Case Study: Art of the Neighborhood

Case Study: Art of the Neighborhood We invest in public art to activate creativity and enhance the day-to-day lives of our neighbors, tenants and team members. By investing in and showcasing the talent of local artists, we are creating more dynamic reflection spaces for the public to enjoy.

At Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois, we commissioned and installed six different artist series that transformed our spaces — and the nearby sidewalk — into living art galleries. The “Atmospheric Wave Wall” created by notable artist Olafur Eliasson on Jackson Boulevard matches the scale of Willis Tower and the natural landscape of the city. At 30 by 60 feet, the pattern of curving metal tiles in serene blue, deep green and white mirror the surfaces of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. As the sun moves across the piece throughout the seasons — and as people walk, drive or bike by — the colors shift as they do in natural bodies of water. At night, rays of light peek out between the metal tiles.

The Atmospheric wave wall by Olafur Eliasson at Willis Tower. Photo credit Darris Harris.

The OC Goddess by Charmaine Olivia at CANVAS. Photo credit Brandon Shigeta.

At CANVAS in Costa Mesa, California, the local team participates in the broader South Coast Metro's Public Art initiative. They commissioned works from 18 local artists who reflect the diversity of CANVAS and the Costa Mesa community. Charmaine Olivia’s work, for example, captures the human experience of self-discovery with color and imagery of goddesses.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected occupancy in our spaces. We have made extra efforts to open up unused space for public art projects to offer safe, socially distanced activities for our neighbors, which also supports our retailers and food and beverage partners.

Tenant & Team Engagement

Tenant Engagement

Current Actual: 5,259 Engaged

Goal: 13,465 Engaged Goal Expand tenant engagement in community events by 10%, welcoming 13,465 tenants to participate with us.

Achievement 39% to goal with 5,259 participants at community engagement events.

We are well on our way towards our two-year goal, with additional achievements including ↓

249 community engagement events held, an increase of 157% over the prior year.

104

team members engaged in optional programs as part of the ESG task forces and initiatives, representing 57% of the organization. social media and direct access to building staff.

Tenants and EQ team members connect at a Hughes Center event. Photo credit Casey Jade.

77%

of properties have tenant feedback mechanisms in building apps, as well as surveys,

53%

have social media accounts, with 37% of accounts experiencing year-overyear engagement growth. 100% invested in electronic mass tenant communication systems.

$9,162,000

invested in new technology systems.

A Spotlight on Tenant Events

In addition to property-specific events, EQ hosts portfolio-wide education and engagement experiences, including:

→ Drive for Knowledge connects professionals to opportunity youth nationwide for mentorship.

Through CareerVillage, our tenants and team members share career advice with young people from diverse backgrounds. They crowdsource answers to questions from curious students about different vocations.

→ Social Week of Giving gives tenants an opportunity to join in our annual company-wide dedicated week of giving back to our communities. These activities strengthen professional skills and help tenants learn sustainable practices and preserve local communities. Details on our 2020 results are available here.

Tenant Feedback

We strengthened the tenant experience through service-based, sustainability, wellness and professional development programming, as well as quarterly portfolio-wide events. These experiences enriched the lives of tenants while giving back to meaningful causes.

We also continued proactive communications around the COVID-19 pandemic, issuing 38 COVID-19 tenant communications and inquiries. Ninety-four percent of tenants were satisfied with EQ's handling of the pandemic. → Be Wise with Waste engages RecycleCoach in an interactive virtual tutorial and quiz program that educates tenants about waste reduction, as well as composting and recycling practices that limit the carbon footprint at home and at work. EQ planted a tree for every participant in this year's live training, totaling 430 trees.

→ Earth Week: Reduce, Repurpose, Refresh gives tenants a series of educational and earth-friendly events from an Earth Day Scavenger Hunt to a trivia event. This year, we made a donation to Conservation

International on behalf of every participant.

Responsive Communications

Goal: 90% Favorability

Current Actual 94% Favorability Goal At least 90% favorability in responsive communications.

Achievement 94% overall tenant satisfaction with responsive communications.

1 237 tenants participated in the survey.