As GlobeSt.com recently reported, there are now clear signs that a drive to adapt underused office space in many of the nation's cities for other uses is under way. The 100 office conversions due to be completed this year represent more than double the annual average of 41 between 2016 and 2022, we recently reported. So, as the conversation around what to do with empty office space continues throughout U.S. cities, how to actually accomplish that goal becomes the major question. The reality is that a conversion is a very complex undertaking, according to Fernando Bonilla-Verdesoto, principal of architecture firm Soto, who has worked on several projects, the most notable being The Oxford.
Below are a few key tips and design considerations he says are important to note.
Investigate existing conditions and maximize rentable square footage
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
