Your lobby is a critical element of your commercial building. Upon entering at street level, it’s the face of the building. It’s the first impression a visitor gets upon arriving at their destination, and the lobby’s condition, design and décor should appropriately convey the image the owners would like. A bright and freshly updated lobby can make tenants feel like their space is valuable, and that they can expect excellence from their chosen location.
If it’s been many years since its last renovation, your lobby is probably due for an update. The Giroux Glass team can recommend countless options for entrances, storefronts, hardware and other lobby features—all of which have advanced technologically in the years since you last replaced them. It’s definitely going to cost you, but we invite you to consider that there are benefits to gain from investing in your lobby’s renovation.
1. Modernized Design
Depending on when your building was constructed, it’s likely to have seen several design and color trends come and go. This important space in your building could be at odds with TI work completed more recently in tenant offices. The lobby’s outdated design may no longer reflect those tenant spaces, or how you hope that your building will be perceived. With newer commercial space options available in most metropolitan areas, your building should offer a look that is current in design features and furniture to remain a desirable option for your tenants.
2. Refreshed Appearance
The lobby and entrances do more than communicate the aesthetic of your building; they welcome visitors and set tenant expectations in terms of cleanliness and care. If you present a consistent level of upkeep in all common areas, you send the message that the building is and will remain well maintained. Visitors will expect to encounter the same as they continue to their destinations within the building. The lobby’s overall appearance should reflect the level of professionalism of your tenants’ businesses as well. If you choose to include some of the new graffiti-preventing surfaces into the renovation, this can help to reduce maintenance costs over time.
3. Updated Entrances
Glass entrances and doors can communicate to current and potential tenants that you’re investing in maintaining the image of their businesses to their clients. Replacing outdated entrances and lobby glass with better performing glass found in current glass technologies can lead to brighter lobbies that are more infused with light, yet are more energy efficient, costing less to cool or heat throughout the year. Our Giroux Glass Service team recently completed one such project in a commercial building in Burbank, and the results shown here illustrate the extent to which updating entrance areas can enhance the overall lobby appearance.
4. Enhanced Security
Updated entrances can also benefit from the latest advances in window and door security. Storefront windows can be made more secure with the installation of security glazing (such as DefenseLite® and BulletShield) ensuring the safety of people and property within the building at street level, without the need to replace existing glass. New features in door operations and other automated mechanisms can also increase energy efficiency and security. The number of security advancements alone in the past few years may be enough to justify moving forward with lobby renovation plans.
5. Increased Property Value
It is highly likely that a lobby upgrade will positively affect your building’s value, both directly and indirectly. Tenants will feel like they’re getting good value for their rent as they see improvements made to their common spaces. Happy tenants are more likely to extend their leases, pay a higher rent for space they perceive as being valuable, which will lead to minimized office vacancies. Financially, and over time, the benefits you will gain by renovating will likely balance the costs.
Whichever reasons you find most compelling to start your renovation plans, with the choice of the right glazing company to provide top-quality installation, your refreshed, modern lobby will surely validate your decision and provide a more welcome environment for visitors and tenants alike.