SAN DIEGO—In an office environment where new spec buildings seem to be popping up regularly, there's still plenty that landlords of existing space can do to entice tenants to choose them instead, Bingham Construction's CEO Jeff Bingham tells GlobeSt.com. Bingham, who has been in the construction industry for 18 years), says his firm is doing a lot of projects where landlords realize there is a new type of tenant out there and, in order to attract them, they need to make capital improvements. We spoke with Bingham about specific ways landlords can accomplish this and provide capital improvements that get the most bang for their buck.

GlobeSt.com: How can office landlords make their property more attractive to prospective tenants in order to compete with new spec-office landlords?

Bingham: Landlords can improve both the office spaces and the building amenities to compete with new spec-office landlords. In regard to office space, providing more open space areas, including open ceilings, can facilitate collaborative work environments and a larger feel. In addition, tenants are desiring outdoor seating and gathering areas, which can be added to ground-floor offices. Popular building amenities include retail spaces, fitness centers, barbecue and patio areas and recreational areas such as bocce ball, volleyball and basketball courts. In essence, landlords can adapt their properties to the cultures of the types of tenants that they want to attract by creating more usable and functional spaces, both inside and out.