The concept of going back to the office looks different for everyone. For some, it means going into a city office full-time. For others, it’s working partially from a remote home office combined with in-office work. Another concept that is gaining momentum is working from a satellite office full or part-time. Although working from a satellite office is not a new concept, Lincoln Property Company (LPC) is starting to see more companies embrace this strategy. A satellite office is an additional office location of a larger company’s main location, typically located in the suburbs. These days, companies large and small are choosing to establish satellite offices in different areas, cities, regions, and sometimes countries. One of the newest tenants at Belmont Plaza that LPC leased approximately 10,000 SF to is Kimley-Horn. Kimley-Horn has found that opening a satellite office in Ashburn, VA, will benefit not only its clients but its employees too.
There are many reasons why Kimley-Horn chooses to open a new satellite office, but one of the biggest reasons is to be close to its clients. Kimley-Horn exists to serve clients and strives to be their trusted advisor. Being closer to them helps in that mission. Therefore, company location is an essential consideration in the firm’s decision-making process.
While serving clients is Kimley-Horn’s number one priority, the firm realizes there are other benefits that naturally come with opening up satellite offices. Suburban satellite offices like Kimley-Horn’s in Belmont Plaza, are not only closer to their clients but also to their employees’ homes. Allowing employees to work at these offices will not only cut down on commute times, it naturally helps with work-life balance.
LPC believes that having a satellite office can serve a dual purpose for many organizations. Firstly, tenants can meet clients where they are, location-wise, and second, they can bring employees back into the workplace. Being able to walk up the street or a quick drive to the office to meet clients gives companies a huge competitive edge.
Being back in the office allows people to connect in ways that cannot happen remotely. At the end of the day, human-to-human interaction creates growth opportunities, friendships, lessons learned, and shared wins.
However, while many people miss human interaction, not everyone is used to being back in the office five days per week and the thought of having to commute prevents some people from retuning to or joining a firm. Satellite offices can be used as a recruiting tool by providing those hesitant employees the location flexibility they desire.
At Kimley-Horn, culture truly drives the firm, so having people physically connected is essential. But when your main office gets larger than 200 people, it can become challenging to know everyone on a personal level. A smaller office, like at the Belmont Plaza location, allows its culture to flourish, gives its team opportunities to hone their skills, and better positions Kimley-Horn with local clients.
Belmont Plaza in Ashburn, VA: home to Kimley-Horn’s new satellite office
“We will continue to work (mostly) in the office to create stronger teams, produce better outcomes for our clients, and nurture our rich company culture,” says Steve Lefton, president, and CEO of Kimley-Horn. “We’ll enjoy team lunches and coffee runs; we’ll bring back jersey days, flip-flop Fridays, and volunteer events; and we’ll celebrate all of the good in-office fun that you just don’t get if you are solely working from home.” A satellite office solution is a great way to add dimension and flexibility to increase engagement for both your employees and your clients. If you’re considering a satellite office, LPC can help find your company in the perfect location.
About the Authors:
Brenda Sosa, Senior Associate, Lincoln Property Company and Miriam Brodie, Vice President Marketing, Kimley-Horn met through Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) DC. As leaders in CREW DC, they are committed to the chapter’s theme, Think CREW First for Business. Edited by Erin Goonan, Lincoln Property Company.
Lincoln Property Company is a Dallas, Texas-based global, full-service real estate company with offices in more than 450 cities in the United States and six cities throughout Europe. As one of the largest privately-held real estate firms in the U.S., it provides real estate investment and acquisition, property management, engineering and facility management, development management, construction management, and brokerage services, advisory and finance services worldwide. Lincoln Property Company currently has $98 billion in total assets under management, has 433 million square feet under leasing and/or management, and has developed 150 million square feet of office, residential and industrial space.
Kimley-Horn is one of the nations’ premier planning and design consultants. We combine creative yet practical solutions, a sense of urgency, and focus on bottom line value to meet our clients specific project needs.
