BOMA International—Building Owners and Managers Association International

Vaccine mandates, now and throughout history, have generated important discussions about balancing the need to protect public health and the need to protect individual freedoms, and this tension is being reflected in the current wide range of related policies. For the commercial real estate industry, the issue adds yet another layer of COVID-related considerations that affect employers generally and medical office buildings specifically. Download COVID 19 Guidance Document - Vaccine Policies, COVID Mandates and Property Use Restrictions

This time last year, many people across the United States were forced to vacate their offices and find ways to work remotely. What quickly became clear is that not all home work setups are created equal, and while it may be going smoothly for those with dedicated workspaces, gigabit Internet and ergonomic office furniture, others struggle working at kitchen tables with spotty Wi-Fi and distracting roommates. The circumstances have led many to recognize the equalizing role of the in-person office, where workers have equal access to the tools—and relationships—they need to succeed. As more employees return to the office, tenant companies must not lose sight of the importance of an equitable work environment and should consider new ways that the office can be leveraged to support its employees. And, property professionals should be prepared to help tenants carry out these efforts every step of the way..

Since the start of the pandemic, landlords and property managers have been working with tenants to create a safe and healthy environment for building occupants. As more and more people have access to the vaccine, more employees are returning to office buildings. While COVID-19 vaccines are encouraging for employers currently struggling to balance worker safety with a desire to return to the workplace, the rollout has prompted a number of complex questions for landlords, property managers and tenants on how to handle vaccinations in the workplace. In BOMA’s just-released article, Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 Vaccines and Mitigation Measures, an attorney from Ballard Spahr’s Labor & Employment Practice Group sheds some legal perspective on the matter.

On March 11, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion relief package, into law. The bill directs $7.5 billion to replenishing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and provides an additional $15 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advance grants. Restaurant tenants are eligible for an additional $25 billion in grants. The bill also provides $350 billion for state and local governments to assist with essential services. The funds should reduce the pressure on states to raise commercial real estate taxes to offset lost revenue. To review other key provisions in the bill that affect commercial real estate and related business, download BOMA International’s guide, What You Need to Know: The Biden Administration’s National Strategy and American Rescue Plan. .

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted both the commercial real estate industry and the scientific community to consider the role building systems might play in the health and safety of building occupants. Navigating through evolving new considerations for building operations can be challenging—and often complicated—work for property professionals, which is why BOMA International has partnered with global engineering and professional services firm Jacobs to share expert guidance around optimizing building systems to maximize occupant health and safety and mitigate risk. Drawing from guidance issued by health agencies and industry organizations, Improving Occupant Safety Inside Buildings provides property professionals with timely operational recommendations for building systems. While there is no single “one-size-fits-all” solution for all building types and systems, the guidance found in this resource can help commercial owners and operators determine the best strategies and technologies to deploy in their buildings now and in the months ahead.

As workers gradually return to the office, property managers are enlisting the help of innovative technology solutions to help facilitate the transition. Among these cutting-edge solutions are sensors that measure space density, elevator antibacterial ultraviolet lights and new functionalities on mobile applications that allow users to schedule in-office time and engage with colleagues who are working remotely. According to industry experts, such adoptions will help assure tenants that the "next normal" will be a safe one. Read more to discover what property professionals are doing to accommodate their tenants’ Great Return.

While COVID-19 continues to be a disruptive force for the office sector and its tenants, the perceived value of the office as a key ingredient of business success remains strong. That is one of the major takeaways of the BOMA International COVID-19 Commercial Real Estate Impact Study, a groundbreaking study of more than 3,000 U.S. commercial office space decision-makers commissioned by BOMA International, underwritten by global real estate software company Yardi and developed by Brightline Strategies, a leading real estate research and advisory services firm. The study, published in December 2020, provides a clear indication of the pandemic’s broader transformational effects on commercial real estate and how tenant attitudes towards the in-person work environment have shifted. The survey found that almost half of the respondents would be somewhat or very likely to renew their leases if the decision was based solely on building managers’ responses to COVID-19. But what exactly are building managers doing that is working? And what tenant concerns should today’s owners and operators be aware of? Read our deep dive on the results of the study to find the answers to these and other questions. Interested in participating in a future study? Contact covidstudy@brightlinestrategies.com.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how property professionals are approaching budget season for 2021 and how they are reforecasting income, operating expenses and capital expenses to predict their property's financial performance at the end of 2020. In finalizing their reforecasts, property professionals are also recalculating projected operating expense pass-throughs to tenants for the current year. BOMA International and InspiRE Commercial Real Estate Services have partnered to create a resource to help you navigate the new uncertainties surrounding operating expense calculations and reconciliations. The Impact of COVID-19 on Operating Expense Pass-Throughs in Commercial Real Estate provides guidance on steps to take now to ensure a smooth transition into 2021.

BOMA International has published Managing Through Pandemics: Preparing Your Buildings, Tenants and Staff, a guidebook covering every aspect of managing a commercial building through a global health crisis. Covering everything from creating a pandemic plan to business continuity and legal considerations, Managing Through Pandemics is an essential resource for all property professionals. Two decades into the 21st century, the world has already faced several pandemic outbreaks, including SARS in 2003, the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009 and COVID-19 over the past year—and we will likely face more. Use this guide, available as a free resource thanks to the generous support of Yardi, to better prepare for what comes next.

Despite the majority of office workers still working remotely, the overall appetite for the traditional in-person work environment remains high. While those working from home have managed to remain productive, Cushman & Wakefield’s “The Future of Workplace” research report found that employees feel like they are losing meaningful connections and a sense of organizational culture, since certain learning and mentoring opportunities are not easily replicated in a virtual environment. Now more than ever, commercial tenants are recognizing the power that the office holds, and its ability to serve as an inspiring destination abound with opportunities for cultural connection, team bonding and innovation. Today’s property professionals must be prepared help clients fulfill their renewed workplace expectations, while leveraging other key considerations for these unprecedented times. Read more from Cushman & Wakefield’s Marla Maloney as she breaks down The Ongoing Value of the Traditional Office.

While the trials of social distancing, widespread quarantine and business interruption caught most of us unprepared, the COVID-19 pandemic has added yet another layer to property professionals' arsenal of contingency plans. In addition to implementing new operational best practices, the crisis has prompted building managers to beef up their emergency preparedness plans, re-evaluate their communication protocols and even redefine how they view work-life balance. Industry experts reflect on what the pandemic has taught them so far—from the pain points it exposed to the current policies and procedures it reaffirmed.

Many workplaces have begun allowing employees who wish to return to the office to come in as long as social-distancing procedures can be followed. The looming questions, however, are how will tenants know it is safe to return to their space, and will employees feel comfortable getting on an elevator, sitting in a cubicle or drinking coffee at the building’s outdoor café? While the office is not going away, workspaces are being forced to change. Read more about how building owners and property managers can reduce risk and take measures to help ease tenants’ anxiety about the built environment both now and in the long term.

What role will the office have in a post-pandemic future? Based on CBRE’s recent survey of 126 senior-level real estate executives across the globe, confidence in the physical office remains strong, as close to half (41 percent) of respondents indicated that its importance would decrease only slightly. Among other significant findings, 73 percent of survey respondents say flexible office space will be a part of their long-term real estate strategy. CBRE also makes note of an emerging trend towards a more hybrid workforce, in which employees would work fluidly between remote locations and a physical office.

In recent months, the entire world has become hyper-conscious of the many objects our hands touch throughout the day. Adding to this awareness, property professionals and tenants are actively taking inventory of the “high-touch” areas within an office building as they flesh out re-entry cleaning protocols. While the jury remains out on how exactly the COVID-19 pandemic will inform workplace design and operations, design firm Gensler suggests that increased implementation of touchless technology is to be expected. Thanks to advanced gesture control, facial recognition and voice activation capabilities, touchless workplaces may be the norm in a not-so-distant future.