Now is the opportunity!

When times are “normal” and business is humming along per usual, change occurs relatively slowly. I am always amazed at how long it takes good ideas to be absorbed into our culture during those “normal times”. Some of us remember lots of hype surrounding the launch of the Segway. It was finally introduced twenty years ago and it has taken all of that time for Segways and the more popular hoverboards and scooters to become mainstream. When Dean Kamen announced his invention, Steve Jobs and others praised it as being as important as the computer or the internet.

Change is happening faster now though due to an incredible new change agent. Major events that stoke change always come, we just can’t predict when. The coronavirus and COVID-19 came fast. It has created opportunities for technology to shine and video conferencing to proliferate. On March 16^th, we closed our BCT Design Group office headquarters, and I told one of my business partners that we now have a free chance to evaluate working remotely because there is no opportunity cost to do so. Everyone is working with the same challenges; and it has worked reasonably well.

All of a sudden, being in a remote part of the world is no longer a huge disadvantage. It is possible to attend meetings and seminars just as easily in France as it was in Washington. We take advantage of this by having our European team members attend Washington regional meetings to gain insight into the things that are happening here. Likewise, yesterday I was able to conduct a meeting with a development firm in Turkey. Each of them were also remote from one another.

These are times when creative thinking can reposition communities and organizations for better results in the future. With some creative thought and lots of hard work, folks can leverage the opportunities afforded by the new reality.

Transmitting Positive Vibes!

Not only is there a silver lining to this pandemic cloud; but I also believe it is critical to project positive energy to our colleagues. During the Great Recession, I felt that my colleagues were watching to see what I would do as the leader the firm. Those times were much more difficult than today, from a business perspective, because the recession rose out of excesses in the system. I find that humor and a positive attitude are critical to dealing with stress and hardship. It reminds us that life is actually simple.

Pay attention to the Trends… they are accelerating

Like many of you, I have attended numerous meetings and webinars for the reasons stated above. One of the conclusions that has been repeated often in the past six months is this: There has been an acceleration of trends that were already in play.

Cultural and social trends impact real estate development. Here are my top five:

The Move to the Outdoors

It turns out that it is not just the food that is healthy with a Mediterranean diet. Rooftop dining and the fresh air it offers is safer than indoors. Not to mention the added boost of Vitamin D in the form of sunshine when dining alfresco.

Transitional Spaces for Health and Security – The Turn Room

To maintain clean and safe environments the creation of transitional spaces to decontaminate and screen visitors will be necessary. By reinventing the mudroom or vestibule (which we call a Turn Room), we envision pleasant spaces for screenings and sanitizing that expands the function of a lobby or vestibule.

Improved Indoor Air Quality     

It is time to challenge our engineers to improve indoor air quality in buildings and advertise it to potential tenants because they finally care. Get Fitwell certifications for your buildings.

The Move to Smaller Communities       

Now that we have a much greater appreciation for tele-commuting, we realize that we can live in places that may have a better quality of life or at least fewer crowds. As an urbanist, I include this trend reluctantly.

The Distribution of Retail Goods

We are now learning how to distribute retail goods without entering buildings. This is one part of the solution that Amazon and others have been seeking to solve what is known as “The Last Mile” dilemma.

Figure out how external activities impact you

As a business, we had to prepare for an inevitable recession that was long overdue. We just didn’t expect that a global pandemic would trigger it. We pursued more public projects in the past few years as a hedge to a slowdown in private development work. As a planning and design firm we were able to initiate projects in the Washington region including City Dock in Annapolis and waterfront projects on the Eastern Shore.

Sometimes it feels like we got lucky, but I think it is more likely due to the fact that we are open to lots of business opportunities, not just the ones that are most financially lucrative. It has kept our business and portfolio diverse, and the imaginations of our staff intrigued.

One of my favor quotes: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency…..” – Daniel Burnham

Be well and do well…

Bryce Turner
President, BCT Design Group
ULI Full Member
Member, ULI Washington Advisory Committee
Member, ULI Baltimore Governance Committee
Member, ULI National Redevelopment & Reuse Product Council

In ULI Washington’s new Leadership Insights column, ULI Washington will regularly feature member leader’s thoughts and insights as we adjust personally and professional to a “new normal.