City of Baltimore — Future of Work Pilot
Assessed 1.3 million sq ft of the City's downtown portfolio to plan a hybrid-work pilot.
Performed by members of the H & H Development Group team in prior roles. Estimated figures are those reported for the engagement.
Challenge
The City of Baltimore went fully remote during the pandemic and then looked at shifts in hybrid working culture, occupancy and real estate optimization. It retained the team to assess its workforce, evaluate its downtown campus and explore new space plans for a pilot that would test whether employees could embrace a hybrid work environment.
Value delivered
The team helped the City plan a pilot to test future space needs while reducing the overall footprint, offering flexibility and choice, and improving the employee experience. It also helped the City use space better through enhancements to existing facilities-management software, and worked with a people-advisory team on a stakeholder communications and change-management framework.
Expected outcomes
- Estimated 50% average space reduction per agency
- Estimated 40% operating cost reduction
- Improved employee experience, productivity and talent attraction
How the team approached it
Discover
Assessed 1.3 million sq ft in the City's downtown portfolio to find suitable space for the pilot, and interviewed every major City agency, then engaged shortlisted agencies on their work profiles and culture.
Design
Built a space-planning model that accounted for agency-specific seat-sharing ratios and special space needs, and advised on change management, communications and IT reservation systems.
Deploy
Created a detailed workplan and implementation playbook for setting up and running the pilot.
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