CBRE Opens Flexible, Tech-Enabled Office in Los Angeles’ South Bay

CBRE announced its newly renovated, 30,794-sq.-ft. South Bay office has reopened. Located at 2221 Rosecrans Avenue in El Segundo, Calif., the high-tech space offers 14 different ways for employees to work, including a Wi-Fi enabled private outdoor lounge and videoconference-enabled collaborative areas.

The new office is part of CBRE’s Workplace360 program, the company’s long-standing approach to workplace strategy for its corporate offices. The workplace showcases CBRE’s “Future of Work” space standards, including innovative technology and a wider variety of collaborative spaces, designed to support hybrid working. The organization first launched its Workplace360 program 10 years ago in its downtown LA office. CBRE has since opened more than 100 Workplace360 offices across the globe.

“Technology is a critical part of how we work and provide exceptional services to our clients,” said Robert Peddicord, executive managing director of CBRE’s South Bay office. “The new high-tech features allow us to ensure seamless and flexible collaboration, and set an industry-leading standard for workplace design in today’s hybrid workforce.”

A cornerstone of the Workplace360 model is its “free address” approach where there is no assigned seating. As many companies move to hybrid work models, a free address approach enhances space utilization as all workstations can be used by employees who are in the office on a given day, rather than sitting empty when a desk is assigned to someone who is working remotely for the day.

“The advent of widespread hybrid work means that offices are now following the playbook of hotels and shopping centers in creating a more compelling, engaging experience for their users,” said Peter Van Emburgh, global head of CBRE’s corporate real estate. “In South Bay, part of that experience comes through in-office technologies like enhanced video conferencing that helps in-person and remote workers to collaborate like they’re in the same room. Other features cater to neurodiversity, such as the office’s 14 different work environments to accommodate a wide range of work styles to fit users’ diverse needs on a given day.”

Other technology elements include multi-use wireless systems that promote seamless digital experiences and wireless screen sharing along with virtual whiteboards for remote collaboration. The office has touchscreen functionality that provides an interactive presentation experience for clients. Anonymous occupancy trackers will provide real-time insights about employee behaviors, such as which workspaces are used more often, informing the company’s continued post-pandemic design and workplace strategy evolution.

Workspaces include bench workstations, focus pods with privacy, and individual offices, as well as several “technology-free” spaces. The collaboration-geared areas feature open and enclosed rooms in all sizes and furniture layouts, a technology wall for presentations, a large community space called “The Heart,” a Tech Bar, and a library for focus work. The outdoor patio is equipped with Wi-Fi, seating and shade umbrellas to allow for seamless working outdoors.

CBRE Design Collective managed the workplace design. Emily Levinson, with CBRE’s Americas Consulting practice, led workplace strategy and change management.