flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

A twist on office conversions maximizes leasable space  

Office Buildings

A twist on office conversions maximizes leasable space  

A recent NELSON Worldwide project is made more suitable for multiple workplace tenants.


By John Caulfield, Senior Editor | July 24, 2023
Interior of Crest Ridge office conversion
NELSON approached the project with adaptive reuse in mind in order to preserve some key architectural elements, speed up the renovation process, and limit demolition waste | Courtesy of NELSON Worldwide  

There has been a lot of post-pandemic interest among developers about converting vacant office spaces to something more leasable, like residential apartments. That interest, though, has yet to turn into a groundswell of adaptive reuse, mainly because office-to-residential conversions can be complicated and expensive due to incompatible floorplates, ceiling heights, and code restrictions, to name but a few of the impediments AEC firms often cite.
 
As something of a compromise solution, one firm, NELSON Worldwide, has been touting a project it completed in March 2022 in Minnetonka, Minn., that converted a four-story building, which had been leased by a single tenant, into a Class A multi-tenant office space known as Crest Ridge, with a three-level attached parking ramp and heated garage.
 
The appeal of this 116,000-sf building, which was first constructed in 2008, is its location on the urban fringe, a wooded seven-acre campus with a lake, walking trails, and scenic views, says David Filak, NELSON’s Associate Principal and Regional Practice Leader-Asset Strategy.
 
The goal of the client, Larson Capital Management, for this conversion was to maximize the building’s leasability, and to add amenities that would attract different tenants. The conversion, however, presented challenges: the client wanted a big cafeteria in the building’s basement to be upgraded to leasable space. There was also a staircase that connects the floors of the building that needed to be brought up to safety and fire codes, partly by adding vestibules at the landing of each floor.
 
New amenities included a self-service food and beverage area at the base of the staircase; a fireplace, pool table, and perching stations near full-height windows; and a 70-person training and conference room adjoining a pre-function space. The building’s fully equipped fitness center was relocated to the first floor and upgraded. There’s new flooring on the second floor, and new furniture in the common areas that include a shared entertainment space.
 
The campus, which connects to Interstate 394, is within a half-mile of numerous restaurants and retail stores.

Listening to clients’ needs
 

Interior of Crest Ridge, with self-help vending machines
The project was developed and completed within the shadow of pandemic-related construction delays and aggressive ownership deadlines | Courtesy of NELSON Worldwide

Working with a local general contractor Gardner Builders, NELSON designed the building plan for multi-tenancy on behalf of the landlord and leasing team’s goals. Upon completion of the conversion, Old Republic Title leased 2½ floors. The building currently has four tenants, including Walker Methodist, One10, and Functional Neurology. Functional Neurology and Walker Methodist worked with NELSON on their fitouts. Filak says that the project’s budget, which initially had been $2.6 million, was trimmed by $1 million by scaling back on some amenities.
 
Since completing this project, NELSON has been getting inquiries from other developers interested in this kind of conversion. “A lot of developers and tenants are going through investigative processes,” says Filak. He adds that by listening to Larson Capital’s goals, “we were able to help them at every step of the way,” including with its leasing strategy in relation to the building’s interior design.
 
NELSON Worldwide contends that architects can identify strengths and weaknesses of a building by conducting a comprehensive analysis for repositioning, abetted by innovative technology like artificial intelligence. Transforming the building to meet current and changing market demands can improve its rental potential and expand the building’s lifespan.
 

Related Stories

Office Buildings | May 8, 2020

The pillars of work

The workplace will most certainly look different in the future, but how different it looks will be unique to every organization. There (still) is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Office Buildings | Mar 24, 2020

Morphosis designs lululemon’s new global headquarters

The HQ’s design is meant to serve as an extension of lululemon’s core values.

Office Buildings | Mar 16, 2020

Investments in ‘human experiences’ are paying off for employers

A recent survey conducted by JLL and Harvard Business Review found that more companies are giving their employees greater say in changing their work environments. 

Coronavirus | Mar 15, 2020

Designing office building lobbies to respond to the coronavirus

Touch-free design solutions and air purifiers can enhance workplace wellness.

Plumbing | Mar 13, 2020

Pioneer Industries launches new website

Pioneer Industries launches new website

Architects | Mar 9, 2020

New York's façade inspection program gets an overhaul following a death from falling terra cotta

January 14, 2020, kicked off big changes to the NYC Local Law 11 Façade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP) for Cycle 9.

Office Buildings | Mar 5, 2020

SOM design’s Disney’s New York HQ

The HQ is being built in the Hudson Square neighborhood.  

Office Buildings | Feb 13, 2020

CareerBuilder’s Chicago HQ undergoes renovation

Perkins and Will designed the project.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category



Sustainable Design and Construction

Northglenn, a Denver suburb, opens a net zero, all-electric city hall with a mass timber structure

Northglenn, Colo., a Denver suburb, has opened the new Northglenn City Hall—a net zero, fully electric building with a mass timber structure. The 32,600-sf, $33.7 million building houses 60 city staffers. Designed by Anderson Mason Dale Architects, Northglenn City Hall is set to become the first municipal building in Colorado, and one of the first in the country, to achieve the Core certification: a green building rating system overseen by the International Living Future Institute.


MFPRO+ News

San Francisco unveils guidelines to streamline office-to-residential conversions

The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection announced a series of new building code guidelines clarifying adaptive reuse code provisions and exceptions for converting office-to-residential buildings. Developed in response to the Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse program established in July 2023, the guidelines aim to increase the viability of converting underutilized office buildings into housing by reducing regulatory barriers in specific zoning districts downtown. 

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021