Translating user needs into high-quality real estate solutions aligned with today's business drivers: Prominent CRE executives responsible for global portfolios provide insights and best practices

Abstract

As today's corporate real estate (CRE) executives face mounting pressure to deliver inspiring workplaces that enhance recruitment and retention, they also encounter a myriad of complicated business challenges. These factors, coupled with a new definition of workplace quality, necessitate creating new approaches for planning and execution that engage user groups and service providers in dynamic partnerships. This paper shares the perspectives of a select group of seasoned CRE executives responsible for developing and implementing real estate strategies for global companies occupying millions of square feet. It provides specific examples of how each has evolved planning at the macro level to enhance portfolio optimisation and at the micro level to deliver specific workplace solutions. The research approach employed in the preparation of this paper was the qualitative interview method. It was used to gain insight into the experiences of CRE executives and to provide clear understanding of the current business drivers presenting challenges to planning and how each individual is responding to them. Questions were tailored to obtain a detailed account from each interviewee including specific examples that illustrate key points. Companies featured include Viacom, WPP, Interpublic Group, Wells Fargo and Gensler.