakening the firm.

What role should the property team play in the community their properties are in?

Property teams are the face of the firm and asset. They should carry the same ambassadorial presence in the community as they carry with the asset’s tenants and visitors. On an individual basis, I think it is important for the property teams to understand where their property is located and what is around them and make an effort to understand any local history of that community and be thoughtful of what impact you could have.

What has been the biggest shift you have seen in the industry?

The impact of multiple generations working, living, and playing in the assets. We have four separate generations in the industry now, and soon enough Generation Alpha will be knocking at the door too.

What changes do you see on the horizon for CRE, and what changes would you like to see?

CRE’s approach must continue to trend toward a more seamless built environment. We must double down on our commitment to viewing our region through holistic filters. All of the uses for real estate, industrial, hospitality, retail, office, and residential, must come together with the supporting infrastructure, transportation, education, the arts, and more, in a more cohesive, and less siloed manner.

PRODUCT AND SERVICE DIRECTORY

Access Control Systems

Dormkaba USA, Inc. ......... (404) 210 0717

Airduct Cleaning

Ductz Of Greater Atlanta (770) 631-2424

Appraisal Consulting

Fellers, Schewe, Scott & Roberts, Inc.

Architects

(770) 621-9548

Mosa Architects (404) 918-5433

Attorneys

Andre Kill & McCarthy LLP

Commercial Moving

Flood Brothers Commercial

Moving and Storage (404) 799-3744

Construction Products

JSG Companies (770) 374-3992

The Home Depot Pro (470) 270-1379

Yancey Power Systems ..... (518) 651-6353 Contractors

Centennial Contractors Enterprises Inc. ............... (770) 613-2999

Double T Contracting, Inc. (770) 617-0167

Gray Contracting (678) 530-9700

(404) 653-3005

Audio Visual Services Vertical AVTV .................... (404) 352-2488

Bldg Services

Bio Green Pressure Washing ...........

(404) 557-2777

CBM Atlanta Inc. (770) 988-9001

Century Fire Protection LLC

Engineered Restorations Inc...............

Painters on Demand

WiseGuys Pro-Wash

Building Automation Controls

Dormkaba USA, Inc.

ENTEK SOLUTIONS ........

Hoffman Building Technologies

Siemens Industry Inc.

Building Mgt Consultants

Lamarr.ai LLC

MRI Software

Carpet/Floor

ServiceMaster

Cleaning & Restoration ....

SOLID Surface Care, Inc.

The Mad Matter GA

Catering/Food Svcs

Ben & Jerry’s

Cleaning Equipment/Supplies

Spartan Chemical Company ........................

Client Gifts and Recognition

Christie Cookie Co. ...........

(678) 775-4870

(770) 682-0650

(404) 603-6550

(404) 596-5559

(404) 210 0717

(770) 449-1222

(470) 387-1619

(678) 230-0625

(617) 913-8328

(800) 321-8770

Innovative Engineering Inc. .............. (678) 883-5868

Nova Commercial Interiors Inc.

McKenney’s Inc. (404) 622-5000

Tecta America (770) 740-0018

Trane................................

(770) 514-1789

(404) 788-5425

(678) 361-6704

(404) 666-2232

(843) 789-9821

(470) 792-4868

(770) 592-0260

PKS Paving & Concrete Construction ..... (404) 401-8551

Rand Construction Company

Reliable Drywall & Paint, Inc.

Structural Restoration Solutions.........................

(770) 777-4177

678) 229-7905

(404) 876-9408

Western Specialty Contractors of America (678) 553-0170

Demolition

JSG Companies (770) 374-3992 Electrical

Allison-Smith Company (404) 351-6430

Conger Electrical Services.......................... (678) 690-0038

Martin Technical, Inc. (770) 590-7449

Mayberry Electric, Inc. (404) 991-7007

Prime Power Services Inc. (678) 898-4960

Elevators/Escalators

Elevations South (404) 375-0390

Fujitec America Inc. ........... (770) 209-0322

Otis Elevator Company ...... (980) 808-7026

Phoenix Elevator of Georgia

(678) 574-2447

TK Elevator (770) 820-6579

Employment Specialist BG Talent (470) 724-0185

Core Executive Recruiting (352) 317-7026

Energy

Baker Engineering LLC (404) 307-3237

Lamarr.ai LLC (617) 913-8328

Mallory & Evans Service (478) 747-0551

Fire Protection ADT Commercial, LLC / Critical Systems (770) 612-9172

AFA Protective Systems Inc. ................... (770) 794-9000 American Fire Protection Services, LLC (877) 832-4759

Century Fire Protection LLC (678) 775-4870

Life Safety Solutions Plus LLC ........................ (770) 843-3671

Mitec Controls Inc. (770) 813-5959

Siemens Industry Inc. (678) 230-0625

Fire/Water/Mold Restoration

BELFOR Property Restoration (770) 939-0128

BluSky Restoration Contractors (470) 345-5327

BMS CAT (770) 614-3248

Capital Restoration (770) 825-3024

EPIC ................................ (770) 516-3491

Full Circle Restoration, A Cotton Company (770) 232-9797

Parker Young Construction, A RESCON Company (770) 368-1000

Remediation Group/RGI Commercial ..................... (404) 214-1470

ServiceMaster Cleaning & Restoration (770) 514-1789 SERVPRO Of Decatur ....... (770) 820-1319

SERVPRO of Norcross ...... (404) 640-7831

SERVPRO of N. Lilburn/ of N. Lawrenceville (770) 709-3266

Foreign Government Office Quebec Government Office of Atlanta (470) 814-3325

Glass NGS Films and Graphics (470) 523-0014

Guard Services

Allied Universal Security Services ............. (678) 591-7368

Capital Guard Security ....... (770) 880-6389

EKG Security, Inc. 770-531-3326

Marksman Security Corporation ..................... (678) 923-5775

Prosegur .......................... (770) 670-8902

Securitas Security Services USA (470) 773-1074

Security Solutions of America ...................... (470) 543-1157

PRODUCT AND SERVICE DIRECTORY

HTH Building Services Inc.

Managed Services

Solutions, Inc.

Building Maintenance Services Inc.

CBM Atlanta Inc. ...............

(678) 445-3806

(770) 218-2993

(770) 988-9001

CleanRight Services .......... (404) 267-1312

Constant Contract Services, LLC

(404) 583-8514

Environmental Service Partners .............. (404) 500-2488

GBM, A Pritchard Company

Georgia Pacific Corporation .....................

(770) 457-5678

(770) 815-9552

(770) 988-0084

Planned Companies .......... (571) 220-7475

Pro Squared

Janitorial Services (678) 905-8885

Rubbermaid Commercial Products ......................... 470-356-5088

Junk Removal and Disposal

College HUNKS Hauling

Junk & Moving ................ (770) 654-4289

Funky’s Junk Removal ....... (404) 351-1500

Lake Management

Aquascape

Environmental (678) 445-0077

Landscaping-Exterior

BrightView

Landscape Services (770) 822-9530

Chapel Valley

Landscape Co. ................ (470) 244-0980

Color Burst (770) 822-9706

Crabapple

LandscapExperts (770) 740-9739

Cumberland

Landscape Group (470) 423-4105

Gibson

Landscape Services (404) 991-1864

Greenwood Group Landscape ............ (404) 886-6104

HighGrove Partners (678) 626-3469

LandCare LLC (770) 510-8570

Landscape Workshop (678) 714-5100

Ruppert Landscape ........... (770) 931-9900

Russell Landscape Group (404) 520-7903

The GreenSeason Group, Inc. ...................... (678) 714-4114

Yardnique Family of Companies (678) 812-9858

Yellowstone Landscape (770) 312-4285

Landscaping-Interior

Life on Earth, LLC (404) 875-6706

Sedgefield Interior Landscapes, Inc. ............. (770) 984-0171

Lighting

Blue Frog Lighting............. (404) 569-7995

E. Sam Jones

Distributor Inc. (404) 307-8504

Regency Lighting (800) 284-2024

Voss Lighting (770) 438-8557

Systems ................. (404) 272-4765

Marble Restoration & Maintenance ADDCO Metal Maintenance Co. (770) 985-5611 Mid America Specialty Services............ (800) 544-4576

Stone Services ...... (404) 255-8133

Metal Fabrication Elevations South ............... (404) 375-0390

Metal Finishing ADDCO Metal Maintenance Co. (770) 985-5611 Mid America

Services (800) 544-4576

Furniture Atlanta Office Liquidators Inc. ................ (404) 505-9623

Paint/Wallcoverings A & D Painting Inc............. (404) 376-7076

Essity Professional Hygiene (678) 642-6042

Georgia Pacific Corporation ..................... (770) 815-9552

Imperial Dade (774) 254-1867

Parking

Amano McGann (770) 558-5770

Kaney & Lane, LLC (404) 892-8246

LAZ Parking (404) 787-2076

Legacy Parking Company

ParkSimple

Parking Deck

(678) 954-4778

(404) 217-4024

Powervac (770) 425-9450

Spectrum Painting Inc. (770) 497-0101

Universal Parking & Transportation ................. (404) 798-6327

Wildcat Striping, Sealing & Paving (678) 937-9525

Paving Products

ASCON Paving & Concrete

(404) 379-3218

Georgia Paving, Inc. .......... (770) 623-0453

Georgia’s Wildcat Paving ... (770) 634-6507

PKS Paving & Concrete Construction

Rose Paving Company .......

The Surface Masters Inc. ...

(404) 401-8551

(470) 791-6382

(404) 821-2388

Wildcat Striping, Sealing & Paving (678) 937-9525

Pest Control

Everclear Maintenance Solutions

(404) 665-2265

Kaney & Lane, LLC .......... (404) 892-8246

SunBrite Services .............. (770) 277-6363

Top Of the Line

High Rise Service LLC (404) 569-9544

WiseGuys Pro-Wash (404) 596-5559

Pump Service and Repair

Monumental Equipment, Inc. ............... (770) 490-4001

Relocation Services College HUNKS Hauling

Junk & Moving (770) 654-4289

Flood Brothers Commercial Moving and Storage (404) 799-3744

Rentacrate Enterprises ...... (678) 643-1551

The Armstrong Company ... (770) 402-6713

Renovation

Cornerstone Renovation Group LLC (770) 363-2529

Restoration ADDCO Restoration and Preservation Group, LLC (770) 688-5419

Cornerstone Renovation Group LLC...................... (770) 363-2529

Riser Management

IMG Technologies, Inc. ...... (630) 737-9800

Roofing

All Roof Solutions Commercial Inc. (404) 697-9294

Ameristar Roofing (470) 680-9330

Vista Roofing Systems, LLC (913) 940-9687

Zurix Roofing Systems ....... (706) 587-2009

Sealcoating The Surface Masters Inc. (404) 821-2388

Security

ADT Commercial, LLC / Critical Systems............... (770) 612-9172

Allied Universal Security Services (678) 591-7368

Capital Guard Security (770) 880-6389

DataWatch Systems (678) 910-0778

EKG

Bug Busters, Inc.

(770) 517-0200 Northwest Exterminating Co., Inc. ..... (678) 383-1011

Orkin Inc. ......................... (678) 230-9263

Peachtree Pest Control (770) 931-9099

Pest USA

Rooter Plus!

Plumbing

(770) 985-4444

(770) 888-1931

Addison Smith Mechanical Contractor Inc. ................ (770) 832-9006

HM Plumbing (770) 792-1200

Legacy Mechanical Services Inc. (770) 432-1171

Pressure Washing

Aguilar and Duran Enterprise LLC ................ (770) 568-5444

Bio Green Pressure Washing (404) 557-2777

ApolloPrimm Commercial Roofing ........................... (770) 751-6191

C.L. Burks

Commercial Roofing (706) 372-0509

Commercial Roofing Group LLC...................... (770) 883-7000

Core Roofing Systems ....... (678) 514-2846

Empire Roofing Company Inc. (770) 948-7663

ENCORE Roofing Inc. (770) 945-0100 x 114

Innovative Roofing Group (404) 351-8797

Parsons Roofing Company (678) 294-0002

Pinaire Roofing LLC (470) 766-3464

Reliable Roofing ................ (770) 457-0000

Roof Management Inc. ...... (770) 798-9102

Roof Partners LLC (770) 680-2900

Tecta America (770) 740-0018

Tower Roofing (770) 592-9889

PRODUCT AND SERVICE DIRECTORY

Tree Care/Tree Services (continued)

Pelfrey Tree Service (678) 430-6216

SavATree 404-288-8733

Sesmas Tree Service LLC .................... (678) 896-8352

Tropical Plants

Life on Earth, LLC ............ (404) 875-6706

Waste Removal

American Disposal Services.......................... (678) 736-0140

Water Damage/Structure Drying

BELFOR Property Restoration (770) 939-0128

BluSky Restoration Contractors ..................... (470) 345-5327

BMS CAT ......................... (770) 614-3248

Capital Restoration (770) 825-3024

Champion Cleaning Services (678) 920-8520

EPIC ................................ (770) 516-3491

Full Circle Restoration, A Cotton Company (770) 232-9797

Parker Young Construction, A RESCON Company (770) 368-1000

Remediation Group/RGI Commercial ..................... (404) 214-1470

SERVPRO Of Decatur ....... (770) 820-1319

SERVPRO of N. Lilburn/ N. Lawrenceville (770) 709-3266

Water Leakage Protection StreamLabs, Inc. ............... (877) 587-2555

The Detection Group (470) 488-5106

WaterSignal LLC (626) 222-7370

Water Treatment Blackmore Enterprises Inc. ............... (404) 474-4352

Waterproofing

Engineered Restorations Inc............... (770) 682-0650

Structural Restoration Solutions (404) 876-9408

The Morley Companies (770) 569-1100

Valcourt Building Services LLC (770) 727-6098

Waterproofing Contractors Inc. (770) 449-5552

Western Specialty Contractors of America .... (678) 553-0170

Cleaning Aguilar and Duran Enterprise LLC (770) 568-5444 Everclear Maintenance Solutions ..... (404) 665-2265 Top Of the Line

Rise Service LLC (404) 569-9544 Valcourt Building Services LLC (770) 727-6098 Workplace Violence/Active Threat Training & Consulting Fortress Consulting ........... (404) 512-8649

Asphalt Paving

PKS Paving & Concrete Construction

www.pksasphaltpavingatlanta.com

Building Services & Maintenance

PKS Paving & Concrete Construction

www.pksasphaltpavingatlanta.com

Concrete/Masonry/Structural Repairs

Engineered Restorations Inc.

www.er-inc.net

PKS Paving & Concrete Construction

www.pksasphaltpavingatlanta.com

Western Specialty Contractors

www.westerngroup.com

Construction

Cork Howard Construction

www.corkhoward.com

Electrical Contractors

Mayberry Electric, Inc.

www.mayberryelectric.com

Elevators

Phoenix Elevator of Georgia

www.phoenixelevatorofga.com

Escalators

Phoenix Elevator of Georgia

www.phoenixelevatorofga.com

Parking Deck Maintenance

PKS Paving & Concrete Construction

www.pksasphaltpavingatlanta.com

Paving Products and Services

Georgia Paving, Inc.

www.georgiapaving.com

PKS Paving & Concrete Construction

www.pksasphaltpavingatlanta.com

Pressure Washing

Specialty Roofing & Coatings, Inc.

www.src-roofing.com

Roofing Services and Products

Specialty Roofing & Coatings

www.src-roofing.com/

Sealcoating

PKS Paving & Concrete Construction

www.pksasphaltpavingatlanta.com

Waterproofing

Engineered Restorations Inc.

www.er-inc.net

Waterproofing Contractors

www.wcinc.com

Western Specialty Contractors

www.westernspecialtycontractors.com