Like so many in commercial real estate, the worst things we have weathered during this were the various recessions. We always look to learn and grow through challenges and use them to make our company better. Each downturn has accelerated our innovation, diversifications and preparation for future challenges.

GlobeSt.com: What do you see as the greatest challenges the CRE design realm currently faces?
Armstrong: The greatest challenge we see in the collective CRE industry is the ability to change quickly and adapt to new realities. It is exciting to see new ideas enter the realm of CRE. The continued challenge is to continue to adapt and evolve quickly.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about your firm's direction moving forward?
Armstrong: Ware Malcomb has achieved incredible growth in our 45 years in business, with 22 offices across North America and work in 22 countries. We have completed projects for one in five companies listed on the Fortune 100. We will continue to push growth of all our services which include architecture, interior design, branding and civil engineering in all of our regions. We have ambitious growth goals for Ware Malcomb, which translates into growth opportunities for our employees. We are committed to leading the design of environments that deliver long-term commercial real estate value to our clients.

|

IRVINE, CA—The greatest challenge we see in the collective CRE industry is the ability to change quickly and to adapt to new realities, Ware Malcomb's CEO Larry Armstrong tells GlobeSt.com. The design firm is celebrating its 45^th anniversary, having grown from a local, Irvine, CA-based architectural firm to an international firm spanning 22 offices across North America, and has completed projects for one in five companies listed on the Fortune 100.

Much of the firm's dramatic growth has occurred under Armstrong's leadership, so we sat down with him to chat about how commercial real estate design has changed over the last 45 years and what the future holds for Ware Malcomb and the industry.

GlobeSt.com: In what major ways has commercial real estate design changed in the 45 years that your firm has been in existence?
Armstrong: The advances in technology have significantly changed how people work, which have resulted in changes to commercial real estate design. As an established thought leader in creative office, Ware Malcomb designs office sites, buildings and interior space to support alternative workplace strategies. This includes intentionally programmed site amenities and the extension of interior space into the exterior, creating the “work anywhere” environment employees now expect. In the interior, personal workspace has decreased in size, while collaborative spaces have increased in number and type.
With more than 1 billion square feet of industrial buildings designed since 1972, Ware Malcomb has deep insight into the evolution of this product type over the years. The steady growth of e-commerce and last-mile delivery are driving change. As the demand for faster delivery increases, industrial-fulfillment centers in rural areas need to relocate to closer urban centers to provide quick on-demand service. Ware Malcomb is designing some of the first multi-story warehouse facilities in the United States in several major East and West Coast port markets. Ware Malcomb has developed a 4D prototype that encompasses a holistic view of the entire project, which is being introduced this year.

GlobeSt.com: What have been the best and the worst things the company has weathered during this time?
Armstrong: It is part of our foundational philosophy to hire the best people to service our clients. We have stayed true to this principle, which has fueled our national and international growth. We have far surpassed the original vision for the firm, and our sights are now set on a long runway of growth for the next 10 years.

Like so many in commercial real estate, the worst things we have weathered during this were the various recessions. We always look to learn and grow through challenges and use them to make our company better. Each downturn has accelerated our innovation, diversifications and preparation for future challenges.

GlobeSt.com: What do you see as the greatest challenges the CRE design realm currently faces?
Armstrong: The greatest challenge we see in the collective CRE industry is the ability to change quickly and adapt to new realities. It is exciting to see new ideas enter the realm of CRE. The continued challenge is to continue to adapt and evolve quickly.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about your firm's direction moving forward?
Armstrong: Ware Malcomb has achieved incredible growth in our 45 years in business, with 22 offices across North America and work in 22 countries. We have completed projects for one in five companies listed on the Fortune 100. We will continue to push growth of all our services which include architecture, interior design, branding and civil engineering in all of our regions. We have ambitious growth goals for Ware Malcomb, which translates into growth opportunities for our employees. We are committed to leading the design of environments that deliver long-term commercial real estate value to our clients.