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SAN DIEGO—Companies should think about future growth plans and access to the talent pool, consider new work modes and plan for details and technologies that will remain current and allow for flexibility when relocating their headquarters, JLL's VP of project and development services Julie Kilpatrick tells GlobeSt.com. Kilpatrick's team is providing move-management, occupancy-management, change-management and building-occupancy and readiness services for Illumina as the biotech firm begins the process of relocating its team into its expanded corporate headquarters at i3, a three-building, 316,000-square-foot flex office and R&D campus located at 4775-4785 Executive Dr. in the University Towne Centre submarket here. This includes managing office build-out of all workspaces, managing the internal construction of the building's common areas and overseeing the logistics of relocating hundreds of employees.
We spoke with Kilpatrick about the move and what companies and their real estate partners must keep in mind when relocating a corporate headquarters and what to avoid.
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GlobeSt.com: What is essential when moving a corporate headquarters to a new space, even within the same market?
Kilpatrick: It is essential that companies hire a commercial real estate firm that will go out and survey/tour the market and help define your actual square-foot needs, rather than referencing a metric. Also, companies should upgrade and enhance the employee experience with amenities that will drive recruitment and retention. Companies should think about future growth plans and access to the talent pool, consider new work modes and plan for details and technologies that will remain current and allow for flexibility—especially when signing lengthy leases—and complete a thorough RFP for a move-management labor vendor. It's never as easy as it seems, and moving a few boxes is the last thing a company should take on when managing the massive details of relocating an entire organization.
GlobeSt.com: What should absolutely be avoided in this scenario?
Kilpatrick: A company should never negotiate without representation, especially with an existing landlord. Also, firms should hire a commercial real estate firm early to attend building tours and ensure the brokers are focusing on the key elements of the location search.
GlobeSt.com: What should tenants and real estate experts keep in mind when relocating a company to a new market?
Kilpatrick: Companies should ensure access to talent and amenities that will serve their future. They should complete a survey with a local commercial real estate firm that actually knows the market and is serving their best interest rather than collecting commissions from favored landlords. Finally, companies should develop an employee-engagement program that helps support the engagement and new-hire process and acclimation to a new location. This will drive productivity and loyalty while helping employees shape and engage with the new culture and new location.
GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about the Illumina move?
Kilpatrick: Illumina engaged in a bold, new workplace strategy that will serve its near- and long-term objectives. It has aligned itself with strong development partners into which they are able to tap across different geographies, as well as a design team that customized the new i3 campus to push and support Illumina in this new endeavor. Not only is i3 a beautiful, functional building and setting, it will enhance the tremendous culture and commitment from headquarters to its employees that they are valued so they can continue groundbreaking research and work that has a positive impact on all of us.
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Carrie Rossenfeld
Carrie Rossenfeld is a reporter for the San Diego and Orange County markets on GlobeSt.com and a contributor to Real Estate Forum. She was a trade-magazine and newsletter editor in New York City before moving to Southern California to become a freelance writer and editor for magazines, books and websites. Rossenfeld has written extensively on topics including commercial real estate, running a medical practice, intellectual-property licensing and giftware. She has edited books about profiting from real estate and has ghostwritten a book about starting a home-based business.
