PROJECT SERVICES

As we prepare to re-enter the workplace, we must maintain focus on effective business operations while being good social stewards and providing a sense of safety and confidence for employees, customers and visitors. Success on all fronts will come from well-considered and well-executed planning.

MBRE Project Services is here to guide you and your team through the re-entry process. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each case has different considerations based on existing conditions, business strategies, lease terms, budgets and more. Our strategy emphasizes pragmatic and practical concerns, tailoring solutions to your needs and your budget.

We collaborate closely with our tenant representation and asset management teams, sharing best practices and information on new trends. These expert perspectives regarding other aspects of office space enable us to create the best approach for re-entry for your particular situation.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTMANAGING DIRECTOR, PROJECT SERVICES

DAVID GRAFFVICE PRESIDENT, PROJECT SERVICESDIRECTOR OF WORKPLACE STRATEGIES

MARC SCHWARTZPROJECT EXECUTIVE, PROJECT SERVICES

DAVID PAULASKASPREPAREDBY:

COVID-19 OFFICE RE-ENTRY

MAY 2020

PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

THE PROBLEMCOVID-19 has challenged the work environment

WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE

HOW WE CHANGE

Areas to evaluate for safety & wellness

Actionable items we can implement quickly

• Old office settings (dense open office)

• Dense collaborative spaces

• Unhealthy personal and operational habits

• How and where we work (individually or together)

• The space we work in

• How we manage and measure our work

• How we will build and fit out our workspaces

• How we will maintain our workspaces

• Social distancing

• Better in-person collaboration and more tech collaboration

• De-densify and declutter workplace

• Workplace hygiene

• Work surfaces and environmental health design

• New “good” habits and protocols

PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

WHAT IS OUR PATH FORWARD AND HOW DO WE PREPARE?

CRISIS THE NEW REALITYRESTRICTED BUT OPEN

Pandemic Sets In

Highly Restricted

Work From Home

Pandemic Plateaus

Restricted Operations

Movement towards an engaged society and workplace

Mixed Work Styles

Treatments that allow increased use of work space

Cure & Recovery

New reality of work and the workplace

PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES CALL FOR THOUGHTFUL, FLEXIBLE, AND FEASIBLE PLANNING AND EXECUTION FOR THE WORKPLACE

KEEP IN MIND:

We are on the road to recovery but with lasting

impacts

Change is happening quickly and in phases

One size doesn’t fit all – there is no one answer for all companies and

situations

Do not be overly reactive, but flexible and strategic

Establish confidence that solutions are safe and

effective

Success will come from well-considered and well-

executed planning

PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

NAVIGATING THE EVOLVING WORK ENVIRONMENTMBRE Project Services is here as your trusted advisor to guide you through the noise of the constant think pieces in the media, government recommendations, and hearsay. We refine the information and focus on what will work best for you.

Our leading principles:

• Health and wellness are paramount

• We must gain confidence and trust of users as they re-enter the workplace

• We consider efficiency and productivity metrics in the new work environment

• We evaluate new roles for technology in communications and the environment

• We must consider the economic and business issues

PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

PHASE 1IMMEDIATE RESPONSE

Gather your forces and focus efforts on preparing the work environment for the return of teams post-quarantine

• The environment needs to provide users with a sense of confidence that procedural steps have been implemented

• Quick decision-making to get teams productive in serving customers and clients

• A “one-size-fits all” approach will fail

• Identify strategy, evaluate, plan, and execute based on the existing conditions and building limitations

• Phased approach to staffing

• Create a progressive and increasingly efficient environment

• Maintain cost and schedule discipline

• Expedite tasks and procedures that allow for Phase 1

PHASE 2PRODUCTIVITY RESPONSE

The time between your immediate response and a vaccinated society  

• Collected strategy replaces emergent reactivity

• Gather an understanding of comfort and safety within the newly adjusted work environments

• Formation of mid-to-long range strategic goals

• Create realistic budgets and schedules

• Build the right team with the right people

• Stepped approach to physical changes in the work environment

PHASE 3NORMAL RESPONSE

A post-vaccinated society  

• Maintain flexible strategies, but avoid predictions

• Establish key performance indicators and measure them

THE PROCESS

TACTICALCreate the safe workplace

• Create a safe environment for returning to the workplace

• Declutter & de-densify

• Define and implement workplace dynamics – spatial distancing

• Define and implement workplace management, communications and protocol

• Define cleaning and hygiene protocols and implement

STRATEGIC

Optimize the path forward - know where you’re going

• Assess work-from-home impact, success or failure

• Assess productivity & efficiency (pre and post-crisis)

• Staffing protocols and timing

• Cost and budget assessment

• Technology assessment – what’s the new normal for technology use?

• Hands free environment

• Lease audit and deep dive

DYNAMIC

Communications and engagement

• Communications

• Vendor and partner engagement

• Protocol development and evolution

• Short term changes - look for quick wins and keep learning

PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

PHASE 1 - IMMEDIATE RESPONSE RESTRICTED RE-ENTRY AND PREPARING THE WORK ENVIRONMENT

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PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

DETAILED AREA-BY-AREA WORK SETTING RECOMMENDATIONSGENERAL • Signage • Hand sanitizer, wipe, mask and glove stations

located throughout • Circulation patterns• Protocols (e.g. open door policy, occupancy levels,

conference rooms)• Designated, well-marked delivery areas with

protocol signage

ELEVATOR LOBBIES• Signage & Decals• Sanitizer stations

CONFERENCE ROOMS, HUDDLE ROOMS & COLLABORATIVE SPACES• Signage • Decals on floor and/or tables showing 6’

distancing • Disposable paper desk pads spaced 6’ • Remove seating to allow minimum of 6’ spacing• Sanitizer, wipes, etc. • Technology connects with WFH staff• Arrange collaboration space furniture to promote

social distancing

LUNCHROOMS & PANTRY• Decals on floor and/or tables showing 6’

distancing• Remove seating to allow minimum of 6’ spacing• Sanitizer and wipes• Remove cabinet doors• Provide disposable cups and utensils

WORKSTATIONS• Establish which can be used to provide 6-foot

distancing• Explore adding panels to promote distancing• Remove guest chairs• Address sit-stand - add sneeze guard panels• Change direction people sit to avoid face-to-face

OFFICES• Signage and decals showing 6’ distancing• Remove guest chairs if not 6’ from user chair• Evaluate shared offices Image

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PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

EXAMPLE FLOOR PLAN ANALYSIS50/50 OPEN/CLOSED OFFICE

NOTES:

• Qualified distanced workspaces require physical modification or alternative occupancy timing to support use.

• Entry door and doors to copy or break room areas should be propped open during work hours.

• Conference capacity shown meets distancing needs and should be posted

• Offices are inherently distanced, however use of guest chairs should be minimized or appropriately spaced when used.

• Transient, drop in or other unassigned workspaces (stand up tables, reception seating, break areas, etc.) should be limited use appropriate to maintaining social distance. Post signage as needed.

ACCEPTABLY DISTANCED WORKSPACEOFFICE = 30 WKS = 20 DROP IN = 13TOTAL CAPACITY = 62

QUALIFIED DISTANCED WORKSPACEOFFICE = 0 WKS = 8 DROP IN = 0

UNACCEPTABLY DISTANCED WORKSPACEOFFICE = 0 WKS = 5 DROP IN = 3

SANITIZER STATION = 9 MIN.

COVID PROTOCOL & DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE

DELIVERY DROP

PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

EXAMPLE FLOOR PLAN ANALYSIS95% OPEN DENSE PLAN WITH NO PANELS

NOTES:

• Conference capacity shown meets distancing needs and should be posted

• Offices are inherently distanced, however use of guest chairs should be minimized or appropriately spaced when used.

• Transient, drop in or other unassigned workspaces (stand up tables, reception seating, break areas, etc.) should be limited use appropriate to maintaining social distance. Post signage as needed.

ACCEPTABLY DISTANCED WORKSPACEOFFICE = 4 WKS = 96 DROP IN = 26TOTAL CAPACITY = 126 (261 EXIST.)

QUALIFIED DISTANCED WORKSPACEOFFICE = 0 WKS = 0 DROP IN = 0

UNACCEPTABLY DISTANCED WORKSPACEOFFICE = 0 WKS = 164

SANITIZER STATION = 9 MIN.

COVID PROTOCOL & DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE

DELIVERY DROP

FLOOR DISTANCE MARKER = 1ADD OPTIONAL SNEEZE GUARD IF NEEDED

PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCEKEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

BETWEEN YOU AND OTHERS

PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)FOR YOUR HEALTHAND SAFETY

6 FT

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCEKEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

PEOPLEPER

ELEVATORCAR

FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR

TENANTS, PLEASE OBSERVE SOCIAL

DISTANCING IN THE ELEVATOR.

PLEASE BE COURTEOUS AND DO

NOT CROWD THE ELEVATOR CARS.

1to3

EXAMPLE SIGNAGECONSIDER DISPLAY POINTS, SIZES AND MATERIAL

THANK YOU FOR PRACTICING

SOCIAL DISTANCING

PLEASE STAND HERE

FLOOR DECALS SOCIAL DISTANCING IN COMMON AREAS ELEVATOR CAPACITY

DELIVERY DROP ZONE

HAND SANITIZER STATION

HYGIENE STATION

TACTICALEnhancing the workplace

• Assess and refine workplace optimization and implement real fixes

• Assess health and wellness plans, refine and optimize

• Assess and build on workplace social and psychological health and worker engagement

• Establish multi-level staff panel to lead Phase 2 changes and assess the successes and failures

STRATEGIC

Leveraging the change

• Leverage the change of how work is done - identify lessons learned and celebrate changed and new behaviors

• Build on the new agility and new ways of working and new workplace

• Assess what can we do without – what do we need more of

• Enhance wellness initiatives

• Leverage technologies and their integration across the workplace to the next tier

• Reimagine the future and plan for it

DYNAMIC

Celebrate the change

• Communications

• Stay vested with staff partners and customers – share successes

PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

PHASE 2 - PRODUCTIVITY RESPONSETIME BETWEEN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND A VACCINATED SOCIETY

PROJECT SERVICES

COVID-19OFFICE RE-ENTRY

DAVID R. GRAFF EVP, MANAGING DIRECTOR, PROJECT SERVICES312.558.3870 | DGRAFF@MBRES.COM

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Phase 3 is far off into the future after a viable vaccine has ensured an end of the coronavirus pandemic. The MBRE Project Services team is here to help you assess, plan and implement your current workplace changes into Phase 3, the new normal. We draw on our extensive experience in the commercial real estate business, as well as the experiences of MBRE’s integrated business units, to help you form sustainable strategies.