New-age employers find favour with offices in shopping hubs

Ganesh CV, vice-president (Leasing & Marketing), Express Infrastructure Pvt Ltd says that in the early years there were tremendous response on the standalone properties for commercial usages thereby most of the companies preferred to set up their offices with the ratio of 70:30. 

In the recent past the trend has changed into 60:40 opting mixed-use development to focus by companies thereby volume of offices nowadays aiming to set up their offices in mixed-use properties such as malls, hospitality environments. “Most of the companies are expecting the transit and other essential services available close to their offices. Hence more companies are taking office spaces in malls in Chennai, EA Chambers 1 & 2 are fully leased out the office spaces to prestigious multinational companies,” he said. 

Explaining about the advantages for a company to set up their office in a mall, Ganesh said that easy and hassle free access, 24x7 uninterrupted power supply, safety and security, parking facility and accessibility to Mall for the essential needs were the main advantages for people taking up office space in malls. 

“These services being provided by EA Chambers to the companies who have taken up space for offices and also our Mall attached to E-Hotel and EA Chambers caters to consumers by providing all their essential needs, which makes MNCs and corporates aiming to set up their offices in the mixed-use development like malls,” he noted. 

Adding to Ganesh, Sanjay Chugh, founder of Skylines Property Consultants said that the concept of mixed development had been prevalent since the early 90’s with Spencer Plaza catering to both asset classes namely retail and office. “Malls like the Chennai City Centre and Express Avenue have also been designed to accommodate retail and office occupiers. The office block is located above the mall with independent ingress and egress. Companies find it convenient to locate their office within mixed development due to its location proximity, physical and social infrastructure,” he added. 

Office goers too are positive about working in these kinds of environments as they say that these facilities provide an assured parking space for them to park their cars while going to office. They also say that they could take time off from their busy office schedule to relax and return to their office work when their office is located inside a commercial space like mall.