CBRE Project Management recently gave a presentation on changes to California Building Standards Code aka “Title 24” that will take effect on January 1st, 2014. The new requirements are aimed to “reduce energy bills, increase energy delivery and reliability, and improve economic conditions for the State of California” (Hah!). Any projects that apply for permit on...Read More

Well, if your like many tenants these days you may want to bring your bathing suit to the next lease negotiation meeting… Most Full Service Gross, or “Base Year” leases used to combine all of the operating expenses (including taxes, insurance and utilities) into one expense “pool” and the tenant would be responsible for any...Read More

Everybody wants to reduce their carbon footprint these days, and for good reason.  Companies are catering to a demographic that is continually more concerned about the environment – both for their own health and for the health of the environment.  A lot of the changes that can be made to acheive these concerns and ambitions...Read More

If you live in California you are used to new laws encumbering business seemingly everyday.  Well, this month is no different.  California has two new regulations that are supposed to take effect on July 1, 2013, the Accessibility Statute and the Energy Disclosures Regulations.  But of course, the state isn’t quite ready for the onslaught...Read More

Many companies thrive on collaboration. “Creative” space combined with technology enhances collaboration by creating spaces that encourage in-promptu exchanges within a structured office environment.  It typically looks cool too.  But the “coolness” has much less to do with the function of the space than the architecture and “branding” of the space.” Creative or traditional, today’s...Read More

I was lucky enough to have a business / pleasure trip to Amsterdam recently.  What a great place!  As a Californian I haven’t thought much about the impact that the Netherlands has on the world, but when you visit, you realize how much influence the Dutch have had globally.  Widely regarded as the first capitalist country, the...Read More

Assignment and Subleasing Below are some simple rules to live by when negotiating sublease and assignment rights from Gregg Pasternak: The Assignment and Subleasing clause is one of the most heavily negotiated in the Lease. Although most tenants do not expect to effectuate a transfer during their lease term, many do end up needing to...Read More

I was recently introduced to Gensler’s magazine “Dialogue.”  If you are into commercial real estate issues like workplace and architecture it is a must read with great pictures of Gensler’s recent projects.  In issue #22 there are some interesting thoughts on private offices vs. open plan in an article called “Stressed out by Openess”.  Check...Read More

In corporate real estate buzzwords like Sustainability, LEED, and Workplace are all the rage, and for good reason.  We all care about the environment in which we live and work. New approaches and technologies allow us to alter our workplace for the better (unless you miss your private office!) and help protect the environment.  So,...Read More

My good friend Gregg Pasternak tells us why we need audit rights in our leases, how they work, and how they should be structured.  I particularly like his opening line: “Operating Expense Audit Rights are Like Nuclear Weapons” You don’t want to use them, but it’s nice to know you have them, just in case.  ...Read More