The Human Element: Designing for Peak Productivity, a Competitive Edge (Part 3 of 4)
A Fundamental Shift: From Managing a Facility to Curating an Experience
The old model focused on hard features. The new model focuses on people.
For decades, building owners focused primarily on the physical asset—the "hard services" of maintenance and operations. But a fundamental shift is underway, driven by the war for talent and the rise of hybrid work, which has created a new challenge for employers: making the office a compelling destination worth the commute. Industry research from top firms like Gensler, JLL, and CBRE proves that today's most profitable buildings are designed from the "user out."
Our vision for the Forrestal Building is to intentionally engineer the precise, high-performance Tenant Experience that today's top corporations demand to win the war for talent. This places the human experience at the absolute center of the building's financial strategy. To deliver on this goal, we will engineer a workplace that addresses the most critical needs of leading companies and their employees:
A Workplace Designed for Modern Workflows
Dual monitors can improve productivity by 20-30%.
The design philosophy is built around choice and control, directly addressing the biggest productivity killers in modern offices. We will offer a rich tapestry of spaces catering to different tasks, work styles, and moods:
Heads-Down Zones: Quiet, library-like areas designed for deep focus.
Collaborative Hubs: Dynamic zones equipped with whiteboards and flexible seating to encourage teamwork.
The AI-Ready Training & Development Center: A tech-enabled training center for upskilling and corporate learning.
Dedicated Team Neighborhoods: Secure, branded zones combining private offices and workstations for enterprise clients.
Social and Casual Spaces: Comfortable lounge areas that foster spontaneous interactions and build community.
Enterprise-Grade Tools as Standard
August Berres’ desks are mobile and cordlessly provide AC and USB-C connections.
The furniture itself becomes an active tool for success. Ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable desks are the baseline. But we go further to support the proven 20-30% productivity gain from using dual monitors. Every mobile workstation will be a self-contained power hub. Thanks to the battery-powered furniture infrastructure discussed in our last post, each desk will have integrated AC and DC (USB-C) outlets, providing ample, untethered power for dual monitors, laptops, and all other necessary devices. This eliminates cable clutter and gives teams the ultimate freedom to reconfigure their space without being chained to wall outlets.
A Meticulously Engineered Acoustic Environment
Acoustic elements remedy the number one complaint about open offices.
The number one complaint about open-plan offices is noise and distraction. A premium workspace must solve this. We will engineer the acoustics using a multi-layered approach:
Absorption: In our industrial chic space, we will hang acoustic baffles and panels from the high ceilings. We will also use sound-absorbing materials in flooring, partitions, and even furniture to soak up distracting ambient noise.
Blocking: Strategically placed "phone booths" and small, enclosed meeting pods will be plentiful, providing accessible, soundproof spaces for private calls and conversations without needing to book a large conference room.
The Ultimate ROI: Becoming a Magnet for Top Talent
The office must be a magnet, not a mandate.
Why should a building owner invest so deeply in the occupant experience? Because in today's economy, a premier office provides the solution to the "return to office" dilemma that so many companies face.
In a hybrid world, the office must be a magnet, not a mandate. The goal is to create a workplace experience so seamless, productive, and enjoyable that "work from home" becomes comparatively less attractive. When the office has better technology, better ergonomics, more opportunities for collaboration, and fewer distractions than an employee's home, it transforms from a place people have to be into a destination they want to be.
This is how our tenants win the war for talent. By providing them with a workplace that is a "secret weapon" in this fight, we create immense value for the property. The building earns a reputation as "the place where the best companies want to be," making it the default choice for industry leaders. For the owner, this is the ultimate competitive advantage, directly leading to higher occupancy, premium rents, and a significant increase in overall asset value.
In our final post, we will explore the game-changing amenities that build on this foundation, creating an experience that solidifies the Forrestal Building as D.C.'s premier business destination.
