When forward-thinking planning & design meet the evolving office - by Ben Baccash

Since the pandemic first hit in March 2020, there have been ongoing conversations about the “office of the future.” With a sense of normalcy in sight, employers are finally gearing up to move beyond the solitude of their computer screens, envisioning a collaborative space and design that prioritizes the environment of their employees.

At Taconic, we have always been committed to reimagining, revitalizing and reinventing the urban landscape of New York City, well before the pandemic. In its mixed-use and experience-focused campus, Essex Crossing and its commercial offering, developed with our partners L+M Development Partners, BFC Partners, the Prusik Group, and the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, almost anticipated the changes in tenant preference we are now seeing today as a result of the pandemic. The Essex Crossing Offices (www.essexoffice.com/) span two buildings and redefine the office norm, presenting a new standard of workplace planning and design by focusing on what tenants are looking for today—connectivity balanced with privacy and control; wellness and access to the outdoors; and an environment outside of their four walls but which they have access to, augmenting the employee experience, and in turn retaining and attracting new talent.

Transit-Heavy
Today’s employers are looking for an office that’s accessible, prioritizing a safer, more convenient commute for its employees. The Essex Crossing Offices are close to five subway lines with direct connections to major hubs and there are 13 Citi Bike stations within walking distance. Even more unique to the Lower East Side neighborhood is its direct access to Brooklyn via the Williamsburg Bridge, an important draw to employers as the borough houses nearly one third of New York City’s millennial population.

Privacy & Control
Unlike what was previously considered traditional office developments, the Essex Crossing Offices are boutique, five-story buildings, with hi-rise view corridors given their low-rise context, providing more space and privacy for our tenants. Offering a much-desired alternative to ascending 30 floors in a crowded elevator, upon arrival Essex Crossing presents private elevators and lobbies for safe entry and exit, along with access to stairs to promote an active lifestyle and occupant wellness.

Tenant-controlled HVAC systems offer improved air-quality and accommodate ultraviolet light to help combat coil-borne and airborne mold, bacteria and germs. Additional outside-air above and beyond what is typically offered is also available, and ample fenestration provides consistent access to natural light.

Outdoor Space
Reinforcing the buildings’ privacy and creating a unique indoor-outdoor experience, the Essex Crossing Offices’ expansive terraces are available for open-air collaboration and enjoyment in each building. In 155 Delancey St., anchor tenant Verizon will enjoy 3,456 s/f of wrap-around outdoor space overlooking the Lower East Side and Midtown skyline. Similarly in 145 Delancey St., where 175,000 rentable s/f is available, future tenants will enjoy a 2,231 s/f terrace as a seamless extension of their workplace.

Both buildings also offer access to the Broome Street Gardens, an indoor landscaped sanctuary, including planted areas, seating areas and a future coffee shop. The space will be accessible to tenants, so employees can choose to escape to the gardens for lunch, meetings or just a change of scenery away from the desk, even on a rainy day.

The Lower East Side and Essex Crossing Campus
Perhaps most notable is the value-add offered by the other opportunities within the Lower East Side neighborhood and Essex Crossing campus, a two-minute city that truly merges live, work and play. Without ever having to leave the building, office tenants will have access to dozens of global foods and small vendors at the buzzy Essex Market and Market Line, including Dhamaka and Veselka. Museums like ICP and Tenement offer an immersive education, while art venues like Klaus Von Nichtssagend, Foley Gallery and Cuchifritos Gallery bring the community together with rotating exhibitions. The Lower East Side and Essex Crossing campus, although untraditional for offices, presents the cultivated neighborhood experience that today’s employers are looking for.

Flexibility
As the flexible hybrid model grows in popularity, employers will need to invest in an office that fits productivity needs for non-remote days while attracting employees back to the office. The Essex Crossing Offices allow for a more customizable workplace design, leveraging the assets outside of the premises while not sacrificing anything within. Essex Crossing’s expansive floorplates range from 35,000 to 52,000 rentable s/f, making it possible for employers to tailor the workplace to meet their needs, whether that’s increased privacy or a more collaborative environment.

Planning for the Future
As we continue to build new urban spaces, it is important to always consider the future, and the reality is no one truly knows how preferences will evolve. The COVID-19 pandemic is one challenge NYC faced, but there will be plenty of others that force us to adapt to new standards. At Taconic, we will continue to create places with new ideas and anticipate the next major change in urban development and design, just as we did at the Essex Crossing Offices.

Ben Baccash is vice president of development at Taconic Partners, New York, N.Y.