HOUSTON—What do corporate users look for when evaluating potential buildings? How have changing user requirements affected office building floorplates? And how do demographics influence office space?

During "How are Corporate Users Changing Office Space Utilization?"—the second panel of day two at GlobeSt.com Thought Leader NAIOP's O.CON: The Office Conference held at the JW Marriott Galleria—panelists addressed these issues and offered more food for thought.

With moderator Rick Collins, president/southwest of Ryan Cos. US Inc. leading the way, panelists included Emily Allen, director, Dekker/Perich/Sabatini; Restor Johnson, vice president-real estate services, UnitedHealth Group; and Mark O'Donnell, executive vice president and co-brand manager, Savills Studley.

Panelists looked at the idea of the impact of building obsolescence.

“The work force these days is looking towards higher density,” O'Donnell said. “Parking is an issue, certainly the shape of a floor plate can have an effect. The age [of a building] can be upgraded, remodeled.”

“Everything translates to cost per usable seat,” Johnson added. “Buildings that are parked under 4/1000, you've got to do something that works, whether that's corporate shuttles.”

Allen spoke to floor plates as well, talking about types of users and the best spaces that fit them.

Flexibility and mobility remain important qualities for UnitedHealth, said Johnson.

“Business groups are changing,” he said. “The fact of the matter is, across corporate America, people are [in their seats]. In essence, the paradigm of one assigned seat per one worker is going to give you that 60 to 65% [inefficient].”

“More open and flexible work plans give us more flexibility to respond to ups and downs in headcount,” he said.

“All the things we're talking about today support the idea of mobility.”