Treadmills Give Way to Outdoor Exercise on Campuses

SAN RAMON, CA—Now that summer is officially over, office professionals may be loath to return to the confines of an office after spending so much time outside. However, many office campuses are increasingly incorporating wellness elements within an outdoor setting into the workplace.

These campuses often include outdoor work space environments, access to healthy food options, onsite gyms and walking trails to encourage workers to embrace healthy lifestyles. In this exclusive, Harout Hagopian, senior vice president, general manager of property management, Sunset Development Company, discusses the benefits of a natural environment and access to healthy food options to encourage and promote healthy workers.

GlobeSt.com: How can properties take advantage of outdoor workspace environments?

Hagopian: In California, how can they not? On average, we enjoy 284 days of sunshine every year, so taking advantage of our outstanding weather not only makes a lot of sense, it’s easy and it provides many benefits to companies and their employees. Being outdoors for even brief periods delivers a much-needed energy boost that recharges employees and fosters collaboration, creativity and productivity amongst employee teams.

Across the Bay Area, developers are transforming outdoor spaces in various ways to help their tenants capitalize on these benefits. Research shows that the scenic quality of a daily environment or workplace has a direct correlation to employee well-being. At Bishop Ranch, some of those transformations have been implemented.

Flexible furniture, including soft, comfortable seating on shaded decks and floating docks with lake views, stylish Adirondack chairs, in addition to convenient table seating can be used by individuals or employee teams.

Outdoor Wi-Fi, which enables employees to connect from their laptop, mobile device or tablet. Outdoor space should allow employees to either work productively or simply take a break to relax and recharge. Wi-Fi makes both of these options possible.

Landscaping that creates so-called outdoor rooms for privacy. At Bishop Ranch, we strategically plan the layout and location of plants and trees and other landscaping, with the goal of creating quiet sitting areas separated from busy parking lots and walkways. We take pride in the property’s landscape aesthetics because we want employees to get up from their desks, enjoy the outside environment and even use it to boost productivity and creative thinking by taking a meeting on the move.

GlobeSt.com: Do many campuses have hiking and biking trails within the confines of a property?

Hagopian: We hear repeatedly from prospective and current tenants that access to outdoor hiking and biking trails is an added bonus because of the healthy lifestyle options and benefits trails offer.

When Sunset Development was planning Bishop Ranch, a key goal was incorporating these opportunities into employees’ daily work schedules. At Bishop Ranch, employees have direct access to the Iron Horse Trail, where they can bike along a 32-mile trail connecting Concord to Pleasanton, take a lunchtime walk on the trail loop around our lake, or try out the par course. Again, like our outdoor workspaces, we want employees to enjoy the East Bay’s great climate.

We also have a number of clubs that are growing in popularity including our Friday Ride Club bicycle group and lunchtime running group. I have participated in the Sunday morning bike ride and it’s fun to meet other Bishop Ranch employees outside of the typical work setting.

Enjoying the outdoors is not limited to hiking and biking at Bishop Ranch though. Volleyball and bocce ball courts provide for fun team building activities and our Duffy boat lake rides and row boats are wildly popular. These are all fun distractions that enable a clear mind and quick recharge during the day.

GlobeSt.com: How are campuses offering access to healthy food options?

Hagopian: Developers are realizing more that one of the most crucial selling points for companies is access to a diverse and healthy array of food options for employees, preferably on-site. We’re seeing business campuses across the globe collaborate with renowned chefs and restaurant groups to revamp the traditional office cafeteria menu to provide quality, fresh and balanced meals.

Bishop Ranch offers healthy food options where Bay Area chef, Danny Guerrini brings fresh seasonal, high-quality fare to our restaurants and cafes. Roundhouse Market has three innovative, fast-casual restaurants located in our 2600 building and we are opening Bishop Farm’s cafes at other locations throughout the campus. Bishop Ranch also hosts the weekly San Ramon Farmers Market, which features healthy and sustainable food grown and produced by our local farmers and chefs.

Employees and tenants at Bishop Ranch will soon have additional dining options just across the street at City Center Bishop Ranch.

GlobeSt.com: Are wellness workshops being offered to employees?

Hagopian: Wellness workshops are an effective tool for creating positive changes in employees’ overall well-being. Hosting these programs show that we care and can improve morale, which can lead to greater productivity and retention.

At Bishop Ranch, we’re constantly thinking of ways to engage with our community of tenants and employees to encourage a deeper look into the different aspects of a person’s health. Past and future complimentary workshops and seminars hosted by Bishop Ranch have addressed topics on stress management, restoring balance, nutrition and exercise, and financial education. Our main goal is to provide information and tips that employees find exciting and relevant, while creating opportunities for employees to compete in team activities like ‘most miles walked or hiked,’ which encourage a healthier lifestyle and happiness in the workplace.