GreenBy3 at Dig South

 

What are you doing and where are you going?

These are very  important questions to the owner of a business that is in the throes of growth. However, many business owners become overwhelmed with all the questions that must be asked  when they are looking for office space.

What kind of location do you want? What are your technology needs? Where do your employees live? What kind of flexibility do you need in a lease? What kind of up-fits are needed to allow your company to continue to grow? What do you need to anticipate so you can set up your space to grow with your company?

And perhaps more importantly: How do you continue to grow your business when you are trying to answer all of these questions – and more?

GreenBy3’s  founder, Jorge Riano, sat on a panel of four experts at the recent Dig South conference to discuss this topic. The panel discussion was called, “Your future in space: Meeting your workplace needs when you don’t know what you’ll need tomorrow.” Along with Jorge, panelists included Jacob Lindsey of Fabric Urban Design, Megan Reilly of the Charleston Metro Chamber and Kevin Eichelberger of Blue Acorn.

Among the fundamental messages the panel conveyed to the audience was the need for a team of experts who are focused on coordination and collaboration, two of GreenBy3’s core  initiatives.

The team of experts might include a real estate agent, an architect, a general contractor, a project manager (GreenBy3) and an attorney. Together, this team coordinates and collaborates to help a growing business wade through the questions and find answers.

To kick off the discussion, Jorge talked about GreenBy3’s approach to construction management, which represents a true mindshift in an industry that has historically been fragmented due to a lack of communication between those working on a project.

“We help clients with new construction and renovation projects, ” Jorge said. “We work closely with our clients beginning with concept and design, through construction management, and after everything is finished, facility operations and building management.”

“When we are starting a project, we want to understand the client’s vision,” Jorge continued. “We ask a lot of questions to get our clients to think about things they haven’t considered. Culture is big for us. You really have to understand a company’s culture because something that may seem small to an outsider may be really important to productivity. We also specialize in working with companies to understand their technology needs at a deep level to create a scalable design that allows for growth.”

GreenBy3 then communicates its clients’ needs to the rest of the team throughout the process to ensure the construction, renovation or an up-fit can be completed to specification.

An example of this team effort is the Catalyst Center at the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, which GreenBy3’s fellow panelist Megan Reilly will manage. GreenBy3 is currently overseeing the construction of the Catalyst Center for the Chamber. Click here to read more about the Catalyst Center Project.

The panel also discussed that a key benefit of assembling a team to help a growing company find office space is the array of expertise and resources each team member brings to the table. Team resources can help solve challenges ranging from creating work spaces that offer creative solutions for light, sound and distractions, to  finding re-purposed materials that not only add character to a project, they also save money.

“You really want to create your team that helps you grow and grow and grow,” moderator Loren Ziff added. “Don’t undervalue the team, no matter how big or small. The team creates value for you. It’s what we pride ourselves on. We want you thinking about your core business, we don’t want you worried about the daily details [of the construction/renovation project].”

Tagged: Community, Dig South, Jorge Riano