How to Elevate Class B to Class A
GLOBE ST
June 11, 2015
Published: Globe Street
Author: Carrie Rossenfeld
How to Elevate Class B to Class A
SAN DIEGO, CA—Enclave Sorrento, one of the largest office-technology property renovations in the Sorrento Mesa submarket to date, is a 213,000-square-foot office campus that has recently undergone a $38- million renovation. San Diego-based McCarthy Cook and New York- and London-based AllianceBernstein added upgrades and additions that elevate the two-building, multi-floor, 213,000- square-foot campus at 9808 and 9868 Scranton Rd. here from a class-B property to a class-A one.
According to Brian Harnetiaux, VP of asset management at McCarthy Cook, “Enclave Sorrento’s design provides better connections for employees, including open floor designs and four sky bridges interlinking the buildings. We’ve also connected the indoors and outdoors with lots of daylighting and some collapsible exterior walls to create work and gathering spaces that boost inspiration, productivity and enjoyment.”
The renovation included a new, five-story parking structure, two-story glass-enclosed lobbies, new hotel-grade restrooms, a café and tenant lounge with a fold-away glass wall system and large-screen televisions and a fitness and yoga center with locker rooms. Tenants will also have access to a shuttle service from the Coaster and a shared free bicycle program.
The space is being marketed by JLL EVPs Chad Urie and Tony Russell and SVP Tim Olson. Urie says, “Enclave Sorrento has generated tremendous interest, and we already have serious commitments for over half of the building from some of the nation’s largest companies.”
Gensler provided architectural design for the project, and DPR Construction provided construction services.
Edward Cook, co-president of McCarthy Cook, tells GlobeSt.com, “Enclave Sorrento is a future-thinking, connected workplace that marries efficient, open and bright interior spaces with collaborative indoor/outdoor amenities around a central courtyard that encourages interaction among employees. Every floor is connected by inviting turf-covered pedestrian bridges with Adirondack chairs that encourage workplace connection, enhance employee interaction and provide planning flexibility.”
Cook adds that his firm’s goal “was to reimagine and re-construct this 1980s office project called ‘Canyon Plaza’ into a vibrant, interactive and connected workplace campus of the future, ‘Enclave Sorrento.’ Creative office is the current buzzword used to describe work environments that excite the senses by providing an amenity-rich work environment that maximizes employee time and interaction at the workplace rather than off-site.”
Cook also says we are in the midst of revolution in workplace design, “much as we now see retailers, restaurants and apartment projects creating inviting and alluring indoor/outdoor experiences that harness the weather and unique elements of the California scene. This trend is gaining momentum and for good reason. Employee costs are typically 10 times the cost of occupancy. A work environment that enhances collaboration, increases productivity and provides on-site amenities adds to productive worktime and can literally pay for itself with a 10% gain in productivity.
As GlobeSt.com reported in April, it’s been about seven years since the San Diego market has seen it, but speculative office development is back and more deliveries are expected in 2015. We spoke with Russell exclusively after JLL released its first-quarter 2015 office report to find out his take on office completions, projects under construction and the factors influencing office construction in San Diego.
